2023 NFL projections, rankings, predictions, Super Bowl pick - ESPN

The 2023 NFL season kicks off Thursday, Sept. 7, when the Detroit Lions visit the Kansas City Chiefs. Will the Chiefs go back to the Super Bowl? Which teams have the best offensive and defensive units? Which sleeper teams could make the push for the playoffs? To raise (or temper) expectations, I put together a complete breakdown of predictions and projections for the upcoming season.

My annual guide has everything you need to know for this season, including which teams are likely to score the most points, which defenses will allow the least and which X factors will decide the standings. I also stacked my team-by-team power rankings and unit grades, and made predictions for the playoffs and Super Bowl LVIII. Here's what to expect for the 2023 season, starting with what I consider the biggest storyline to follow.

Jump ahead to:
Schedule: Easiest | Toughest
Offense projections: Best | Worst
Defense projections: Best | Worst
X factors | Power rankings
Super Bowl pick | Unit rankings

It's not a stretch to argue that 11 of the NFL's top 13 teams are in the AFC. Three of those teams come from an AFC East division that includes Aaron Rodgers' New York Jets, a loaded Miami Dolphins defense and the three-time defending division champion Buffalo Bills. The AFC North division is also stacked, with much-improved Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers squads primed to push the Cincinnati Bengals. Add a healthy Los Angeles Chargers team, a Sean Payton-led Denver Broncos roster and the AFC South-favorite Jacksonville Jaguars, and there are more talented teams than available playoff spots (seven) in the AFC.

Oh, and if making the playoffs isn't enough of a challenge, these teams will also need to try to solve Patrick