2023 NFL Preseason Overview

The 2023 NFL preseason showcased a variety of team performances, with some franchises demonstrating strong potential and others revealing areas in need of improvement. Below is a detailed look at the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC) teams’ records and notable statistics.

American Football Conference (AFC)

AFC East:

• Buffalo Bills: The Bills posted a 2-1 record with a .667 win percentage. They showed a balanced performance, both at home and away, with a strong point differential of -5 despite scoring 62 points.
• New York Jets: Finishing 2-2, the Jets had a mixed preseason with a .500 win percentage. They performed better on the road, managing to outscore their opponents by 23 points.
• Miami Dolphins: With a 1-2 record, the Dolphins struggled, ending with a .333 win percentage. Their points for and against were closely matched, resulting in a -4 differential.
• New England Patriots: The Patriots also ended 1-2, with a point differential of -23, indicating a need for improvement in both offense and defense.

AFC North:

• Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers had an impressive preseason, going undefeated with a 3-0 record and a .1000 win percentage. They dominated with a point differential of +46.
• Cleveland Browns: Posting a 1-2-1 record, the Browns had close games but a slight edge in points scored over their opponents, reflected in their +2 differential.
• Baltimore Ravens: With a 1-2 record, the Ravens were slightly outscored by their opponents, leading to a -6 differential and highlighting areas for improvement.
• Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals struggled, ending the preseason at 0-2-1 with a -19 differential, indicating challenges on both sides of the ball.

AFC South:

• Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars were strong with a 3-0 record and a +36 differential, suggesting their roster is ready for regular-season success.
• Tennessee Titans: They went 2-1 with a +18 point differential, showing promise in their offensive capabilities.
• Houston Texans: Matching the Titans with a 2-1 record, the Texans also showed potential, particularly on the road, despite a -10 differential.
• Indianapolis Colts: The Colts finished 2-1, with a balanced offensive performance resulting in a +17 point differential.

AFC West:

• Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs had a solid preseason at 2-1 with a +27 differential, continuing their strong form from past seasons.
• Los Angeles Chargers: Also at 2-1, the Chargers showed good form, especially away, with a +23 differential.
• Las Vegas Raiders: Finishing 2-1 with a +29 differential, the Raiders demonstrated an effective offense, particularly in home games.
• Denver Broncos: The Broncos struggled, going 1-2, but they maintained a positive +39 differential, showing potential for improvement.

National Football Conference (NFC)

NFC East:

• Washington Commanders: With a perfect 3-0 record and a +5 differential, the Commanders showcased their depth and readiness.
• New York Giants: The Giants finished 1-2, with a -11 differential, indicating defensive struggles.
• Dallas Cowboys: Ending 1-2, the Cowboys displayed a close point match, resulting in a +2 differential.
• Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles faced difficulties, finishing 0-2-1 with a -15 differential.

NFC North:

• Green Bay Packers: Posting a 2-1 record with a +17 differential, the Packers showed potential for the upcoming season.
• Detroit Lions: Matching the Packers at 2-1, the Lions demonstrated offensive prowess, particularly against division rivals.
• Chicago Bears: The Bears finished 1-2, struggling with a -4 differential.
• Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings ended winless at 0-3, highlighting areas for significant improvement with a -20 differential.

NFC South:

• New Orleans Saints: At 2-1, the Saints managed a +3 differential, indicating a balanced performance.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Buccaneers also finished 2-1, showing strength at home with a +3 differential.
• Atlanta Falcons: With a 1-1-1 record, the Falcons had a -8 differential, indicating inconsistency.
• Carolina Panthers: The Panthers struggled at 0-3, with the largest negative differential in the conference at -75.

NFC West:

• Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals went 2-1, managing a -26 differential despite their wins, suggesting defensive weaknesses.
• Seattle Seahawks: Matching the Cardinals at 2-1, the Seahawks showed a +15 differential, with strong performances at home.
• San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers finished 1-2, with a -37 differential, highlighting challenges both offensively and defensively.
• Los Angeles Rams: The Rams ended winless at 0-3, with a significant -75 differential, underscoring areas for improvement.

Here is a summary of the 2024 preseason records for NFL head coaches:

Notable Preseason Records

1. John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens): Harbaugh has an impressive preseason record of 40-20, known for taking preseason games seriously to build team depth and evaluate players effectively. His teams have consistently performed well, making him one of the most successful preseason coaches​​​​.
2. Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs): Reid has a balanced preseason record of 46-45-4. He often uses these games to test new strategies and players, focusing more on preparation for the regular season than winning every preseason game​​​​.
3. Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers): With a record of 36-29-1, Tomlin prioritizes evaluating young talent and player development during the preseason. His teams typically perform well, reflecting his structured approach to preseason preparation​​​​.
4. Sean McDermott (Buffalo Bills): McDermott holds a solid preseason record of 15-8. He uses these games to assess his roster and make key decisions about player roles​​​​.
5. Robert Saleh (New York Jets): Saleh’s preseason record stands at 6-3, indicating a competitive approach to the preseason that emphasizes readiness and team cohesion​​​​.

Coaches with Room for Improvement

1. Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings): O’Connell has struggled with a 0-6 record, often using preseason to focus on development rather than wins​​​​.
2. Nick Sirianni (Philadelphia Eagles): Sirianni has a record of 1-6 in the preseason, highlighting his focus on player evaluation over preseason victories​​​​.
3. Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions): With a 4-6-1 record, Campbell emphasizes long-term development and player evaluation over immediate preseason success​​​​.

Trends and Insights

• Approach to Preseason: Many coaches prioritize development and evaluation over winning in preseason games. This is particularly true for coaches with secure positions who use the games to build team chemistry and assess lesser-known players​​​​.
• Impact on Betting: Understanding coaches’ preseason strategies can provide an edge in betting, as some coaches prioritize winning to set a tone for the season, while others focus on experimentation and development​​​​.

Ron’s Summary

These insights into coaches’ preseason records can help in understanding their strategies and predicting how they might approach the upcoming season.

The 2023 preseason provided a glimpse into the potential and challenges each team may face in the regular season. While some teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars showed dominance, others such as the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams revealed significant areas needing attention. As the regular season approaches, teams will look to capitalize on their strengths and address their weaknesses to compete at the highest level.