Author: nfltalk

The 2022 NFL season is in the books after the Chiefs won their second Lombardi Trophy in four years Sunday night. Now, it’s time to look ahead to the 2023 offseason. We don’t yet know which big names will be relocating via trade or free agency, and we don’t yet know which teams will swipe the hottest prospects in April’s draft. But we can still make educated guesses as to which clubs are best positioned to take real steps forward next season.

Here are five early picks to make a major leap in 2023:

2022 record: 3-14

Justin Fields
USATSI

We’re a little hesitant to hurl flowers at a regime that willfully ignored Justin Fields’ dire supporting cast going into 2022, but this time around, with so much cap space at his disposal, general manager Ryan Poles would have to try to avoid improving the young quarterback’s lineup. Fields was MVP-level electric as a second-year player, even while coach Matt Eberflus continued to risk injury to the QB in the name of late-season pride. As long as Fields’ protection and weapons improve in the slightest, there’s no reason to think Chicago can’t play spoiler out of the NFC North. Eberflus’ young defense also can’t be much worse.

2022 record: 5-12

Sean Payton
Getty Images

You don’t get much more uninspired than the “offense” produced by Nathaniel Hackett and Russell Wilson in 2022. The latter remains, but if anyone’s going to force the ex-Seahawks star back into form, it’ll be Sean Payton, whose public conviction as their new head coach is backed by a been-there, done-that resume. Wilson, by the way, can’t be anymore sluggish than he was under Hackett; assuming he’s rightly re-saddled to more run-heavy,…

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The rivalry between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs keeps getting amplified in the wake of the season ending.

At one point, Joe Burrow’s name came up after the Chiefs won the Super Bowl. And after that game, Chiefs defensive tackle Khalen Saunders didn’t have much nice to say while chatting about how doubted his team was.

“Man, I remember being doubted,” Saunders said, according to  Aaron Ladd of KSHB 41 News. “I remember being doubted every game. I remember being picked against every game. I remember them saying the funky-a** Bengals was gonna beat us four times. I remember them saying we couldn’t stop Jalen Hurts. I remember all of that s***. And now, they’re gonna remember that I’m a two-time champ.”

The whole “Chiefs were doubted” thing went a little overboard by a preseason favorite that ripped off 14 wins, but it’s standard-fare motivation-seeking by pro athletes and not unlike what the Bengals did at times this year.

Still, Sanders’ shot here and the rest of the chirping coming from the Kansas City side speaks to what an intense rivalry this suddenly is in the AFC. And luckily for all involved — fans included — the two teams will play again next year, potentially in the season opener.

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Story originally appeared on Bengals Wire

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The Indianapolis Colts have hired Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen as their new head coach, the team made official on Tuesday. The Colts had to wait until after the Super Bowl to announce the deal, due to league rules. Steichen’s Eagles, of course, fell to the Chiefs 38-35 on Sunday.

The Colts spent the weekend slowly informing candidates that they were going in a different direction. Interim head coach Jeff Saturday was considered a leading candidate in the search despite going 1-7 in the role in 2022.

General manager Chris Ballard led the search for the Colts with owner Jim Irsay taking part in some of the process.

The Colts were infamously left at the altar in 2018 when they attempted to hire Josh McDaniels. The now-Raiders head coach pulled out and returned to New England with a new contract, and the Colts had to start the search again. They eventually hired Frank Reich who was let go during the 2022 season.

With Steichen’s departure from Philadelphia, the belief is quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson will become the new offensive coordinator. He had been in high demand around the league, but he wanted to wait and see what happened with Steichen first. The Eagles want to keep their continuity on offense as much as possible.

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2022 Sunday Night Football Schedule originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Are you ready for some football?

Sunday Night Football is back on NBC this season, with a full slate of exciting matchups. Led by the announcing duo of Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth, there will be marquee battles from Week 1 through the end of the season.

From the latest edition of Patrick Mahomes vs. Tom Brady to a potential Super Bowl preview between the Bills and Packers, Sunday Night Football is sure to deliver in 2022.

Here’s the full SNF schedule for the 2022 NFL season and how to watch each game:

2022 Sunday Night Football schedule

Week 1

September 8 (Thursday Night Kickoff): Buffalo Bills 31, Los Angeles Rams 10

September 11: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19, Dallas Cowboys 3

Week 2

Sept. 18: Green Bay Packers 27, Chicago Bears 10

Week 3

Sept. 25: Denver Broncos 11, San Francisco 49ers 10

Week 4

Oct. 2: Kansas City Chiefs 41, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31

Week 5

Oct. 9: Baltimore Ravens 19, Cincinnati Bengals 17

Week 6

Oct. 16: Philadelphia Eagles 26, Dallas Cowboys 17

Week 7

Oct. 23: Miami Dolphins 16, Pittsburgh Steelers 10

Week 8

Oct. 30: Buffalo Bills 27, Green Bay Packers 17

Week 9

Nov. 6: Kansas City Chiefs 20, Tennessee Titans 17

Week 10

Nov. 13: San Francisco 49ers 24, Los Angeles Chargers 16

Week 11

Nov. 20: Kansas City Chiefs 30, Los Angeles Chargers 27

Week 12

Nov. 27: Philadelphia Eagles 40, Green Bay Packers 33

Week 13

Dec. 4: Dallas Cowboys 54, Indianapolis Colts 19

Week 14

Dec. 11: Los Angeles Chargers 23, Miami Dolphins 17

Week 15

Dec. 18: New York Giants 20, Washington Commanders 12

Week 16

Dec. 25 (Christmas Sunday Night): Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19, Arizona Cardinals 16

Week 17

Jan. 1: Pittsburgh Steelers d. Baltimore Ravens 16-13

Week 18

Jan. 8: Detroit Lions d. Green Bay Packers 20-16

NFL Wild Card Weekend

Jan. 15: #3 Cincinnati Bengals 24, #6 Baltimore Ravens 17

NFL Divisional Round

Jan. 22: #2 San Francisco 49ers 19, #5 Dallas Cowboys 12

Story continues

NFL Championship Round

Jan. 29: #1 Kansas City…

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