The 2023 NFL season kicks off this Thursday, featuring 32 teams all striving for the ultimate prize: victory in Super Bowl LVIII, scheduled to take place at Allegiant Stadium in Nevada on February 11, 2024.
As the NFL enters its 58th season, it has solidified its position as America’s premier sports league, bringing together the best teams from the National Football Conference (NFC) and American Football Conference (AFC). Over the past decade, the NFL’s popularity has soared, extending its reach far beyond North American borders.
A significant contributor to the sport’s global appeal is Tom Brady, widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes in NFL history. Brady made headlines when he came out of retirement to headline in the 2022 season. Having secured 6 Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots, he achieved a legendary 7th with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021. However, the 46-year-old quarterback decided to retire “for good” in February 2023.
Turning our attention to the main event of the 2023 season, the Kansas City Chiefs dazzled fans with a series of remarkable performances, ultimately capping their season with a thrilling 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles to claim their 3rd Super Bowl championship.
With the excitement of the new season permeating the air, let’s take a quick look at a rookie’s guide to the sport and the teams to keep an eye on as we approach the 2023 season.
Rookie Guide
What is the NFL?
The NFL, an acronym for the National Football League, stands as the premier American Football competition in the United States, featuring 32 teams vying for the coveted end-of-season championship known as the Super Bowl. These 32 teams are divided into two conferences, the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC), further segmented into four divisions, each consisting of four teams.
How does the NFL work?
Throughout the year, each team faces their divisional counterparts twice, both at home and away, making up a substantial portion of their 16-game schedule. The remaining 10 matchups are predetermined. Each NFL game consists of four 15-minute quarters, with a unique feature: the game clock halts during stoppages in play, eliminating any added time at the end. In cases where the game remains tied after 4 quarters, an overtime period of 15 minutes is added to determine a winner.
How are points scored?
When a team possesses the ball on offence, they must advance it at least 10 yards within four attempts; failing to do so results in a turnover to the opposing team. Successfully traversing the field to reach the end zone results in a touchdown, worth six points. Teams can then opt to increase their score to seven or eight by executing an ‘extra point’ kick through the goalposts or attempting a ‘two-point conversion,’ essentially trying for another touchdown from two yards away from the end zone. If reaching the end zone seems unlikely, teams can earn three points by attempting a ‘field goal,’ which involves kicking the ball between the goalposts. In situations where a field goal is unfeasible, teams often punt the ball to their opponents, aiming to place them deep into their own territory as possible upon begging their defensive sequence.
The Road to the Super Bowl
At the conclusion of the regular season, the teams with the best records in each of the four divisions per conference, along with the three teams with the next-best records in each conference, commonly referred to as ‘wildcard’ teams, qualify for the playoffs. This totals to 14 teams—7 from each conference—progressing towards the Super Bowl. The seeding in the playoffs is determined based on the teams’ win-loss records.
Wild Card Weekend:
The wildcard teams are automatically seeded as the 5th, 6th, and 7th seeds in each conference. They face off on the road against the 4th, 3rd, and 2nd-seeded teams, respectively, while the top-ranked teams receive ‘byes’.
Divisional Round:
Following Wild Card Weekend, the top-seeded team in each conference host the lowest-ranked remaining team, with the other two teams competing against each other, hosted by the higher-seeded team.
Conference Championship
The final step before the Super Bowl involves the remaining two teams in each conference battling it out, with the higher-seeded team enjoying home-field advantage. These games determine the champions of the NFC and AFC, setting the stage for the Super Bowl showdown.
Teams to Watch in the Current Season
Kansas City Chiefs:
The reigning Super Bowl Champions Kansas City Chiefs, who led the league in scoring last season and shown no signs of slowing down, have bolstered their offence with the addition of outstanding new offensive tackles Donovan Smith and Jawaan Taylor. These two players, who performed exceptionally well in the preseason, appear to be a significant upgrade from last season. With a deep roster of playmakers at wide receiver, the Chiefs, led by two-time league (and Super Bowl) MVP, Patrick Mahomes at quarterback and guided by Andy Reid’s play-calling expertise, remain a potent force in the league and are unsurprisingly the bookies’ favourite.
Buffalo Bills:
The Buffalo Bills enter the season amid significant hype. Since 2019, they have consistently maintained the best points margin per game (8.4), showcasing their ability to win by substantial margins and compete closely in games. The Bills boast a formidable offence led by Josh Allen, while their defence has allowed the fewest passing yards per game since 2019 (200.8). This defensive strength will come in handy for the Bills in their quest to secure a place in the Super Bowl finals.
Cincinnati Bengals:
All eyes are on the fitness of Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow. If the Bengals quarterback fully recovers early into the new season, the team is well-positioned for another deep postseason run. The lack of quality depth in the offensive line remains a concern, in addition to losing both starting safeties in Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates III in free agency. However, the Bengals should still be considered one of the top AFC contenders, following in the footsteps of the Chiefs.
Philadelphia Eagles:
Off the back of their narrow Super Bowl defeat last season and under the stewardship of one of the most lauded head coaches in the NFL– Nick Sirianni, the Eagles have a strong chance of making successive Super Bowl appearances and will be motivated to go one step further. GM Howie Roseman was praised post- draft day with Defensive tackle Jalen Carter showcasing his value as a shrewd addition to any already stacked Defense, and linebacker Nolan Smith looking like he could emerge as the steal of the 2023 first round picks. Philadelphia’s offensive statistics from the previous season are impressive, finishing third in total yards (389.1 per game), fifth in rushing yards (147.6), and ninth in passing yards (241.5 per game). Quarterback Jalen Hurts, who recently signed a 5-year extension worth $255 million, will be looking to build on last year’s MVP-calibre season. Despite the loss of some key players in the offseason, including RB (running back) Miles Sanders and DT (defensive tackle) Javon Hargrave, the Eagles are still one of team to watch in the upcoming season, solidifying their status as a formidable contender.
San Francisco 49ers:
The San Francisco 49ers stand out as a Super Bowl contender despite having some questions at the quarterback position. Their array of offensive stars including the likes of George Kittle and Deebo Samuel, coupled with Kyle Shanahan’s play-calling prowess, virtually guarantees an effective offence regardless of the quarterbacks at the team’s disposal. While new defensive coordinator coach Steve Wilks may not make significant systemic changes, his background in working with defensive backs should contribute to strengthening an already league-best defence in their quest to claim Super Bowl glory.
