With the NFL Draft now firmly in the rear-view mirror, attention has turned to the start of training camp and the new season itself. Each of the 32 teams in the NFL now knows who they will be playing and when. Courtesy of sports news outlet Sports Today, we review each of the 32 teams’ chances of Super Bowl glory,
NFC
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys – Strength or Schedule – 31st
The Dallas Cowboys are looking to become the first team in age to repeat as NFC East Champions. In Dak Prescott, the Cowboys have the best quarterback in the division but they will have a battle on their hands for NFC East supremacy this year.
New York Giants – Strength of Schedule – 29th
The Giants have a new man at the helm and fans of the Giants will be hoping that Brian Daboll can have a similar effect on Daniel Jones as he did with his former Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen. Jones is a talent but is playing for his future this season. An assault on the division looks unlikely and the Giants will only go as far as Jones will take them.
Philadelphia Eagles – Strength of Schedule – 30th
The Eagles look to be in a prime position to claim back their NFC East title. It’s been widely considered that the Eagles won the draft and the acquisitions of AJ Brown and Jordan Davis will have an immediate impact. Question marks surround Jalen Hurts but if Hurts can pull it together the Eagles could make some waves this season.
Washington Commanders – Strength of Schedule – 31st
The Commanders have a new Quarterback at the helm in the shape of Carson Wentz. Wentz has something to prove and they will need him to produce the magic of a few seasons ago if the Commanders are not to come bottom of the division.
NFC North
Chicago Bears – Strength of Schedule – 24th
The Bears might have a long season ahead of them. The general consensus amongst the pundits was that the Bears whiffed on the draft. Couple a lack of weapons for second-year QB Justin Fields with the loss of Khalil Mack and this could be a tricky year for the Bears.
Detroit Lions – Strength of Schedule – 28th
It’s a huge year for the Detroit Lions. So often the whipping boys of the division, the Lions will be hoping that Jared Goff can make a leap following a fairly disappointing first year. In new draft pick Aiden Hutchinson, fans of the Lions will be hoping he can boost a defensive unit that struggled at times last year.
Green Bay Packers – Strength of Schedule – 22nd
The Green Bay Packers have long been the masters of the NFC North and once again the division only looks to be going one place. It will be interesting to see how they cope with the loss of Davante Adams but the Packers should still be hard to beat.
Minnesota Vikings – Strength of Schedule – 20th
The Vikings have a talented side and look like the team most likely to challenge the Packers. Kirk Cousins is most likely entering his final season with the team and although he has proven himself to be a top-level operator. Fans of the Vikings will be hoping he kicks on and takes the team onto new heights.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons – Strength of Schedule – 9th
A strength of schedule that ranks 9th in the NFL should strike fear into the hearts of Atlanta Falcons fans. This is a new era for the Falcons who will have Marcus Mariota lining up at Quarterback. The Falcons have some promising playmakers but their issues at Quarterback could make this a long season.
Carolina Panthers – Strength of Schedule – 12th
With the twelve toughest schedules in the NFL, this could be a tough season for the Carolina Panthers. There are still huge question marks about the Quarterback position and whether Sam Darnold has the faith of the coaching staff. This is a vital year for Matt Rhule and if results don’t go his way, Rhule might find himself out of work.
New Orlean Saints – Strength of Schedule – 7th
Another team heading into this new season with questions to answer is the New Orleans Saints. Quarterback is still an issue and the Saints will be relying on Jameis Winston to lead them back to the promised lead. Sean Payton has left and it will be interesting to see how new coach Dennis Allan gets on in his first year in the hot seat.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Strength of Schedule – 4th
Tom Brady has kept the band together and is returning for another season. Under the guidance of new head coach Todd Bowles, the Bucs look like the overwhelming favorites to win the NFC South. It would be foolish to think that Brady couldn’t lead his team back to yet another Super Bowl.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals – Strength of Schedule – 2nd
For the first half of last season, the Cardinals looked like the team to beat. An injury to DeAndre Hopkins saw the wheels come off and the Cardinals crashed out of the playoffs at the first hurdle to the LA Rams. Things don’t look great for the Cards as Hopkins has been suspended for the first six games of the season and Kyler Murray’s contract situation looks like it might run long into the offseason.
La Rams – Strength of Schedule – 1st
The LA Rams will be looking to capture a second successive Super Bowl title. The Rams look like they will be able to bring most of their starters back and will be hard to beat. Matt Stafford had a great postseason but wasn’t brilliant during the regular season. If he can tidy up his play the Rams will be aiming for the NFC’s number 1 seed.
Seattle Seahawks – Strength of Schedule – 11th
The immediate future of the Seahawks looks bleak. Russel Wilson is no more and it looks like Drew Lock will be the man to try and get the Seahawks back into the postseason. So often the dominant force in the division, the Seahawks could be left to prop it up this time.
