The 2022 NFL season stuck true to its promise of parity, and produced many pleasant surprises. Let's talk about the teams that surprised us in the previous season, analyse what led to their success, and let's also predict if they can keep up the high standards of play they achieved in 2022.
In my eyes, the biggest underdogs in the 2022 NFL season have to be the New York Giants and Jets, and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
New York Giants
The Giants got their big break thanks to former Buffalo Bills OC Brian Daboll manifesting a quick turnaround in New York. Heading into the season, the Giants seemed to have an underwhelming offense, and a defense that, despite gleaming with potential, was still young and would take years to develop.
But Daboll quickly proved that his successes with Josh Allen and teams like the Alabama Crimson Tide were no fluke, as Daniel Jones seemed to find new life starting under center for the Giants, and with receivers like Isiah Hodgins and Richie James being more than formidable receivers.
The defense was one of the best in the league, with players like Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari and Dexter Lawrence giving Giants fans flashbacks to the shut-out defense of previous eras.
The Giants eventually bowed out in the Divisional Round, with them massively outperforming preseason expectations. Daboll won the NFL's Coach of the Year award, for his instrumental role in turning around the fortunes of a team that seemed to be stuck in purgatory.
With such positivity surrounding the Giants, it seems impossible that they could revert back to the mean. However, I feel that the Giants are poised to exactly do this.
While they may boast a roster oozing talent, it is important to note that they play in the NFC East, which is by far football's toughest division. I still feel that the Big Blue still have to do work to go toe-to-toe with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys, who I view as their biggest threats to the domination of the NFC East.
Furthermore, the Giants also have an unenviable schedule. Apart from having to play the Cowboys and Eagles twice, they also have to play the San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills and the Eagles over the course of the regular season.
While it may be a hot take, I personally don't see the Giants making this year's playoffs.
Projected finish - 3rd in NFC East, Playoffs - Missed
New York Jets
2022 was a golden year for the NFL's New York fanbase, as the Jets also pleasantly surprised everyone this season.
It's fair to assume that not many people even had the Jets sniffing the postseason before the season began. However, with both the NFL's OROY and DROY, in WR Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner, masterminded by Robert Saleh, the Jets took down the likes of the Bills and the Packers.
However, poor play by QB Zach Wilson saw them succumb to a late-season collapse, which undid any hopes of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2010.
The Jets have been quick to act on their success though, as they traded for future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers. While it almost certainly signals that the Jets have accepted that the Wilson era has come to an end in the Big Apple, I love this trade for the Jets, as I feel having a former MVP leading your roster will certainly boost any chances of achieving something major in this window of hope.
Saleh is easily one of the best defensive-minded coaches in the league, while OC Nathaniel Hackett has overseen some of Rodgers' best football in Green Bay, which is certainly reason for hope that this could easily be one of the most successful season in recent Jets history.
While I certainly am optimistic about the Jets in 2023, I would first want to see them do well on the pitch before I feel truly confident about the Jets' chances of causing havoc in the NFL. Here's why. A year ago, the Denver Broncos were the talk of the NFL, following their high-profile trade for Russell Wilson. Expectations were lofty and there was even talk of winning the Lombardi Trophy. However, any optimism was quickly dashed, as the offense was one of the worst in the league. The Broncos finished last in their division and were one of the worst teams in the AFC.
Projected finish - 2nd in AFC North, Playoffs - 6th seed
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars certainly did come ahead of schedule. While they had a young team with a proven head coach in Doug Pederson, the consensus was that it would take a few more seasons for the Jags to find their groove.
Despite a slow start, the Jaguars picked up, thanks to heroic performances by Trevor Lawrence and Jamal Agnew, both of whom were rewarded with a place in the Pro Bowl.
The Jaguars proved that they were no fluke in the postseason, where they came back from a 27-0 hole against the Los Angeles Chargers, and gave the eventual Superbowl winners, the Chiefs, a run for their money.
Of the teams I mentioned so far, the Jaguars are the team that I am confident will continue to satisfy high levels of play this season. Lawrence looks to be a franchise QB, and the young core of the Jags means that they could compete for years on end.
They also are blessed to be a part of the worst division in the NFL; the AFC South. The Jaguars were the only team from the division to boast a winning record, and they don't seem like they will give up their crown soon, as the offseasons of the Jags' division rivals don't seem to be too inspiring.
With an easy division, and a strong core of players, expect the Jaguars to be a force to be reckoned with for many seasons.
Projected finish - 1st in AFC South, Playoffs - 4th seed