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Every NFL season features its fair share of surprises, including certain teams that play significantly better or worse than their preseason projections.
An example of this is how just about every year, a team will go on to win their division after finishing in last place the year before. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the most recent team to do so, going worst-to-first between the 2021 and 2022 NFL seasons.
The 2023 NFL season is likely to include at least one more team to accomplish this goal, as most years often do. Here are three teams who are strong candidates to pull it off based on their 2023 NFL offseason moves.
#1 - Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns made a bold move when they acquired Deshaun Watson via trade with the Houston Texans during the 2022 offseason. He was then suspended for the first 11 games of his first season with the new team, but is fully expected to be ready to go for Week 1 in 2023.
The last time Watson played a full season, he led all players in passing yards. He will instantly serve as a massive upgrade to the Browns' quarterback position and make them contenders in the AFC North division.
While the Cincinnati Bengals figure to be the favorites, the other two teams have huge questions surrounding their quarterback position. Lamar Jackson could be leaving the Baltimore Ravens, while Kenny Pickett is entering just his second season. The Browns have a legitimate opportunity to contend for the division crown.
#2 - New York Jets
While the AFC East division is loaded with four solid teams, the New York Jets have as good a shot as any to win the title. They finished the 2022 season with a respectable 7-10 record, despite suffering through some of the worst quarterback production in the entire league.
This is unlikely to be a problem for them again during the 2023 NFL season. All reports indicate they will be acquiring Aaron Rodgers to replace Zach Wilson as their starter at some point during the 2023 offseason. He won eight NFC North division titles with the Packers, while being named the NFL MVP four times.
#3 - Denver Broncos
The AFC West division is probably the best from top to bottom of any division in the entire league. All four teams have their sights set on a Super Bowl appearance, including the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, who have been there in three of the last four seasons.
While the Denver Broncos suffered through a disastrous 2022 NFL season in their first year since acquiring Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks, the 2023 season presents a brand new situation. They replaced first-time head coach Nathaniel Hackett with Sean Payton, one of the best in the business.
Pairing Russell Wilson with Sean Payton gives the Broncos a leadership combination of two legends in their own right who have each won a Super Bowl ring. If any team is going to challenge the Chiefs from winning their eighth consecutive division title, it very well may be the new-look Broncos.
