Which Bad NFL Teams Will Be Good in 2023?

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New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh watches
(AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Colton Pool @CPoolReporter Feb 23, 2023, 5:21 PM
  • Seven of the 14 NFL playoff teams in 2022 didn’t make the playoffs in 2021.
  • The Jets, Broncos and Panthers have good shots at bouncing back in 2023.

No matter what the NFL odds look like, there are bound to be new teams in the playoffs next season.

Seven of the 14 teams in the 2022 playoffs didn’t make the postseason the year before. So several new teams in the playoffs next season isn’t out of the question.

Here are offseason power rankings for teams with losing records in 2022 that I believe are most likely to make the playoffs next season.

NFL Offseason Power Rankings for 2022 Bad Teams

1. New York Jets

The Jets will be much better if/when they figure out their quarterback situation. 

They could trade for Aaron Rodgers or sign Derek Carr in free agency. Either of those options would be better than what they had in 2022.

With the Offensive Rookie of the Year, wide receiver Garrett Wilson, and the Defensive Rookie of the Year, cornerback Sauce Gardner, the Jets have a young and exciting team. If they find a solution at quarterback, there’s plenty of reason to think they’ll improve on their 7-10 record from 2022.

Jets Super Bowl Odds: +2500

2. Denver Broncos

The Broncos traded for head coach Sean Payton and are reportedly hiring Vance Joseph as their defensive coordinator. These hirings alone should mean the Broncos will be better than 5-12 in 2023.

Denver does have to figure out certain parts of its roster through free agency and the draft, but I expect Russell Wilson to be better than he was with Payton in the building.

Broncos Super Bowl Odds: +4000

3. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers hired Frank Reich as their head coach this offseason, but that wasn’t the only coaching addition. They also hired senior defensive assistant Dom Capers and senior assistant Jim Caldwell, both former head coaches who should bring savvy and experience to the organization.

With the No. 9 overall pick and options like Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo available in free agency, the Panthers have plenty of options to find their next quarterback. They also have talent on defense coming back. 

Newly-hired defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, who was in the mix for head coaching vacancies after holding the same position in Denver, should help Carolina improve on that end of the ball and be better than 7-10 in a wide-open NFC South.

Panthers Super Bowl Odds: +5000

4. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are not the same team that won the Super Bowl just over a year ago. But they should be better than 5-12 if they can stay healthy.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Cooper Kupp are still on the roster and will have plenty of time to be fully healthy for the 2023 season. With Sean McVay back as the team’s head coach, they should be in for a bounce-back season.

Rams Super Bowl Odds: +3000

5. Chicago Bears

The Bears were bad in 2022, but that was after trading away some of their best players like Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith in order to acquire draft capital. That paid off, as they went 3-14 and are drafting first overall this year.

The Bears have $100.9 million in cap space this offseason, which is $45 million more than the second-most team. Chicago has plenty of weaknesses on its roster, but it has the resources to put together a winning team as quarterback Justin Fields enters his third season as a pro.

Bears Super Bowl Odds: +6600

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About the Author

Colton Pool

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Colton Pool is a Web Content Writer for BetMGM living in Bozeman, Montana, focusing on the NFL and NBA. Previously, he covered Montana State football at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and worked at newspapers in his home state of North Dakota. He graduated from North Dakota State in 2015.

Colton Pool is a Web Content Writer for BetMGM living in Bozeman, Montana, focusing on the NFL and NBA. Previously, he covered Montana State football at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and worked at newspapers in his home state of North Dakota. He graduated from North Dakota State in 2015.