The NFL Schedule gets released this Thursday, May 11th. We already know the teams that will be facing each other in 2023. The league will let all of us know the date and times for the 272 games that make up the NFL regular season. If you want to check out who your team is playin, just click here. I wanted to take a look at each NFL teams biggest opponent in 2023. Some of the intriguing divisional match-ups are the AFC East vs the AFC West. AFC East vs the NFL East, and the AFC West vs the NFL North. The AFC North looks to have one of the easier crossover opponents going up against the NFC West and AFC South. First place teams from last year play the first place teams from the other divisions in the conference.
The league announced last week that the Patriots and Chiefs will host games in Germany, although their opponents have not been announced. Expect the Chiefs to open up the season on Thursday, September 7th. Their home opponents are fantastic, and give the NFL options for their opening game. In addition to the 3 AFC West opponents, Kansas City will host Buffalo, Miami, Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia. My thoughts are the Bengals make perfect sense for a ton of reasons. A rematch of the AFC Championship Game brings eyeballs to the screen. And Burrow vs. Mahomes is starting to feel like Brady vs Manning in the early 2000’s. Here is each NFL teams biggest opponent in 2023.
Arizona Cardinals
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: At Houston Texans
The Cardinals have very low expectations for 2023. Quarterback Kyler Murray isn’t expected back until the back half of season coming off an ACL tear. They will be in the conversation for the #1 overall pick. This game is a big one if the organization wants to move on from Murray this offseason and go with Caleb Williams in 2024.
Atlanta Falcons
(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: New Orleans Saints
I’m going to try to stay away from all divisional matchups. But I think these are the two best teams in the NFC South. If Atlanta can sweep the Saints it will give them a huge advantage in getting to the playoffs. The Falcons seem committed to finding out if Desmond Ridder is the guy beyond 2023.
Baltimore Ravens
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty images)
Biggest Opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
Obviously Baltimore will always look forward to their Steelers games and the Bengals now that they’ve established themselves in the top-3 of the AFC. But I think the Chargers and Ravens will be battling for the top wildcard spot in the AFC. The Dolphins should be there too, but Baltimore goes to Miami while hosting the Chargers, and you’ve got to win your home games.
Buffalo Bills
(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: at Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals and Bills have been at the top of the AFC for a few years now, but the only game was cut short when Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field last year. Kansas City is still the top dog in the AFC until someone supplants them. That leaves the Bills and Bengals battling for second best in the conference.
Carolina Panthers
(Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: At Chicago Bears
The Panthers got their quarterback of the future in the Draft with Bryce Young. Now it’s time to see how he stacks up against the other young quarterbacks in the league. If he can go into Soldier Field and walk out with a win over Justin Field, Panthers fans should feel really good about Young.
Chicago Bears
(Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Green Bay Packers
The Packers have a big question mark at quarterback for the first time what feels like 30 years. The Lions and Vikings are better than the Bears I think. If the Bears can beat the Packers this year and push the Pack to the bottom of the division, it will be a huge statement for the Bears.
Cincinnati Bengals
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
The Bengals know they can go into Arrowhead and walk out with the W. They did in the 2021 AFC Championship Game in come from behind fashion. But they couldn’t do a lot in last year’s AFC Championship Game. The Bengals obviously don’t have to win this game to host a playoff game. But Joey B and the Bengals would love to see the AFC Playoffs go through Cincy.
Cleveland Browns
(Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: At Denver Broncos
Obviously the divisional games are huge for the Browns. However, the Browns and Broncos were two of the more disappointing teams in 2022. Deshawn Watson has no suspensions in his future and should find his for this year. I put both teams in the 3rd tier of the AFC where they are clearly a ways away from winning the division, but could make a playoff push if they win the right games.
Dallas Cowboys
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Detroit Lions
Sorry Cowboys fans, but you’re nowhere near the Eagles and 49ers for top dog in the NFC. I could have picked Giants games here, but I think Detroit has a shot at being the third best team in the NFC this year. If Dallas can beat the Lions (like they did last year) they will once again be one of the best of the rest in the conference.
Denver Broncos
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
This one is just too obvious. The Broncos were the most disappointing team in the NFL last year. They want to take the next step by bringing in Sean Payton, and the Chargers are the team standing in their way in terms of the wild card picture. The Broncos need to get past the Chargers if they want to live up to their potential.
Detroit Lions
(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Minnesota Vikings
The Lions have not won a divisional title since 1991. It appears the Vikings are the team most in the way of them completing that task in 2023. The Lions went 1-1 vs Minnesota last year. A sweep from the Lions would most likely give them the inside track for the 2023 divisional crown.
Green Bay Packers
(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: New York Giants
This is Jordan Love’s team now. We have seen very little of Love so far in his career, but the reports out of Green Bay this offseason say the team is excited to see him in action. I tried to pick a boarder line playoff team with average quarterback play. I think the Giants check that box. If the Packers can show they have the talent to beat a well coached team like New York who doesn’t beat themselves, then they will be just fine moving forward.
Houston Texans
(Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: At Carolina Panthers
This one boils down to Stroud vs. Young, the top 2 picks from this year’s NFL Draft. I think Carolina’s roster is much better than Houston’s, but if Stroud can outduel Young, then they will feel great about the direction of the franchise.
Indianapolis Colts
(Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
This was a tough one to handicap. Anthony Richardson is the future in Indy, but all the draft prognosticators said he needed time to develop. I think if the Colts can show they are on the same level as the Steelers, then the fan base will feel really good about the future.