San Francisco 49ers – Strength of Schedule – 5th
The San Francisco 49ers had a fantastic end to the 2022 season, making it all the way to the NFC Championship Game narrowly falling to the LA Rams. Once again the genius of Kyle Shanahan was in full effect. Question marks remain over the future of Jimmy Garroppolo and the contract situation of Deebo Samuel will need to be sorted quickly.
AFC
AFC East
Buffalo Bills – Strength of Schedule – 12th
The Buffalo Bills will start the season at the LA Rams and will be wanting to get off to a fast start. The current Super Bowl favorites, the Bills will be looking for revenge over the Kansas City Chiefs. A lot is on the line for a roster packed with potential.
Miami Dolphins – Strength of Schedule – 21st
The Dolphins could be a dark horse for a big playoff run. The additions of Tyreek Hill and Cedrick Wilson will make the Dolphins explosive. Much will rest on the shoulders of Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
New England Patriots – Strength of Schedule – 16th
The Patriots still look like a team that’s rebuilding. Rookie Mac Jones produced a good rookie campaign, leading the Pats all the way to the playoffs. So often the major player in the division, the Patriots face a huge battle to come out on top this season.
New York Jets – Strength of Schedule – 17th
The New York Jets looked to have a good draft making several key additions on the defensive side of the ball. The jury is out on Zach Wilson and he will need to make a big jump this season. The Jets have been the whipping boys for too long in a loaded division and will be looking to bounce back here.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens – Strength of Schedule – 23rd
The Ravens surprisingly missed the playoffs last season but look to have been given a favorable schedule to get back this year. The impact of the loss of Hollywood Brown remains to be seen, the Ravens could also benefit from getting Lamar Jackson tied down to a new deal.
Cincinnati Bengals – Strength of Schedule – 3rd
The Bengals look like one of the most complete teams in the NFL. Making it all the way to the Super Bowl last season, the Bengals will be looking to go one better this time around. The offensive line was their weakness last year and they have made significant strides to improve that ahead of this crucial season.
Cleveland Browns – Strength of Schedule – 17th
After years in the wilderness, the Cleveland Browns are looking to ride the talent of their team and make a deep playoff run. The signing of DeShaun Watson should boost their quarterback play, but Watson could face a spell on the sidelines depending on the outcome of the NFL’s investigations.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Strength of Schedule – 12th
It’s a new era for the Steelers after the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben, who led the Steelers to two Super Bowl titles had a grip on the division, but that grip has certainly now slipped. With Kenny Pickett, a potential long-term replacement the Steelers have a lot to prove this year.
AFC South
Houston Texans – Strength of Schedule – 19th
The Texans look to be up against it based on their 19th-ranked strength of schedule. Firmly in rebuild mode, rookie Quarterback Davis Mills had a solid rookie campaign. A long shot for the playoffs, it could be another long year for the Texans.
Indianapolis Colts – Strength of Schedule – 26th
The Colts suffered a last-day blow-up to miss out on the playoffs last season. Carson Wentz has now gone and in his place is veteran Matt Ryan. The Colts have a loaded side, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Expect the Colts to compete for the division and be a dark horse entering the playoffs.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Strength of Schedule – 26th
The farcical Urban Meyer era is now a thing of the past and with new coach Doug Pedersen, the Jaguars will be severely hoping that its football team will operate on a more normal basis. Trevor Lawrence got a pass last season for all the chaos that last season bought. More will be expected from him this year and the pressure is truly on.
Tennessee Titans – Strength of Schedule – 24th
The Titans are still reeling from their playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Ryan Tannehill had one of the worst games of his career, so much so that the addition of Malik Willis is now putting pressure on his starting spot. With the loss of AJ Brown, much will rely on the legs of Derrick Henry.
AFC West
Denver Broncos – Strength of Schedule – 15th
The Denver Broncos have acquired one of the best Quarterbacks in the game thanks to the arrival of Russel Wilson. With Wilson at the helm, Denver will try and compete in arguably the toughest division in the NFL. A talented side on both sides of the ball, it will be interesting to see how far they can go.
Kansas City Chiefs – Strength of Schedule – 5th
The Kansas City Chiefs have had the division on lock for the better part of a decade. However one of Patrick Mahomes key men has now left town and it will be interesting to see how the Chiefs handle the losses of both Tyreek Hill and Tyrone Mathieu.
Las Vegas Raiders – Strength of Schedule – 7th
Raiders Quarterback Derek Carr has a new contract and the team has a new Head Coach. Josh Mcdaniel’s previous experience as a Head Coach didn’t really get off the ground and he and Carr will need to be at their best if they are to compete in a loaded division.
Los Angeles Chargers – Strength of Schedule – 10th
The Los Angeles Chargers are arguably the most underrated team in the entire NFL. It would have been a huge disappointment that the Chargers missed out on the playoffs last year but with Justin Herbert being one of the most talented young Quarterbacks in the league they will be looking to bounce back this season.