The NFL is back in full swing for its 2023 season, marking the start of a whopping 272-match campaign. Every one of the 32 clubs in the league is bursting with optimism, all eyeing that grand prize: Super Bowl LVIII, scheduled for Sunday, 11th February 2024 at the Allegiant Stadium in the lively city of Las Vegas.
Last Year’s Highlights
Last year’s season was a nail-biter. With the average match decided by a mere 9.70 points, it was the closest we’ve seen since the good old days of 1932 when it was a slender 9.13 point difference. As for this year, we can expect fireworks.
Teams to Watch
- Fresh talent is set to make headlines, old favourites will keep smashing records, and every team will be battling hard to secure their spot in the playoffs. After all, who wouldn’t want to make their way to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl LVIII?
- A record 19 teams were still in the hunt for the Super Bowl on the last day of the 2023 regular season. That’s the most we’ve seen since 2006!
- Jacksonville, Minnesota, Philadelphia, and San Francisco clinched their division titles, flipping the script from their fortunes the previous year.
Comeback Kings
- Talk about a turnaround: Jacksonville topped the AFC South a year after coming dead last!
- Seven teams that missed out on the 2021 playoffs made sure they weren’t left out this year. This list includes teams like Baltimore and the LA Chargers.
Champions’ Update
The Kansas City Chiefs lifted the Super Bowl LVII trophy, and once again, we saw a brand-new champion – keeping up the trend of no back-to-back winners in the past 18 seasons.
Players to Watch
- Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes could outdo legends Peyton Manning and Dan Marino with his passing prowess.
- Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets is hot on the heels of Philip Rivers and Brett Favre in the all-time passing charts.
- Derrick Henry of Tennessee and Christian McCaffrey of San Francisco are on the cusp of etching their names in the record books for their rushing exploits.
- Receivers like Justin Jefferson of Minnesota, Davante Adams of Las Vegas, and Mike Evans of Tampa Bay are all chasing unique milestones in the world of catching.
- On the defensive side, San Francisco’s Nick Bosa and Dallas’ Micah Parsons are chasing sack records reminiscent of legends like J.J. Watt and Reggie White.
The Coaches’ Corner
- Bill Belichick of New England is close to joining the exclusive 300-win club alongside Don Shula and George Halas.
- Andy Reid of Kansas City is on track to leapfrog Tom Landry in the all-time wins list.
- Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, already the first coach to maintain a .500 or better record for his first 16 seasons, could go one better this year.
So brace yourself, NFL fans! The NFL 2023 season promises to be an exhilarating roller-coaster ride from start to finish. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the game, there’s plenty to get excited about.