The 2023 NFL script was leaked! Here are nine juicy spoilers; proceed with caution!
There is a popular discourse on social media centered around professional sports and an imaginary ‘script’. With how some things have unfolded over the years, including former referees/umpires outright admitting to shaving points in games, I suppose it is hard to blame fans for having some skepticism.
Hot Takes: 2023 NFL Script Has Been Leaked… Here Are The Spoilers
Still, I’ve never bought into the league-wide collusion angles. And especially not some fabled ‘script’. That is… until now. Somehow, someway, the full NFL script for this upcoming season found its way to my desk. I don’t want to spoil everything for you guys, so I’ll just pick nine of the most interesting narratives!
Here is your official spoiler warning for the 2023 NFL season. If you want to avoid these spoilers, click out now because they will definitely, maybe, probably happen! The first section sees a superstar quarterback finally earn MVP honors…
NFL Script Spoiler No. 1: Josh Allen Finally Snags NFL MVP Award
Josh Allen finished second to Aaron Rodgers in the 2020 NFL MVP voting and third behind Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts in 2022. The 27-year-old signal-caller is poised to get the monkey off his back by winning his first NFL MVP award in 2023.
Allen’s dual-threat ability leads to some gaudy, MVP-worthy stats. He possesses a rocket launcher right arm and is a bull in a China Shop as a runner. The offensive line should be better with the addition of O’Cyrus Torrence and another weapon in the passing game in Dalton Kincaid.
The Bills have a shot at securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC, which — like it or not — is a factor in voters’ minds. Allen is approaching the peak of his prime; now is the time to bring home an MVP for his trophy case.
NFL Script Spoiler No. 2: Steelers’ Mike Tomlin Extends .500-or-Better Streak To 17 Seasons
Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers are allergic to losing seasons. In his 16 seasons as head coach, Tomlin has never won less than eight games. The team has qualified for the postseason ten times in that span, including one Super Bowl title.
The Steelers finished 9-8 last season, narrowly missing out on a playoff spot. The front office made a concerted effort to continue building the roster around former first-round pick Kenny Pickett. The offensive line welcomes multiple new starters, and veteran pass catcher Allen Robinson now calls the Steel City home.
Defense is where the team improved the most. Pittsburgh landed my top-rated cornerback in Joey Porter Jr. and an instant starter at defensive tackle with Keeanu Benton. Assuming T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Minkah Fitzpatrick stay healthy, this unit will carry the Steelers to the postseason, extending Tomlin’s streak to 17 straight non-losing seasons.
NFL Script Spoiler No. 3: Trevor Lawrence Enters Superstardom
Trevor Lawrence engineered one of the most shocking comebacks in NFL Postseason history when his Jaguars erased a 20-point halftime deficit vs. the Chargers. The former No. 1 overall pick rebounded from a shaky first half by throwing three touchdowns and positioning Jacksonville for a game-winning field goal.
As we enter Year 3 of the Lawrence era in Duval, expect the young signal-caller to ascend to superstardom. Christian Kirk returns, along with Evan Engram and Zay Jones. A primary reason to expect even more from Lawrence in 2023 is the acquisition of Calvin Ridley. The former Alabama standout was suspended for gambling but has since been reinstated and could become a steal of the century for the Jaguars.
He may not win the NFL MVP, and the Jaguars may not be ready to win a Super Bowl quite yet, but 12 months from now, Trevor Lawrence will be a mainstay in “top five” talks. Jacksonville should be over-the-moon thinking about its future with a franchise quarterback.
NFL Script Spoiler No. 4: Both Chiefs & Eagles Will Be Undefeated Entering Week 11 MNF Matchup
What’s that saying? “The more things change, the more they stay the same”? Well, here is another case as the Chiefs and Eagles have a chance to win out until they meet up in Week 11. In a much-anticipated Super Bowl rematch, the hysteria will be at an all-time high, with both teams undefeated entering the crucial Monday Night Football matchup.
Kansas City improved its roster with another stroke of brilliance at the 2023 NFL Draft. The front office was busy in free agency with the signings of Jawaan Taylor and Donovan Smith on the offensive line, too. The Chiefs have struggled from slow starts (by their standards), but that will not be the case in 2023.
Philadelphia took it a step further by retaining nearly every core member of its 2022 roster while also bringing in a handful of starting-caliber players. Jalen Carter is a superstar in the making, and Nolan Smith can become a top pass rusher in the NFL if he stays healthy. The offense is in good hands with the recently-extended Jalen Hurts, paving the way for a showdown midway through the campaign.
NFL Script Spoiler No. 5: Falcons, Lions Win Respective Divisions
The Falcons looked like me in Madden franchise mode this offseason — and I am good at Madden! General manager Terry Fontenot signed a culture-shifter by adding respected veteran Calais Campbell to the fold. Furthermore, Atlanta snagged Jessie Bates and David Onyemata to continue the defensive overhaul.
