Getty Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott celebrates after a play during an NFL game.
There has yet to be a single snap in the 2023 NFL season, but several truths seem all but certain.
Look for the NFC East to have the best chance to produce that conference’s Super Bowl representative, with some of the best quarterback play from top-to-bottom coming out of the AFC West.
But, which divisions will emerge as the most competitive? Who will produce the surprise postseason spoiler?
Most teams are all but finished building rosters they hope will lead them closer to a Super Bowl championship in 2023 than ever before. As training camps near in July, here’s a look at our NFL Divisional Power Rankings for the upcoming campaign:
1. NFC East
By comparison to the AFC, the Super Bowl chase in the NFC is fairly wide open. However, it would seem that the Super Bowl representative from the NFC side of the bracket has a fairly decent chance of coming out of the NFC East.
The Philadelphia Eagles might be the most complete team in football, boasting a franchise quarterback, a dynamic supporting cast around Jalen Hurts, and a defense with dominant playmakers at all three levels.
But, the Dallas Cowboys narrowed the gap this offseason, thanks to marquee additions such as wide receiver Brandin Cooks and cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
Meanwhile, the New York Giants have spent their way into the conversation this offseason, as well, and if Daniel Jones makes a leap in his second season in Brian Daboll and coordinator Mike Kafka’s system, could be primed for a lengthy postseason run of their own.
2. AFC West
There might not be a more competitive division in football than the AFC West.
Simply judging by the breadth of quarterback depth alone; reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert leading a resurgent Chargers offense with a new offensive coordinator, Russell Wilson perhaps finding a more schematic match under new head coach Sean Payton, and … whatever winds up happening with the Raiders, the AFC West is going to feature some serious fireworks.
If these teams don’t mangle each other throughout the regular season, the balance between prolific offenses and talented defenses could be enough to produce the AFC’s Super Bowl representative … for the fourth time in five seasons.
3. AFC East
Storylines abound, and three teams with an argument as the AFC’s Super Bowl favorite reside in the AFC East.
While this division has been the Bills‘ to reign over since Tom Brady’s departure from the New England Patriots to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the East just became significantly tougher to win.
Thanks to the Miami Dolphins continuing to buttress its defense with elite players such as cornerback Jalen Ramsey, and the Jets importing Aaron Rodgers to lead an upstart crop of young elite playmakers, it isn’t difficult to envision the Dolphins, Bills, and Jets all winning double-digit games in 2023.
If that happens, there’s no telling how tiebreakers will shake out, but whoever emerges certainly has the pieces to make a charge for the Lombardi.
4. AFC North
Only the NFC East produced more wins than the AFC North’s 38 last season, and that was with Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson suspended for the first 11 games.
Cincinnati, led by one of the NFL’s most clutch quarterbacks, Joe Burrow, is perennially going to be in the Super Bowl mix, but the Bengals’ road got significantly more difficult this offseason.
In addition to Watson having a full offseason to prepare to lead a ground-and-pound offense that features prolific receiver Amari Cooper, the Baltimore Ravens added significant firepower around Lamar Jackson by signing Odell Beckham Jr. and drafting Zay Flowers. Then, there’s the matter of Kenny Pickett entering his second season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, potentially primed to make a leap of his own.
5. NFC West
The Seattle Seahawks along with the San Francisco 49ers — if the latter can ever figure out its quarterback conundrum, have the pieces in place to make a dash through the bracket all the way to Las Vegas and the Super Bowl.
Seahawks general manager John Schneider has put on an NFL draft clinic over the past two years, with players such as Kenneth Walker, Charles Cross, Tariq Woolen, Jaxon Smth-Njigba, and Devon Witherspoon forming a young core that just might be the foundational pieces of a future dynasty. Meanwhile, the 49ers and Rams have the veteran talent and experience on both sides of the football to justify legitimate postseason aspirations.
6. NFC North
The NFC North is going to look very different and is possibly more wide open than it has been in a decade.
With Rodgers in New York, the Packers‘ reign of terror, which showed cracks by the Minnesota Vikings winning the division last season, over the NFC North might be over.
Enter, the Detroit Lions finished strong last season, boast an exciting collection of young receivers and shifty running backs and a relentlessly competitive culture. Likewise, Justin Fields made major strides in his development last season, and now gets to throw to deep-threat D.J. Moore with a buttressed defense supporting Chicago’s emerging offense.
If Jordan Love is as pro-ready as Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst believes, this could become a legitimate three-team race for the division crown.
7. AFC South
There’s a possibility, albeit an outside one, that three of the AFC South’s teams will be led onto the field by new starting quarterbacks come September.
Then, there’s the Jacksonville Jaguars who have done everything possible to surround Trevor Lawrence with game-altering talent, and even-handed coaching over the past two offseasons. Calvin Ridley’s arrival gives Lawrence a legitimate field-stretcher and rounds out an offense that is a worthy complement to a hungry defense.
If nothing else, the AFC South is going to be fun to watch as the likes of Anthony Richardson, C.J. Stroud, and possibly even Will Levis begin their careers chasing Lawrence’s Jaguars, not to mention his lofty upside.
8. NFC South
It’s difficult to imagine the NFC South producing more than one playoff team, but there are certainly fun storylines abound.
After adding Adam Thielen, Miles Sanders, and potential franchise quarterback Bryce Young around new head coach Frank Reich, the Carolina Panthers are giving off serious worst-to-first vibes. Meanwhile, there’s something thrilling about the nucleus being built by the Atlanta Falcons with Bijan Robinson arriving alongside the likes of Drake London and Kyle Pitts. But who will quarterback this collection of explosive upstarts?
Meanwhile, the old guard still has plenty of star power, with the New Orleans Saints importing Derek Carr and the Buccaneers still boasting a talented veteran defense. The battles between rebuilding franchises in Atlanta and Carolina and the Saints and Buccaneers making pushes for another postseason run will be thrilling to watch unfold.