5 Early Bold Predictions for the 2022-23 NFL Season

The team at Sportsbook Review gives out their early bold predictions for the 2022-23 NFL season.

Rams Go Back-to-Back and Win Super Bowl LVII

Los Angeles winning Super Bowl LVII is far from a longshot with +1100 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. But considering the 2005 Patriots were the last team to win back-to-back championships, it's been a while since there's been a repeat winner.

Plus, if we're throwing out bold predictions in May, why not plant a Super Bowl flag well in advance?

The offense has undergone limited personnel changes, and the defense returns superstars Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsay. Bringing in an eight-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Champion in veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner is a big boost, and wide receiver Allen Robinson should quickly carve out a meaningful role in the passing attack.

https://twitter.com/RamsNFL/status/1511083743594700801

However, the rest of the NFC looks weaker heading into the 2022 NFL season.

Quarterback Russell Wilson was traded to the Broncos to weaken the NFC West, and there aren't many intimidating opponents after the top team in the three other divisions. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+750) have the shortest Super Bowl odds of any NFC team at FanDuel, but then after the Rams are the Green Bay Packers (+1100), San Francisco 49ers (+1600), and Dallas Cowboys (+1700).

Do any of those teams have a significantly stronger case to advance to the Super Bowl than the Rams? - Neil Parker

Los Angeles Chargers To Win the Super Bowl

The Los Angeles Chargers might have missed the playoffs last season, but they will win the Super Bowl next season. 

It won't be easy. The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs are natural favorites to come out of the AFC, but the Chargers have the pieces to make a charge to the championship. 

They are not a total longshot but still priced at +1600 on DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel, and Caesars Sportsbook. That's the same as Russell Wilson's Denver Broncos. 

The big reason to like the Chargers' chances is the play of quarterback Justin Herbert. In 2021, Herbert threw for 5,014 yards with 38 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. 

It is too simple to just give a team a shot at the Super Bowl because they have a high-end quarterback, but that gets the Chargers into the conversation. It helps that they have quality skilled players around Herbert, too. 

Running back Austin Ekeler had 1,558 yards from scrimmage and 20 touchdowns last season. Wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams both had more than 1,100 yards receiving. 

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1501268191267508227

The offense is enough to get the Chargers into contention, but it will have to be the defense that puts them over the top. While their defensive record was not great last season, a defense that boasts Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, and Derwin James can have a positive impact. – Scott Cullen 

RELATED: Khalil Mack Traded to Chargers; Joey Bosa's Defensive Player of the Year Chances Improve?

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The Detroit Lions Will Make the Playoffs

After four consecutive losing seasons, the Detroit Lions WILL make the playoffs in the 2022 NFL season.

In Jared Goff's last five games as Detroit's quarterback, he led the Lions to a 3-2 record, throwing for over 1100 yards and a 71% completion percentage to go along with an 11-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Coinciding with the improved play of Goff was wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The rookie out of USC never had more than seven receptions in his first ten games as a pro. 

However, in his last six games, St. Brown never had less than eight catches, averaging over 93 yards per game.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Lions ranked 29th but will be much improved from a year ago. Jeff Okudah, their third overall pick from the 2020 draft, will return to lead the secondary after rupturing his Achilles in Week 1 last season. 

Detroit's front seven was also injected with some serious skill last week with the selection of defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. 

https://twitter.com/Lions/status/1519846930246819842

Last year at Michigan, Hutchinson recorded 14 sacks in 14 games. 

Lastly, their 2022 schedule. The Lions will cross over to play fellow fourth-place finishers; the Seahawks, Jaguars, Jets, and Panthers. 

Not to mention the notoriously under-achieving Vikings and Bears twice a year. These eight games will be the catalyst for a successful 2022 season and their first playoff appearance since 2016. - Elias Haziprodromu

RELATED: NFL Futures: Packers Are NFC Favorites With Rodgers' New Contract

The Las Vegas Raiders will Win the AFC West

The Las Vegas Raiders had a fantastic offseason - most notably trading for former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams who was college teammates with quarterback Derek Carr.

Adams has long been considered the best receiver in the league and is coming off a season where he had 123 receptions for 1,553 yards and 11 touchdowns. 

https://twitter.com/CondorSZN/status/1518760608614821889

He'll help bolster a burgeoning offense led by Carr and receiver Hunter Renfrow, and tight end Darren Waller. 

They signed linebacker Chandler Jones to improve their defense, and his 107.5 sacks are the most in the NFL since entering the league in 2012. With defensive end Maxx Crosby, they'll form a daunting pass rush. 

The team also added former Indianapolis Colt Rock Ya-Sin via trade to help solidify the cornerback position. Ya-Sin has two career interceptions, and 20 passes defended with two forced fumbles in his young NFL career.

Perhaps the most significant addition to the team is new head and former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. McDaniels is a Bill Belichick disciple and brilliant offensive mind. Having him at the helm and as a play designer should only bolster the offensive production, allowing this team to compete with the divisional foe Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers. 

The AFC West will be the most competitive division in football. But at +600 at DraftKings, the Raiders provide solid value to win the division. - Jordan Anderson

RELATED: 2023 Super Bowl Debate: Who's the Team to Back Following the NFL Draft?

Tom Brady's First TD Pass Will Be to… Tom Brady

Tom Brady has been in the news all offseason since the day he retired - although he still had odds to win MVP. 

He then unretired and was rumored to be in trade talks with the Miami Dolphins, had his contract restructured (Maybe to bring in Julian Edelman??), and was flexing on a movie set.

All this being said, Brady is gearing up for his 23rd NFL football season. In the first game, who Brady will face is still unknown, with the NFL schedule set to be released at 8 p.m. ET on May 12.

With another talented receiving group ready to take the field with Brady in 2022-23, the odds are in their favor to have the first TD pass of the year go to one of them.

 I'm going off the board on this one though and can see a tricky play on the horizon in that first matchup.

The Bucs will get down to the Redzone, and Brady will have the ball deflect off another player right back into his hands. Like this play below, only he'll run it in at +10000 odds to receive the first TD pass from... himself.

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1331081629343883272https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/l3H4l/1/

It's been done several times, including Marcus Mariota back on January 6, 2018, and Brad Johnson in 2013.

https://twitter.com/NFLUK/status/949787683751997440

Brady to Brady. Let's see it! - Darren Kritzer

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