Offensively, No. 8 overall pick Bijan Robinson signifies the most impactful move in the skill positions. The team traded up for Matthew Bergeron on Day 2, hoping he is the final piece to an already-impressive offensive line. Second-year signal-caller Desmond Ridder gets the chance to steer the ship, and I see that resulting in an NFC South crown.
Moving further north, the Lions are another team that greatly improved its playoff chances this offseason. General manager Brad Holmes followed a lot of the same beats that Fontenot laid out. Holmes signed a star safety in C.J. Gardner-Johnson and drafted a running back in Jahmyr Gibbs during the first round.
Other draft picks like Jack Campbell and Brian Branch can start as rookies and give the defense a much-needed jolt. The offense will replicate the success of 2022, and Detroit will win the NFC North.
NFL Script Spoiler No. 6: Will Levis Challenges For Rookie Of The Year Honors
The Titans have been shy about putting too much on the plate of their most-recent draft pick, Will Levis. Veteran Ryan Tannehill is still expected to start when Week 1 rolls around, but I’m here to tell you this team is Levis’ sooner rather than later.
Levis may win the starting gig before the regular season opens, but at a minimum, he will be Tennessee’s starting signal-caller by October. When he takes over the QB1 mantle, the offense will open up considerably in the passing game.
Don’t get me wrong, as long as Derrick Henry is on the roster, the offense will run through him. However, Levis possesses the arm talent to keep defenses honest and pick them apart when they zero in too heavily on the run.
The former Wildcat superstar is not perfect by any means, but he will put up better-than-expected stats and place himself in Rookie of the Year conversations. Perhaps the Titans have found the long-term answer behind center.
NFL Script Spoiler No. 7: Arizona Cardinals Claim No. 1 Pick In 2024 NFL Draft; Kyler Murray Trade Rumors Swirl
The Cardinals are not actively tanking, but it is easy to see why those accusations have surfaced. First and foremost, the franchise will be without its cornerstone for most of the 2023 season as Kyler Murray is still recovering from his devastating knee injury.
On top of that, the front office cut ties with superstar DeAndre Hopkins and received nothing in return. Starting cornerback Byron Murphy moved on as well, leaving Arizona with one of the worst cornerback rooms I’ve ever witnessed.
The silver lining? If the Cardinals finish with the worst record in the NFL, they’ll have the world at their fingertips. It helps that Arizona also owns the Texans’ first-round pick in 2024, giving the franchise two avenues to the No. 1 overall selection.
Arizona must decide between trading the pick for a haul unlike anything we’ve ever seen, or standing pat and taking Caleb Williams for itself. In this event, the Cardinals would trade away Kyler Murray and start things fresh for the new regime. Regardless, the discourse around the No. 1 pick will be fascinating next off-season.
NFL Script Spoiler No. 8: Bill Belichick Retires
The writing is on the wall for Bill Belichick’s retirement. The Patriots are not a legitimate Super Bowl contender, and it would take some unprecedented improvement from the roster to become one in the near future. It’s hard to imagine Belichick sticking around if things don’t change quickly.
Sure, as long as he’s leading the way, New England will flirt with a .500 record at minimum. However, the AFC is only getting tougher, especially in the AFC East, making it all the more likely that the Patriots miss the playoffs again in 2023.
At 71 years old, Belichick calls it a career the Monday after the regular season concludes. The greatest head coach of all time rides off into the sunset, following his long-time partner-in-crime, Thomas Edward Patrick Brady.
NFL Script Spoiler No. 9: Bengals Defeat Seahawks In Super Bowl 58
The Bengals surprised many when they went from a team picking inside of the top five in the 2021 NFL Draft to playing for a Super Bowl only ten months later. Unfortunately for Cincinnati, the franchise fell just shy of a second straight AFC title last season, dropping a tightly-contested three-point dogfight vs. rival Kansas City.
In 2023, the Bengals will exercise their demons by defeating the Chiefs in a rematch for the AFC title. Joe Burrow will hoist the Lombardi Trophy and earn Super Bowl MVP honors. The city will welcome its first championship since 1990 when the Reds claimed the World Series vs. Oakland.
On the NFC side, the Seattle Seahawks will represent the conference in next year’s Super Bowl. Geno Smith continues his steady play behind center, and the offense gets even better with the contributions of rookies Zach Charbonnet and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The defense welcomes back franchise icon Bobby Wagner to man the middle of the field. Devon Witherspoon presents Pete Carroll with an impressive trio of cornerbacks, and the return of Jamal Adams benefits the secondary and the pass-rushing group. All the cards align for a Super Bowl run in Seattle.