As the 2023 NFL season enters its second month, the contenders and pretenders are beginning to sort themselves out. Some teams like the Chiefs and Eages are exactly who we thought they’d be, while teams like the Patriots and Lions are offering up surprises, each for different reasons. This article will look at the state of the NFL one month into the season and which teams are looking like true Super Bowl contenders.
Top Contenders
Perennial contenders like the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, and Philadelphia Eagles are always in the conversation when it comes to Super Bowl favorites, and this season is no different.
Kansas City Chiefs
The reigning champions and the word “dynasty” have been mentioned in the same sentence, and for good reason. Thanks to their superstar quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, and tight end Travis Kelce, they are again a top contender for the Super Bowl. With Mahomes' exceptional ability to lead his team to victory, the Chiefs are off to a dazzling 4-1 start, leading the way in the AFC.
The offense is still explosive despite a lack of playmakers at wide receiver, and their defense continues to make plays when they have to. As long as Mahomes and Kelce can stay healthy, this team has a great chance to make their sixth straight AFC Championship Game and potentially win their third Super Bowl in five years.
Philadelphia Eagles
Apart from their Super Bowl LII victory five years ago, the Eagles have had a series of fluctuating seasons. However, with the dynamic and youthful Jalen Hurts at the helm and playmakers like A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith on the outside, the Eagles are as explosive an offense as there is in the NFL.
Despite their setback in last year’s Super Bowl against the Chiefs, the Eagles are strong contenders again, getting out to a 5-0 start. They already have a two-game lead in the division and have their eyes set on a Dec. 3 showdown with the NFL’s other 5-0 team, the 49ers.
Buffalo Bills
Led by star quarterback Josh Allen, the Bills have once again emerged as a dominant force in the AFC. Known for his cannon arm and ability to make plays with his legs, Allen has turned the Bills into a powerhouse in recent years, winning the AFC East three years in a row. The defense has also been a factor, ranking No. 6 so far this year in total defense and No. 4 against the pass.
Despite a 3-2 start, the Bills have displayed their muscle in their victories. They tied the all-time record for most consecutive wins (3) by 28 points or more in the Super Bowl era. They are the only team to slow down the Dolphins, beating their division rivals 48-20 in Week 4.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are one of the league’s most well-rounded teams. After destroying the Cowboys 42-10 on Sunday Night Football, analysts can’t seem to come up with a weakness for this team. With young Brock Purdy's rise to prominence and a high-performing defense, they are poised to return to the Super Bowl for the first time in four years.
The 49ers rank in the top-5 in both offense and defense, leading to their 5-0 start. As mentioned, their matchup with the Eagles later in the season will likely determine home-field advantage for the NFC.
Dark Horses
The Bucs, Dolphins, and Lions have all showcased promising starts and significant potential in the 2023 NFL season, with standout performances and key players driving their success despite challenges and low expectations.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are off to a fast start (pun intended). Tua Tagovailoa has led an offense built on speed that is torching defenses. Speedsters like Tyreek Hill and rookie De’Von Achane are turning games into a track meet. Thanks to solid offensive line play and playmakers like Hill, Achane, Raheem Mostert, and Jaylen Waddle, Miami is leading the AFC East at 4-1.
The Dolphins became the first team to put up more than 725 yards of offense in their 70-20 win over the Denver Broncos two weeks ago. For anyone who remembers the 1999 St. Louis Rams and the “Greatest Show on Turf,” this may be a step above that. It will be interesting to see what the NFL Week 9 odds look like when the talented Dolphins travel to Kansas City to take on Mahomes and the Chiefs.
Detroit Lions
Despite a heartbreaking injury to cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, the Lions have shown resilience and promise in the early weeks of the 2023 NFL season. Led by dynamic players like receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running back David Montgomery, the Lions offense have scored the fourth-most points per game in the league.
The Lions' season was defined early on when they went to Kansas City and stunned the Super Bowl champions on opening night. It’s been 30 years since the Lions won a division title, but given the start by the Packers, Bears, and Vikings, that drought will likely end.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Who would have thought that when Tom Brady retired and Baker Mayfield signed a one-year deal to be the team’s new starting quarterback, the Buccaneers would be 3-1 and leading the NFC South this year? This was a team picked by almost every analyst to be at the bottom of the barrel in the NFL. However, thanks to solid defensive play and Mayfield doing what it takes to win games and eliminate mistakes, the Bucs are genuine contenders in the NFC.
They followed a disappointing performance against the Eagles by going to New Orleans and blowing out their division rivals in their home building. Mayfield seems to have found a home in Tampa after being tossed aside in Cleveland, Carolina, and Los Angeles.
Disappointments
The Bengals, Patriots, and Giants are all hitting some serious turbulence, although one of these teams at least has a pulse. Just a month into the season, these teams have a lot more questions than they do answers..
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals got off to a dreadful 1-3 start, including ugly performances against the Browns and Titans. Despite high hopes for quarterback Joe Burrow and this talented Bengals roster, they couldn’t get anything going offensively. The offensive line struggled, and Burrow’s calf injury clearly impacted his play.
All that said, the Bengals found some life in the second half against the Arizona Cardinals, with Burrow playing his best game yet and Ja’Marr Chase coming back to life. At 2-3, they have been helped by the fact no one in their division is running away with things. They still have time to fix their issues as long as Burrow can stay healthy.
New England Patriots
At 1-4, the 2023 season has opened disastrously for the Patriots, dashing any hopes of a playoff run. But it’s not just the fact they are losing; it’s how they are losing. In their last two games, they have been outscored by a combined 72-3 against the Cowboys and Saints. The offense has looked absolutely horrible behind poor quarterback play from Mac Jones. Two weeks in a row, he has been benched in the fourth quarter. The once-feared defense is now giving up big plays left and right.
With blowout losses mounting, the Patriots stare down the barrel of their worst season in over two decades. Bill Belichick isn’t finding success without Tom Brady, and people are wondering whether the legendary coach with six Super Bowl wins will keep his job.
New York Giants
With the latest bashing from the Dolphins, the Giants continue to stumble and falter. While there is plenty of blame to go around on both sides of the ball, the offensive line has been the focal point of the problems. Daniel Jones can’t seem to step back without having a defender in his face. He has been sacked 28 times this season, including 10 times against the Seahawks in Week 4. His battering has left him questionable next week with a neck injury.
At 1-4, any hopes for the playoffs are slipping away. One bright spot is that Saquan Barkley is likely to return in Week 6 in their Monday night showdown with the Bills. But if the offensive line can’t improve, chances are the offense will continue to sputter.
