2023 super bowl

By Spencer Ripchik

The NFL season is almost here, and this season is filled with storylines.

There’s no Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers is in New York and running backs are making nothing. This season should be interesting with all those factors plus a couple of more.

Here are some Week 1 game picks for the 2023 season.

Detriot Lions at Kansas City Chiefs

The Detroit Lions could be the best team in the NFC North with an improved defense and some more offensive weapons. The Lions were just shy of making the playoffs last year and probably will make it in 2023. 

However, Detroit opens its season against the defending Super Bowl Champions, and the best quarterback in the league and could be the all-time best.

This one is going to be a shootout, but you can’t bet against Patrick Mahomes.

Winner: Kansas City

Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons

Two pretty young teams with young quarterbacks. The Falcons have Desmond Ridder at the helm, who didn’t take over until the end of the season. Carolina has the first overall pick Bryce Young behind center. With both quarterbacks being young, expect a lot of turnovers. 

Atlanta is a bit older and added a bunch of players in the offseason in running back Bijan Robinson, safety Jessie Bates III and defensive end Calais Campbell on the defensive side of the ball.

Both teams are young, but the Panthers are younger.

Winner: Atlanta

Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns

Are the Cleveland Browns contenders to win the tough AFC North? Sure, but one of the teams they have to beat is their opponent in Week 1, the Cincinnati Bengals. 

The Bengals are potentially the third-best team in the whole league because of their offense consisting of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The defense is also solid.

All around the Bengals are the better team and in a close one get the win on the road.

Winner: Cincinnati

Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts

After running back Jonathan Taylor requested a trade, the Colts were sent into a tailspin. This franchise is rebuilding, and Indianapolis is hoping it has its guy in first-round pick Anthony Richardson.

A team that’s not rebuilding is the Jaguars. The Jaguars won a playoff game last year and are only getting better. Trevor Lawrence made a big leap from Year 1 to Year 2, and he just got a WR1 Calvin Ridley, who was one of the best receivers in the league before his injury and then his suspension.

This one will be close too, but Jacksonville has it.

Winner: Jacksonville

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings

The Buccaneers are in their first season without the G.O.A.T. Tom Brady, and now, Baker Mayfield is behind center, which is a clear downgrade. Mayfield isn’t terrible, but not Brady. 

The Minnesota Vikings have added more weapons for Kirk Cousins and that’s on top of the best receiver in the league Justin Jefferson.

The Vikings’ defense has declined, but it’s enough to stop Tampa Bay’s offense, which wasn’t that great when Brady was there.

Cousins usually plays well in the 1 p.m. slot, so it’s the Vikings in this one.

Winner: Minnesota

Tennesee Titans at New Orleans Saints

This game is a toss-up. Both teams aren’t great but have some good things going for them.

The New Orleans Saints look like the better squad with new quarterback Derek Carr, but the Titans have some firepower on offense.

The Saints have a strong defensive line, but Derrick Henry is Derrick Henry and a freight train.

The Titans pick up the win on the road.

Winner: Tennessee

San Fransico 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers

This game could be an interesting one. The 49ers could be without Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa for this game, which is a big blow to that defense.

The Steelers are an interesting bunch with some firepower on defense and are in Year 2 with quarterback Kenny Pickett. Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season but this might be the first one because of how good the AFC North could be.

If this game was in San Fransico, it’s not close, but the Steelers could put up a fight at home.

This is the upset of the week because of how good a coach Tomlin is, and the game is at home.

*Upset* Winner: Pittsburgh

Arizona Cardinals at Washington Commanders

Both of these teams aren’t the greatest. Arizona will be without Kyler Murray, and with some of their offsesason transactions, it looks like the Cardinals have already given up on the season.

The Commanders have a young squad with Sam Howell at the helm and could have a shot at the playoff.

Any team that plays the Cardinals in the first couple of weeks gets a free win.

Winner: Washington

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens

Houston is another team in the NFL that is rebuilding around a young core in quarterback C.J. Stroud and pass rusher Will Anderson.

