2023 NFL regular season predictions: Chiefs, Eagles continue domination
By Hunter Haas
The regular season is finally upon us, with the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs taking on the upstart Detroit Lions this Thursday evening. With the new campaign comes a fresh batch of optimism (and predictions) for each fan base around the league.
To further examine whether the excitement is warranted, let’s dive deep into each team’s schedule and predict the final standings for all eight divisions. First, we will begin out west with the Chiefs’ own division — the AFC West.
(*denotes playoff team)
AFC West Predictions: Chiefs Dominance Continues
1. Kansas City Chiefs (12-5)*
2. Los Angeles Chargers (9-8)
3. Las Vegas Raiders (7-10)
4. Denver Broncos (7-10)
Boring? Perhaps. But, sometimes, reality is boring; it’s true. The Chiefs have won seven straight AFC West titles, and I suspect they will make it an eighth in 2023.
The Chiefs roster is just as stacked as always, with the two most recent draft classes expected to take a step up this season. As long as Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid roam the sideline, the rest of the division faces an uphill climb toward dethroning them.
The Chargers employ Justin Herbert and a stacked assortment of weapons, with new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore bringing his voice to LA. As always, health will be the determining factor for the Bolts’ playoff ambitions. The Raiders and Broncos are wildcards, but given how tough the conference is, it is hard to forecast more than seven wins for either of them.