2023 NFL season: Ranking the most vulnerable division winners, from the shaky Buccaneers to the beefy Chiefs

Every year, the nfl rankings they are an exercise in parity. Our first instinct, when evaluating teams on paper, is to crown recent contenders and overlook those at the bottom, when in reality history tells us that at least a handful of playoff spots will change hands. . The same can be said of the league’s eight divisions; in 2022, for example, half of them had different champions than the previous year.

With that in mind, who is most likely to keep their division title in 2023? Who is most likely to lose it? Here’s our rundown of the most vulnerable reigning champions, from most unstable to strongest:

2022 record: 8-9 | Division title streak: 2 seasons

Talent isn’t terrible on either side of the ball, but here’s what happens when tom brady comes out in favor of mayfield baker under the center. Yes, Brady was slow in his final season, but if they could barely control the NFC South with the sight of him at quarterback, it’s hard to feel good about his remaining staff, still led by conservative Todd Bowles, fending off attackers. hawks, panthers and Saintsall of them younger and/or improved, and above all with an O-line also in transition.

2. vikings (NFC North)

2022 record: 13-4 | Division title streak: 1 season

The Vikings’ penchant for close-game wins masked their porous defense and negative point differential in 2022. The energetic leadership of Kevin O’Connell and justin jefferson explosiveness means they must remain competitive. But lions they were already on the rise and now they’re poised to make a legitimate playoff run, with Dan Campbell’s team boasting a well-rounded offense and a more feisty “D.” He packers they are a wild card, but could easily stay in the wild hunt if jordan love debut as Aaron Rogers‘ successor goes well. And the Bears should be at least a few games better now than justin fields has a supporting cast.

3. bengalis (AFC North)

2022 record: 12-4 | Division title streak: 2 seasons

bet against joe burrow at the top of the North it feels a bit silly, but the fact is that this division should be difficult from top to bottom. the second place ravens achieved 10 victories even with lamar jackson sidelined down the stretch, and now Jackson should be motivated (and a bit better equipped, with a deeper receiving corps) to make good on his new contract. He browns they are also prepared to aerate it more, with Deshaun Watson under pressure to deliver after a poor Cleveland debut. And the steelers might be the most playful of them all, combining Mike Tomlin’s perpetually tough “D” with an upgraded setup for Kenny Pickett.

4. Eagles (NFC East)

2022 record: 14-3 | Division title streak: 1 season

Two things can be true: 1.) The Eagles are probably still the most talented roster in the game. nfl after Super Bowl shooting with him bosses, and 2.) Their path to a second straight division title is daunting. With the toughest schedule based on opponents’ winning percentage in 2022, including a brutal end of year stretch against the contenders, they may need another MVP level campaign of jalen hurts to keep up with the Cowboys and giantseach of whom made offensive upgrades to playoff-caliber lineups.

5. Bills (AFC East)

2022 record: 13-3 | Division title streak: 3 seasons

Like the Eagles, they are clearly in the class of their conference. But the competition within the division appears to be steep to go along with a tough schedule. Even if jose allen and Co. are lighting up the scoreboard, they have at least two legitimate rivals to worry about: the Jets they’re hooking up a motivated Aaron Rodgers on a balanced playoff-caliber roster, and the dolphins they have elite offensive speed and a better defensive leader in Vic Fangio; yes QB Tua Tagovailoa they can stay upright, they should be in the mix.

6. 49ers (NFC West)

2022 record: 13-4 | Division title streak: 1 season

QB uncertainty is a big X factor here: Is it brock purdy, trey lance either sam darnold in week 1? And from there? Not a single one of those guys is guaranteed to match Purdy’s 2022 production and/or Jimmy Garoppolodue to various circumstances. Kyle Shanahan still has plenty of weapons on both sides of the ball though, his system has proven relatively QB-proof before, and most importantly, just the Seahawks register as a true rival to be reckoned with. He rams I still got Sean McVay leading Matthew Stafford, but it is true that they are being remodeled; he cardinalsmeanwhile, they’re even deeper in rebuild mode.

7. jaguars (AFC South)

2022 record: 9-8 | Division title streak: 1 season

Is a team that barely eclipsed .500 really one of the safest bets to repeat as division champion? This is certainly an endorsement of the Trevor Lawrence-Doug Pederson pairing, who endured streaks of shooting to become big down the stretch (and now adds calvin ridley to the fold). It is also an indictment against the South, which has both the foals and jeans pressing the reset button on the coach and QB. by mike vrabel titans are always more energetic than expected, but under new management, with old fan favorites like ryan tannehill and derrick henry apparently on their last legs in Nashville, they don’t have the personnel to match Jacksonville.

8. Chiefs (AFC West)

2022 record: 14-3 | Division title streak: 7 seasons

It doesn’t really matter what else happens in the West: the broncos have a fiercer leader in Sean Payton and should return to the racing-based concepts that benefited russell wilson earlier in his career, the Chargers have a laser-armed face from the franchise on justin herbert and the raiders made side trades to import old Josh McDaniels patriots friends. At the end of the day, while patrick mahomes is playing QB for Andy Reid and travis kelce is lining up as their main target, you can’t bet against the Chiefs.