As we headed into the 2023 NFL season, Taylor dominated the headlines. Colts operating again Jonathan Taylor was holding out for a contract extension, to construct his personal generational wealth and alter the operating again market as we all know it. By season’s finish, probably the most notable Taylor within the NFL was a worldwide icon showcasing her gaga section with Travis Kelce throughout Chiefs video games. You by no means know which street the NFL will take from year-to-year nevertheless it’s by no means boring.
On-field outcomes have turn out to be a bit simpler to foretell within the period of Patrick Mahomes. After three Tremendous Bowls wins in 5 years, it’s now protected to say that anybody betting in opposition to Mahomes is a idiot. But after we look at our Guardian NFL picks from final September, it seems a few of us writers had been a bit off, not solely in doubting Mahomes’s capability to beat his lack of a supporting forged however on a lot of our predictions throughout the board. Then once more, considered one of us received the lineup for the Tremendous Bowl spot on. Let’s, squeamishly, have a look (you may learn the total predictions right here) at how we noticed the season taking part in out.
Greatest group that gained’t make the playoffs
What we mentioned earlier than the season: We favored the New York Jets’ new look offense however issues about Aaron Rodgers’ “decreased mobility” and whether or not “he’ll have a constructive affect on group tradition” accurately saved us from stamping their ticket to the postseason. Let’s not discuss our prediction that “Todd Monken’s offensive overhaul is probably too large” on the Baltimore Ravens.
What truly occurred: Rodgers’s mobility undoubtedly decreased: he performed precisely 94 seconds as a Jet earlier than tearing his achilles, and the group proceeded to file their eighth-straight dropping season. The Ravens reigned supreme, no less than within the common season, and reached the AFC Championship Recreation.
MVP
What we mentioned earlier than the season: Amongst our contenders was Justin Herbert who we mentioned “will explode with Kellen Moore on the controls.” One in every of us picked Joe Burrow, touting what we thought-about his spectacular relationship with a sure receiver (“there are various proficient wideout-quarterback duos on the market however none with the connection of Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase.”) Josh Allen and Trevor Lawrence had been our different picks. Crickets from us on Lamar Jackson, the precise MVP, together with Dak Prescott, and Brock Purdy who had been additionally contenders.
What truly occurred: Per ordinary, the MVP frontrunner tag bounced round. Tua Tagovailoa and Prescott had been contenders for a bit. So had been Jalen Hurts and Brock Purdy. Not one of the names we talked about had been actually within the dialog because the season developed though, in mitigation, Burrow’s marketing campaign was ruined by harm. Ultimately the competitors fizzled and Jackson, who performed the perfect season of his profession, ran away with the award.
Rookie to observe
What we mentioned earlier than the season: Oh, had been we excessive on Bryce Younger. “If Younger is as NFL prepared as he seems, he might do some actual harm.” Identical for Bijan Robinson, who we referred to as a once-in-a-lifetime prospect. However we had been significantly excessive on Eagles defensive sort out Jalen Carter: “Be aware of the ‘child rhino’ as he destroys offensive traces.”
What truly occurred: As we predicted, Carter was a beast, always within the face of opposing quarterbacks. He completed behind solely the Houston Texans’ Will Anderson Jr for Defensive Rookie of the Yr. Robinson was grossly underutilized by the Falcons, whereas Younger made zero affect. In the meantime, Offensive Rookie of the Yr CJ Stroud together with his countless bag of methods is already a star – we simply didn’t decide him out as one.
AFC East champion
What we mentioned earlier than the season: Half of our votes went to the Buffalo Payments who we thought-about “probably the most full groups in soccer”, even when we had “query marks on the subject of their lack of depth at go rush and receiver.” The opposite two votes had been cut up between the Miami Dolphins, because of their deadly McDaniel-Tagovailoa combo, and the Jets (“Participant for participant, they’ve as a lot expertise as anybody within the league.”)
