During the kick-off of the 2023 NFL season, Jared Goff led his underdog Detroit Lions to a shocking victory against none other than the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs, on the road no less. The Lions haven't exactly been regulars in the playoffs lately, they've only made it there a measly three times since the turn of the millennium.
But against all odds, they pulled off the most epic upset against Patrick Mahomes and his dynasty-status-approaching Chiefs. And they have since built on that earth-shattering victory, improving to a record of 6-2 after nine game weeks. We're smack bang in the middle of the 2023 NFL season so it's time to buckle up and assess the current standings while playing the crystal ball game. Who's going to reign supreme in their divisions two months down the line? Let's find out!
NFC East - Philadelphia Eagles
The NFC East is a supercharged division. Just last season, a whopping three out of the four teams made it to the playoffs, with the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and New York Giants wowing everyone. But this year, oh boy, the Giants have capitulated, and their performances? Not so impressive anymore.
The MetLife Stadium team is currently struggling with a measly 2-7 record. To put things in perspective, only the Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers have fared worse in the entire league. On the other hand, the Eagles and the Cowboys continue to soar, the former currently leads the division with eight wins and just one loss. The latter meanwhile is trailing behind with three fewer wins but having played one less game.
The Cowboys are making strides to reclaim their powerhouse status, but let's be real, they've still got a way to go before catching up to the Eagles. With Jalen Hurts at the helm, the Lincoln Financial Field crew has a QB who can single-handedly snatch victories. The reigning NFC Champions will go toe-to-toe with the Buffalo Bills and the Chiefs - the team that crushed their dreams at Super Bowl LVII in February - before the season is out, however. Despite these challenging games, we fully anticipate them to triumph over the hurdles and reign as champions of the NFC East for the second consecutive season.
NFC West - San Francisco 49ers
The 2023 season started with a bang for the San Francisco 49ers, kicking off the campaign with five straight victories. But as of late, it seems like their luck has taken a nosedive, as have their chances of success. Despite being the favorites for the Lombardi greatness not too long ago, three consecutive losses have prompted Super Bowl odds providers to push them all the way out to +525, only good for third in the pecking order.
But while they have been stumbling, their divisional foe, the Seattle Seahawks, have shown off their skills and announced their return as genuine contenders. They have gone about their business quietly, amassing an impressive record of 6-2 to claim the top spot in the NFC West. However, despite this, deep down, we can't help but believe that the Californians will find a way to reclaim their rightful position.
Brock Purdy, the once dubbed "Mr. Irrelevant," is proving to be quite the sensation as a quarterback, though he hasn't quite hit his stride just yet. And if that wasn't enough, McCaffrey's return to full fitness in just a few short weeks is eagerly anticipated. With these factors in play, it's safe to say that the 49ers possess enough prowess to reign supreme in their division once more.
NFC North - Detroit Lions
As we highlighted earlier, the Detroit Lions pulled off an absolute shocker in this year's opener, taking down the reigning champions on the road. But let's be real, maybe we shouldn't have been so surprised. They showed their party-pooping skills on the final day of last season by beating their arch-nemesis Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, crushing the hosts' dreams of making the playoffs.
This season, these guys have put together a whopping 6-2 record and have become a real force to reckon with in the NFC. When it comes to their division, they don't even break a sweat against the Packers or the Chicago Bears. The only thing that can potentially rain on their parade is the Minnesota Vikings. Unfortunately for them, their starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins, took a tumble and that might just be the end of the line for their Super Bowl dreams.
The Lions are sitting pretty with the division in their paws. They've got a sweet schedule ahead, including not one, but two matchups against the lowly Bears. It wouldn't be a surprise if they gave the Eagles a run for their money and snag that top-seed spot in the conference by the end of the year.
NFC South - Atlanta Falcons
If we're talking about tough NFL divisions, it's safe to say that the NFC East takes the cake. But when it comes to the NFC South, well, let's just say it's not exactly top-tier. Out of the four teams in the division - the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Carolina Panthers - only one can boast a winning record. That honor goes to the Louisiana outfit, but that record is still just 5-4 and is hardly eye-opening.
It looks like the second half of the season might get tough for everyone. But if we had to choose a winner, we'd go with the Falcons. They seem to have a slightly better schedule than the Saints.
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