Jacksonville Jaguars
(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
The Jags took a huge leap forward in 2022. They came up short against the Chiefs in the divisional round, but held their own. The Jags get the Chiefs, Bengals, and Bills in 2023, so I took the home game against the Bengals as opposed to the home game against the Chiefs and their road game for the Bills. If the Jags beat the Bengals they could push to be in the top tier of the AFC.
Kansas City Chiefs
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
I know the Chiefs get the Eagles this year. No doubt that will be a huge game. But the Bengals game is more important in terms of the playoffs and having the AFC go through Arrowhead. I chose the Bengals over the Bills because I think the Bills will take a small step back in a really good division that will take them out of the running for the 1 seed.
Las Vegas Raiders
(Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: New England Patriots
Vegas pulled out one of the most improbable wins of 2022 against the Pats. I think both teams will be towards the bottom of the AFC, but I’m sure Josh McDaniels would love to beat Bill Belichick for a second straight year. A loss for the Raiders and they will be firmly at the bottom of the conference with Houston.
Los Angeles Chargers
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Miami Dolphins
The Chargers beat the Fins on Sunday Night Football last year that ended up being the game between the two when the season finished. The Ravens could be in the mix for biggest opponent, but I think the home game is the one they need the most.
Los Angeles Rams
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Seattle Seahawks
The Rams were decimated by injuries last year. That trend tends to not repeat itself- although the Chargers would argue with that. Even with a healthy roster I think San Francisco has surpassed the Rams. But if the Rams want to get back in the playoff picture they’ll need to beat the Seahawks at least once.
Miami Dolphins
(Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: New York Jets
One could make the argument Tua’s health is the biggest opponent for the Fins in 2023. But in the division it seems like the Jets and Dolphins will fight it out for second best in the division and could challenge Buffalo for the division. The Dolphins will need to get at least one of the games against the Jets if they want to at least battle for a wild card spot.
Minnesota Vikings
(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Detroit Lions
One of the rare instances where each team’s biggest opponent are each other. Green Bay is a class organization, but I can’t put them up with the Lions and Vikings in the division until I see more from Jordan Love. For that reason I think if the Vikings can sweep the Lions (or vice versa) they will have the inside tract to win the division.
New England Patriots
(Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Patriots have one of the worst rosters in the AFC. As long as Bill Belichick is in charge, they will always be a tough out. I think the Pats are poised to finish in the cellar of the AFC East, and if they lose to the Steelers, they will have to pull more than a few big upsets if they want to get to 6 wins.
New Orleans Saints
(Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Detroit Lions
The Saints are the odds on favorite to win the NFC South. And how couldn’t they be with Derek Carr going up against Bryce Young, Desmond Ridder, and Baker Mayfield. But how do the Saints stack up against the rest of the NFC? They are clearly below the Eagles and 49ers, but if they can go toe to toe with the Lions, they can show the rest of the conference they are going to be a tough out in the playoffs.
New York Giants
(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Dallas Cowboys
This is one of the league’s greatest rivalries, and two pretty evenly matched teams. The Giants want to take the next step and surpass the Cowboys in the division. I could have also chosen the Seattle Seahawks because I think they are very similar teams. But the divisional importance tilted the scale in favor to Dallas.
New York Jets
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Miami Dolphins
The Jets are the biggest question mark in the NFL going into 2023. The roster was very good last year, but quarterback play held them to just 7 wins. Aaron Rodgers is supposed to fix those problems, but he was not the version of Aaron Rodgers that we’ve been used to. Could the Jets push for the division, absolutely. Could they also go .500 in the division, sure. If the Jets can get two wins over Miami, they should be firmly in the Wild Card mix at worst.
Philadelphia Eagles
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: San Francisco 49ers
The Eagles have constructed one of the best rosters in the sport and have zoomed by other NFC East teams. In fact in the NFC it looks to be Eagles and 49ers followed by the grand canyon before another team gets in the discussion. I think this game will play a pivotal role in determining home field advantage in the NFC Championship game.
Pittsburgh Steelers
(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Cleveland Brown
I had a tough time with this one. The Ravens games will always be a huge game for the Steelers. But I think the Steelers should set their sites on solidifying themselves as the 3rd best team in the division. That’s not saying they are not good or that they won’t contend for a wild card spot. The AFC is just that deep.
San Francisco 49ers
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
Like I said; these are the two best rosters in the NFC. Could other teams pop up? Sure- this is the NFL. But right now the 9ers and Eagles look to be head and shoulders above the rest of the conference.
Seattle Seahawks
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Detroit Lions
What a wild world we live in. The Seahawks and Lions look like they will be battling to be the 3rd best team in the NFC. I really think the winner of this game makes a statement to the rest of the league. Looking at other big opponents on the Seattle schedule the New York Giants seem to be in a similar realm as the Lions and Seahawks.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Houston Texans
I don’t have very high expectations for the Bucs this season. I think the coaching staff in place is broken as evidence from last season. This feels like a year where the Bucs tear it down and start building for the future. I think the Bucs will be in the running for Caleb Williams and the #1 overall pick. A win over Houston could take them out of that running.
Tennessee Titans
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
I don’t know what to think about the Titans this year. They have been a good to very good team for the last 4 seasons or so, but the end of 2022 was atrocious. I don’t know if their 0-7 to the finish was a sign that the experiment is over, or if it really was just Ryan Tannehill not being there. The Jags are loaded, but there is something to an older team that knows how to win. They won’t be an easy out for the Jags.
Washington Commanders
(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Biggest Opponent: New York Giants
The Commanders went 0-1-1 against the Giants last year, but the loss ended on a very questionable call by the refs. The franchise seems to believe in Sam Howell. If he can show that he’s a better quarterback that Daniel Jones, then the Commanders will have a shot at a wild card spot. .