The Ravens aren’t rebuilding. Quarterback Lamar Jackson just got paid and has a bunch of new weapons. 

The Ravens get off to a good start and win at home.

Winner: Baltimore

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears

Green Bay could be the biggest question mark in the NFL. The Packers lost Aaron Rodgers but have had Jordan Love in the back pocket for a couple of years now.

The Packers’ defense is solid with one of the best cornerbacks in the game Jaire Alexander. 

Chicago is on the cusp of a playoff appearance, but not there yet. Justin Fields just added D.J. Moore to his arsenal, so he should improve from Year 2 to Year 3.

This game is another tossup, but there is more known about the Bears.

Winner: Chicago

Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos

“Broncos country, let’s ride” was nothing but bad last year. Russell Wilson had one of his worst NFL seasons, but now the Broncos have Sean Payton as their head coach. That’s gonna make a little difference.

The Broncos defense is pretty decent and has Pat Surtain, arguably the best corner in the league. 

Las Vegas could be good but also could be bad because who knows how Jimmy Garoppolo does on his new team.

Denver is at home, so it takes the edge in another close one.

Winner: Denver

Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots

The Eagles have the best roster in the NFL on paper. Jalen Hurts had a great season last year, and the Philadelphia defense is loaded and just stocked up with defensive rookies from the two-time National Champions Georgia Bulldogs.

The Patriots do have Bill Belichick, one of the best coaches, but their roster doesn’t compare to the Eagles’ roster.

Philadelphia is a Super Bowl favorite this year, so the Eagles win this one.

Winner: Eagles

Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers

This game is going to be an absolute shootout. Two offenses that are loaded with weapons.

The Chargers have Justin Herbert on a new massive contract and just added rookie receiver Quentin Johnston. Los Angeles also has one of the best pass rushers in Joey Bosa, too.

Miami has maybe the best receiver duo in the league in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. However, can Tua Tagovailoa stay healthy? Who knows.

The Dolphins loaded up on defense. They added linebacker David Long and safety DeShon Elliott and they also added corner Jalen Ramsey, but he’s not going to play.

The Chargers win this one because it’s in Los Angeles.

Winner: Los Angeles

Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks

After a poor season last year because of multiple injuries, the Rams are back in full force after their Super Bowl win in 2022. 

The Rams have Cooper Kupp back and Matthew Stafford, who are two of the biggest components of the squad, but Kupp is still a bit banged up, so he might not play.

The Seahawks are coming off a playoff appearance even with Russell Wilson not there. Geno Smith won Comeback Player of the Year and looked the best he’s ever been.

Seattle is home to the 12th man and will be still a tough place to play for a still little banged-up Rams squad.

Winner: Seattle

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants

The New York Giants went from the outhouse to the penthouse last year in Year 1 under Brian Daboll. 

 The Giants added a pair of rookies at corner and acquired tight end Darren Waller and defensive player Isaiah Simmons, who can do it all.

The Cowboys gave Dak Prescott another weapon in Brandin Cooks and have a new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.

The Cowboys defense also added Stephon Gilmore to boost an already solid defense.

This should be an interesting one on Sunday night, but Dallas has a better roster overall.

Winner: Dallas

Buffalo Bills at New York Jets

The Aaron Rodgers era is upon us in New York and his first game is no easy task.

The Buffalo Bills had some problems toward the end of the season with quarterback Josh Allen and their No. 1 receiver Stefon Diggs, but it seems like that’s settled now.

Rodgers has a lot of familiar faces on his offense and potentially a top 5 receiver Garrett Wilson to throw to and a strong defense behind him.

However, the Bills will play spoiler in Rodgers’ first game out in a close one on Monday night.

Winner: Bills

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By Spencer Ripchik

The Philadelphia Eagles vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. The Super Bowl is set to declare who the best team in the league is.

The Eagles dominated the San Fransisco 49ers in a 31-7 win in the NFC Championship and the Chiefs won on a walk-off field goal to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 for the AFC Championship.

This is the first meeting in the Super Bowl between the two teams and there are a bunch of storylines like the two Kelce brothers playing against each other and Andy Reid and Nick Sirianni coaching against their former teams.

