The midway level of the 2023 NFL season has arrived. Per typical, the arduous wage cap and expanded postseason is doing what they’re designed to do. Solely a handful of groups have information so unhealthy {that a} No. 1 total draft choose is extra possible than playoff soccer. The Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants and New England Patriots, will possible not see mid-January soccer, however the remainder of the league is within the combine by way of 9 video games.
Of the 32 NFL groups, 27 have a possible likelihood on the postseason. Those that truly watch the video games know that groups with solely three wins at this level of the common season have a protracted highway to increase their seasons into mid-January. Whereas the Tremendous Bowl winner just isn’t clear within the first week of November, an sincere commentary of the league reveals a most of 9 championship contenders.
None of them are traditionally nice groups. Attributable to that arduous wage cap, the perfect groups within the NFL all have obtrusive weaknesses. There aren’t any undefeated groups by way of 9 weeks as a result of in some unspecified time in the future within the 2023 common season, the contenders haven’t been in a position to overcome their shortcomings.
Thankfully for these groups, they share that drawback with the remainder of the NFL. Tremendous groups have been outlawed by restrictions to participant compensation. The truth that America’s most worthwhile sports activities’ league limits what may be paid per staff to the gamers — the NFL’s majority Black workforce that drives the income to the detriment of their very own well being — implies that constantly bringing in low-cost younger expertise is the one approach to constant victory.
As tough as roster development is within the NFL, 4 groups have executed it effectively sufficient to separate themselves from the pack. They pay the massive quarterback salaries, however nonetheless have the expertise in all three phases to play championship-level soccer. The Baltimore Ravens, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cincinnati Bengals have separated themselves from the remainder of the league by way of three video games.
Two sturdy NFC opponents, two Raven beat downs
The Ravens haven’t misplaced a recreation since Oct. 8. In that point they’ve pounded two possible playoff groups. Two weeks in the past, they beat the Detroit Lions by 32 factors. The Lions had not misplaced by that many factors since Halloween 2021.
It was a protracted flight for the Seattle Seahawks to get to Baltimore and so they performed prefer it in Week 9. After the Ravens went up, 14-0, the Seahawks drove down the sector on their subsequent drive. It ended with them kicking a area aim, and they didn’t rating the remainder of the sport. The Ravens received, 37-3.
After all, the Ravens mustn’t have allowed the ultimate rating to get inside one possession in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8, however Joshua Dobbs has proven a knack for maintaining undermanned groups in video games all through this season. However because the well being of the roster has improved all year long, the Ravens have been dominant. Per DVOA, the Ravens had been the second-best staff ever by way of eight video games since that stat has been recorded. They solely trailed the 2001 Eagles.
The Ravens’ protection has not allowed 25 or extra factors in 2023. Mix that with Zay Flowers proving to be a reliable goal, and the Ravens’ speeding assault gobbling up yards, that is the clearly the perfect Ravens staff since their high seed-2019 season.
The Chiefs’ solely goal is to get the job executed
A repeat of the 2018 Chiefs’ offense will possible by no means once more occur. It’s inconceivable {that a} quarterback at Patrick Mahomes’ stage will begin his profession with a large receiver pretty much as good as Tyreek Hill. A 50-touchdown season from Mahomes is very unlikely whereas the remainder of the NFL is hellbent on limiting his massive performs.
The Chiefs constructed a 21-0 lead in opposition to the Miami Dolphins in Week 9 in Germany, and their last rating throughout that stretch was a fumble return to the top zone. They didn’t rating once more for the remainder of the sport.
Throughout the third quarter, the Dolphins scored on two of their first three drives. That might be it for offense for the remainder of the day. The Chiefs entered the sport with the fifth-best protection within the NF, per DVOA. When the Dolphins’ explosive offense was driving within the last seconds of the sport, the Chiefs’ protection pressured a game-clinching turnover.
Joe Burrow can transfer and the Bengals are once more contenders
Following the Bengals’ 24-18 Week 9 win in opposition to the Buffalo Payments, NBC’s Melissa Stark requested Burrow what he can do this he couldn’t within the early weeks of the 2023 season. Burrow responded, “Run.”
He has not dwelled on his lower-body damage from earlier this season, nevertheless it hampered the Bengals. Their 2020 No. 1 total draft choose is their greatest participant. He performed by way of his calf damage early within the season, as a result of even whereas stationary, Burrow continues to be much better choice at quarterback than backup Jake Browning.
Nevertheless, a stationary Burrow just isn’t a adequate quarterback for the Bengals to even trudge their manner into the playoffs as a seventh-seed. They misplaced three of their first 4 video games. A couple of days into November, the Bengals are at present on a four-game profitable streak. Throughout that span, Burrow has handed for 10 landing passes and two interceptions. Anybody who has watched Burrow play in latest weeks because the Bengals have turned their season from disappointment to rivalry, is effectively conscious that his mobility has returned.
Barring damage, the Eagles would be the troll of the NFL postseason bridge
As predicted, the NFC is by far the weakest NFL convention in 2023. Whereas the AFC has a number of championship contenders, it’s a stretch to consider the NFC has two. Accidents have resulted in three consecutive losses for the San Francisco 49ers As regularly as accidents happen within the NFL, it’s unlikely that the 49ers can be at optimum well being on the finish of a 17-game season.
Even when the Eagles are pressured to limp their manner into the NFC Championship Recreation, they seem like the staff within the convention greatest geared up to robust out that battle. At one level on Sunday, Jalen Hurts appeared executed with a knee damage, however a timeout was referred to as and he didn’t miss a play.
The Eagles misplaced Dallas Goedert to what ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported is a forearm fracture. Defensive backs Darius Slay and James Bradberry completed the sport after getting shaken up. It took each morsel of wholesome effort the Eagles needed to narrowly defeat the Dallas Cowboys, 28-23.
By 9 weeks, the Eagles have the perfect document within the NFL at 8-1. The Chiefs often is the defending champions, however any staff with ideas of defeating the Eagles in winter 2024 had higher be able to battle the perfect total staff within the league.