CNN
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Another year, another calendar full of thrills, spills and plenty of touchdowns.
The arrival of September means one thing: the NFL is back.
The next generation College Athletes are finding new professional homes through the Annual Player Draft, each team aims for the right mix of youth and experience. The season is over; It’s time for the important games to begin.
And we’re in for a thrilling ride.
The 2023 NFL season begins on Thursday, September 7, when the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Detroit Lions.
Kick-off for the season opener is at 8:20pm from Arrowhead Stadium.
In the United States, coverage of all regular season games will be shown on the NFL’s ‘NFL+’ site, and games will be shown throughout the year on ESPN, FOX, NBC and CBS.
Fans outside the US can also follow the action via NFL’s Game Pass on DAZN.
After a season of trades, signings and the draft, some teams look very different than they did 12 months ago.
Not only have the top teams tried to cement their place at the top, but those at the bottom have moved up to try and catch up.
Looking at the teams in contention, the list starts with the reigning champions, Chiefs.
Coming off its second Super Bowl win in four seasons, Kansas City will once again prove a tough opponent behind the combination of creative head coach Andy Reid and an elite offense led by superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce.
Although the team lost some key contributors from the championship-winning squad — notably Orlando Brown Jr., defensive end Frank Clark and offensive coordinator Eric Bainemi — Mahomes and company are looking to become the first team. Back-to-back Super Bowl Champions from the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004.
The Chiefs’ opponents in Super Bowl LVII, the Philadelphia Eagles, will also be favored this season.
Despite suffering key losses to their depth, some of the draft’s most intriguing — in particular, Georgia star Jalen Carter — and the continued development of Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia fans are hoping to lead them back to success.
Elsewhere in the National Football Conference (NFC), last season’s revelations Brock Birdie — drafted with the final pick in the 2022 draft before leading the San Francisco 49ers to the brink of the Super Bowl — ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ was the last pick of the draft named the team’s starting quarterback.
Theron W. Henderson/Getty Images
Brock Birdie makes the first quarterback win against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC divisional playoff game at Levi’s Stadium on Jan. 22.
Purdy beat out 2021 No. 3 pick Dray Lance to take his starting position, and Lance was eventually traded to the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys themselves look strong once again, but face stiff competition in their division with the Eagles, New York Giants and Washington Commanders.
In the American Football Conference (AFC), there are several superstar teams waiting to take advantage of any slip ups by the leaders.
Buffalo Bills – Safe Tamar Hamlin The New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers all made an emotional return to regular-season NFL football after Aaron Rodgers suffered a heart attack during a game in January.
Titled Rodgers, the elder was the subject The Biggest move this season. The NFL’s four-time Most Valuable Player left the Green Bay Packers, who drafted him to the Jets 18 years ago, and hopes to shine after moving on to pastures new.
Outside of established stars in the NFL, there is a class of rookies looking to make a name for themselves at the top of the game as they advance to the big leagues.
Three quarterbacks were drafted in the first four picks of this year’s draft — No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young by the Carolina Panthers, CJ Stroud of the Houston Texans and Anthony Richardson by the Indianapolis Colts — and all were named starters for their respective teams.
While all three of their teams have low ambitions this year, any possible glimpse of growth in their rookie seasons will fill their fans and coaches with anticipation for years to come.
Outside of the quarterbacks, University of Texas star Bijaon Robinson, drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth overall pick, has the highest bar in many eyes.
David Youlit/Getty Images
After being selected eighth overall by the Atlanta Falcons, Bijaon Robinson poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
The running back looks set to be an all-time great in the coming years and could be in line for a great debut NFL season with a team that already had success running the ball last year.
On the defensive side of the ball, Will Anderson Jr., Tyree Wilson, Devon Witherspoon, Lucas Van Ness and the aforementioned Jalen Carter, all drafted high in the first round, could be in line to make immediate impacts.
With 18 weeks of the regular season ahead, fans will have plenty to talk about, surprising games and dreams of hoisting the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Who did you win in Super Bowl LVIII?