The biggest storyline, though, is who will have the edge and take home the Lombardi Trophy.

Super Bowl 2023

The Chiefs are back in the Super Bowl for the second time in the last four years and the Eagles are in the Super Bowl for the second time in the last six years.

Led by Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs are still cooking with one of the best offenses in the league. Without Tyreek Hill, Mahomes won the MVP, and his stats back up the potential accolade. He led the NFL in passing yards and passing touchdowns with his primary target being tight end Travis Kelce, who has racked up 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling was there when @PatrickMahomes needed him. 💪 pic.twitter.com/d1UgupcETq

— NFL (@NFL) January 31, 2023

Kansas City’s offense does most of its damage through the air, but it can run behind its running back by committee with Jerick McKinnon and rookie Isiah Pacheco.

The Chiefs’ strength is Mahomes and its offense, but their defense is nothing to shrug your shoulders over.

Kansas City defensive tackle Chris Jones was one of the nominees for Defensive Player of the Year and had 15.5 sacks this season.

To help Jones out, defensive end Frank Clark has been the defensive star for the Chiefs in the postseason and has 2.5 sacks in two games, which is the fourth-most.

With Jones and Clark, Kansas City doesn’t have a problem getting to the quarterback, but where the Chiefs have struggled is in the secondary.

The Chiefs are middle of the road when it comes to passing yards allowed on the season, which could be a problem, especially against an offense like the Eagles.

Kansas City could be starting two rookie corners Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson if L’Jarius Sneed isn’t cleared from his concussion, so there is some inexperience in the secondary.

Philadelphia is a run-heavy team and has run the ball with ease in the postseason because the Eagles have one of if not the best offensive lines in the league.

The Eagles have a running back by committee approach, too, but the lead back is Miles Sanders while running backs Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott comes in from time to time.

😂 Check out Jason Kelce dance after Miles Sanders TDpic.twitter.com/6xCOIVzuMY

— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) January 29, 2023

The Chiefs’ defense hasn’t been too shabby at stopping the run and has done better than the Eagles this season, but Kansas City hasn’t quite faced a rushing attack like the Eagles.

To make Philadelphia’s rushing attack even better, the Eagles have MVP runner-up Jalen Hurts, who can break off for a big rush if he’s out in space.

Hurts was a wildcard this season, but it is clear the Eagles might’ve found their guy for the foreseeable future.

The third-year quarterback has just gotten better and better.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has received a lot of criticism for some of the moves he’s made as general manager, like passing on Justin Jefferson for Jalen Reagor, but over the past couple of years, he’s constructed one of the best teams to come out of Philadephia in a long time.

One of the major moves he made was giving Hurts elite receiver A.J. Brown and he fit right into Philadelphia’s scheme. 

Brown, second-year receiver DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert are a three-headed monster in the passing game.

Smith has succeeded in the postseason with all the attention on Brown, so the Chiefs’ young secondary is going to have its hands full.

Devonta Smith going OFF! 154 yards in the first half.

📺: #PHIvsWAS on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/OC8Yw9hask pic.twitter.com/GTeh5Vc6fZ

— NFL (@NFL) September 25, 2022

On the defensive side of the ball, Philadelphia just gets better. 

Linebacker Haason Reddick has been one of the best linebackers in the league this season and leads in sacks this postseason.

Philadelphia’s defense led the league in sacks in the regular season, so Mahomes is not going to have too much time to work.

The Eagles’ secondary might be its biggest strength. Cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry have been two of the best corners and are a major part of why the Eagles have allowed the least amount of yards through the air.

The Chiefs have a slightly better offense than the Eagles because of what Mahomes is able to do, but Philadelphia’s defense is clearly better than Kansas City’s.

Kansas City’s only chance in this game is that Mahomes balls out and pieces apart a tough Eagles defense.

Philadelphia is a much more well-rounded team on defense and offense, and that is why the Eagles will raise the Lombardi Trophy this year.

Philadelphia 31, Kansas City 27

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