Russell Wilson is in Denver, Tyreek Hill is in Miami, and Aaron Rodgers is somehow still playing for the Packers. The 2022 offseason brought seismic change across the NFL, elevating some teams to contention and creating uncertainty for others.
The road to Arizona’s State Farm Stadium for Super Bowl LVII begins on Thursday 8th September.
Here are a few preseason predictions and best bets for the 2022-23 season.
Super Bowl Winner: Buffalo Bills
Buffalo suffered a controversial overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2022 playoffs, and they come into the 2022 regular season as the Super Bowl favourite behind MVP frontrunner Josh Allen.
The Bills bolstered their pass rush in the offseason, and reinforced their offensive line. An offence which was already third in points scored per game has further weapons in O.J. Howard and Jamison Crowder.
The AFC is loaded with top-tier teams, and Buffalo might be the best of the lot. Elite on both sides of the ball, the Bills are deserving of favourites status heading into the campaign.
MVP: Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert was a fringe MVP candidate in 2021, and he can take a couple of steps further this season.
Herbert was already second in passing yards and third in passing touchdowns last season, and had positive news in the offseason as the Chargers re-signed Mike Williams and addressed numerous weaknesses through free agency and the draft.
There is no question of Herbert’s talent. Already among the elite at his position, the 2020 sixth overall pick is only going to improve further in his third year in the NFL.
At least 10 players have a realistic shot at MVP this season, but none represent better value than Herbert at 10/1.
NFC Winner: Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford’s elbow ailment is a concern for the Rams as they begin their title defence. Still, Los Angeles is well-placed to go on another deep playoff run after adding Bobby Wagner and Allen Robinson in the offseason.
The NFC is the weaker conference by a considerable margin at the moment. Repeating as Super Bowl champions is a monumental task, but that shouldn’t put bettors off the Rams in 2022.
Their NFC West rivals are flawed, and it’s hard to see any NFC team other than perhaps Tampa Bay or Green Bay challenging the Rams in the playoffs.
Most Regular Season Wins: Green Bay Packers
No team can match the Packers’ 39-10 regular season record since 2019. Aaron Rodgers and co have rightly been criticised for falling short in the playoffs, but Green Bay is a winning machine in the regular season.
The Packers have won 13 games in three straight regular seasons. Their 2022 schedule is only around league-average based on forecasted win totals, but they are in one of the league’s weakest divisions, rewarding them with two games against each of the Lions and Bears.
Another season with 13 wins will probably be enough to secure the top record in the NFL, considering how difficult the schedules are for the AFC’s powerhouses.
The Packers will likely be favoured in at least 14 of their regular season games if Rodgers is healthy, so this price to finish with the most wins is a good wager.
All odds are subject to change