What truly occurred: No, the Patriots didn’t shock the world. The division was Miami’s to lose because of their early offensive explosion. In the meantime, Buffalo’s season was mired in tumult because of a wildly inconsistent quarterback and a head coach below hearth for upsetting feedback concerning the September 11 hijackers. Simply when it appeared like a misplaced season, the Payments closed out the common season with a five-game win streak, together with a Week 18 win over Miami, to safe the No 2 seed. As for the Jets, nicely, possibly some day.
AFC North champion
What we mentioned earlier than the season: Welp. All of us picked the Cincinnati Bengals, believing they had been stacked on either side of the ball: “…once you’re all the way down to worrying concerning the beginning safeties, you realize you’re in a great spot.” We additionally hedged our bets, noting the Bengals would “narrowly win” the division. We had been most skeptical concerning the Cleveland Browns, particularly below heart: “if final season’s Watson exhibits up the Browns might be cooked…”
What truly occurred: The Bengals (9-8) had been the one AFC North group to not make the playoffs. Cincinnati’s secondary did show to be a detriment as was an incapability to win most shut video games and Burrow’s season-ending wrist harm. A devastating go rush, plus the unlikely rebirth of Joe Flacco saved the Browns contending regardless of (or possibly due to) dropping Watson in Week 10. Baltimore took the division crown with a relentless protection of their very own and a mesmerizing season from Jackson.
AFC South champion
What we mentioned earlier than the season: One other consensus as all of us picked the Jacksonville Jaguars. A few of us thought “Mike Vrabel would preserve the Titans aggressive” and that “the Texans can be a lot better than in years previous” however finally concluded that Jacksonville had the expertise on offense to “simply win the division.”
What truly occurred: The Titans underperformed throughout the board and fired Vrabel at season’s finish. Jacksonville sat within the driver’s seat till they crashed and burned by dropping six straight to shut out the season. In the meantime, the Texans went from worst to first. Stroud was not solely electrical however largely mistake free, and the group additionally hit on a bruising go rusher in Anderson.
AFC West champion
What we mentioned earlier than the season: 4 writers. 4 votes for the Chiefs. We laid out the info: “Patrick Mahomes is the Chiefs’ quarterback; Andy Reid is the Chiefs’ head coach; Steve Spagnuolo is the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator.” Sufficient mentioned. We had been cut up on the Chargers, considered one of us considering they’d “lock down a wildcard spot.” The opposite predicting “the Chargers will most likely break quite a lot of hearts per ordinary.””
What truly occurred: At 11-6, the Chiefs simply took the division as all the opposite groups completed beneath .500.
NFC East champion
What we mentioned earlier than the season: All of us mentioned the Philadelphia Eagles with “probably the most full roster within the league” would take the crown however not and not using a battle from the Dallas Cowboys. We mentioned “the battle for supremacy could possibly be spectacular,” calling Dallas “not simply the second-best group within the NFC East; they could be the second greatest within the convention”.
What truly occurred: Philly began 10-1 earlier than imploding spectacularly. The Eagles’ freefall was punctuated by an embarrassing Week 17 loss to the three-win Arizona Cardinals. The offense was unhealthy, significantly the play-calling, however the protection was a lot a lot worse and shifting duties to Matt Patricia made it much more dire. Dallas confirmed promise all through, particularly at dwelling the place they had been undefeated, and had been in a position to steal the division because of the Eagles’ nosedive.
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NFC North champion
What we mentioned earlier than the season: Two of us picked the Detroit Lions, believing that they had “the division’s greatest roster” and liking how “they spent the offseason turning the group’s obtrusive weak spot, the secondary, right into a power.” One in every of us picked the Minnesota Vikings considering they “would win a bunch of one-score video games.” The ultimate vote went to the Inexperienced Bay Packers, suggesting Jordan Love would “profit from Matt Lafleur’s offensive thoughts.”
What truly occurred: The secondary was one of many few weaknesses for NFC North champion Detroit, significantly towards the tip of the season. It was Jared Goff taking one other step ahead, the emergence of playmakers like Sam LaPorta, and the gutsy playcalling by Dan Campbell that saved the Lions dominant. Love went from a serious query mark to a star down the stretch. Minnesota gained a number of one-score video games but in addition misplaced a number of so will get again to the drafting board. Matt Eberflus appeared unprepared to guide the Bears, his recreation administration was significantly putrid, but he stays on the helm. Good luck, Chicago – no less than you may have the No 1 decide in just a few months.
NFC South champion
What we mentioned earlier than the season: Three of us picked the New Orleans Saints considering that “Derek Carr’s change in surroundings – and supporting forged – could possibly be sufficient to spark a late-career resurgence.” Atlanta’s “decision to run the ball with Robinson” was too tempting for our sole author who picked the Falcons. This was a means of elimination decide for all of us. Included within the rationale: “Tampa Bay seem rudderless with out Tom Brady.”
What truly occurred: Why hi there, Baker Mayfield. After standing at 4-7 on the finish of November, the Bucs gained their third-straight division title. The protection was inconsistent however could possibly be counted on for essential stops. Mayfield was imagined to fill the hole between Brady and the long run. As an alternative, he proved greater than competent, passing for greater than 4,000 yards and had a penchant for large performs. The Saints made a valiant cost to shut out the season, nevertheless it was too little too late.
NFC West champion
What we mentioned earlier than the season: All of us picked the San Francisco 49ers as a result of group’s “gamechanging expertise.” However we had been a bit skeptical about Purdy holding down the fort. We assumed he would “come again all the way down to Earth.” One in every of our writers, which was undoubtedly not me, was “not satisfied that Purdy is the perfect quarterback on his personal group.” We thought-about Seattle the 49ers’ largest problem, ingesting the Kool-Help from Geno Smith’s exceptional 2022 marketing campaign. We additionally referred to as the Los Angeles Rams a “dumpster hearth.”
What truly occurred: Other than a three-game dropping streak in October, through which we questioned Purdy and a loss to the Ravens on Christmas the place we questioned Purdy once more, it was easy crusing for the 49ers and their forged of stars. Purdy and Christian McCaffrey had been each within the MVP dialog. The protection, whereas bruising at instances, was not as constant as in years previous. The Rams had been among the many league’s largest surprises, with their forged of rising rookies and journeyman surrounding a tough-as-nails Matt Stafford, who proved he’s not fairly completed but.
AFC Championship
What we mentioned earlier than the season: Three of believed the Chiefs can be on the dropping finish, two choosing Buffalo and one choosing the Bengals to oust final season’s champion. One in every of us picked the Chiefs over the Chargers.
What truly occurred: The place was our respect for Baltimore? None of us had them going this far. The Ravens had been favorites, however the Chiefs protection placed on a masterpiece on the street. It was considered one of Kelce’s greatest video games of the season, and Mahomes was in a position to slice and cube the Ravens early.
NFC Championship
What we mentioned earlier than the season: 4 writers, simply three groups within the dialog. We had the 49ers over the Eagles, the Eagles over the Cowboys, the 49ers over the Cowboys, and the Eagles over the 49ers.
What truly occurred: The Lions buried their playoff drought and, for one half of the NFC Championship, headed to the Tremendous Bowl. Down 17 on the half, linebacker Fred Warner gave a fiery locker room discuss and the 49ers protection proceeded to dominate the second. McCaffrey scored twice and Purdy used his legs to safe the 34-31 comeback win.
Tremendous Bowl
Who we picked earlier than the season: Look away, Buffalo. Two of us thought Buffalo would hoist the Lombardi Trophy considering this iteration was “scientifically engineered to lastly finish Buffalo’s franchise-long Tremendous Bowl drought.” We additionally picked the 49ers and (yikes!) the Bengals.
What truly occurred: One in every of us, Graham Searles, picked a 49ers-Chiefs Tremendous Bowl. However he narrowly missed on the winner as Mahomes willed the Chiefs to victory in dramatic vogue in additional time.
As for Buffalo, one other yr, one other heartbreaking playoff loss to the Chiefs. Except there may be some seismic shift, it’s exhausting to check Buffalo getting over the hump quickly.
None of us picked the Chiefs because the winner. I’d wish to unequivocally state that we gained’t make the identical mistake heading into subsequent season. However we now have an entire NFL draft and summer time to delude ourselves in any other case.
