Moving Ahead: What 2023 Could Look Like For 3 NFC Teams
49ers TE George Kittle, Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll, and Cowboys QB Dak Prescott. What does the future hold for each of these personalities and their respective franchises?
The turnover rate of NFL playoff teams is well documented. Every year, new teams make the jump from sitting at home come January to competing for a championship. Even back in 2010, Gregg Rosenthal of NBCSports reported the roughly 50% playoff turnover rate year-to-year. So, with the Eagles rolling the competition in the NFC basically the entire season, let's look closer at the six other playoff teams and identify who's trending upwards, who might be on a downslide, and who looks to hold their current position in the NFC hierarchy.
ON THE RISE
New York Giants
The Giants were one of those “surprise” teams in the NFC this year. Brian Daboll, coming in from Buffalo, should be the Coach of the Year. The Giants were in almost every game this year, with only a few duds here and there. But their 9-7-1 record was likely a surprise most outside (and maybe inside) New York and New Jersey thought the Giants would secure this season. Add a big upset win over the Vikings on Super Wild Card Weekend, and the Giants' future looks exciting for the first time in a long time.
Giants' brass does have some big decisions to make with QB Daniel Jones and star RB Saquon Barkley. Daboll got Jones' best season out of him, and Jones' best bet might be to continue that development in New York. For Barkley, the argument is usually not to pay big money to running backs. But he’s the focal point of this team and is a generational talent who may warrant a long-term deal. The NFC East hasn’t had repeat champions in roughly 20 years, so that could be music to everyone’s ears outside of Philadelphia. But Giants faithful will have to put that faith to the test to see if the Giants can continue this newfound upward trajectory in the NFC.
FUTURE IN DOUBT
Dallas Cowboys
Is Dak Prescott the guy? It's a fair question to ask with Dak supposedly in the "prime" of his career. Dallas will benefit from a second-place schedule in 2023, but an abundance of impending free agents and the doubt of Dak could keep Dallas out of the playoffs next year. There's more to sort out here than some other teams have to deal with after getting bounced in the Divisional Round. Tony Pollard, Dalton Schultz, Donovan Wilson, and a few other key guys could hit the open market in mid-March. Ezekiel Elliott stands as a potential cap casualty. The offensive line has a few holes as well. Defensively, Dallas benefits from the uber-talented and Defensive Player of the Year contender Micah Parsons, as well as the high-risk, high-reward playstyle of CB Trevon Diggs. But those two makes Dallas’ D appear stronger than it really is.
The NFC as a conference is neither as competitive nor as deep as the AFC, but the Cowboys' division might be the toughest in the entire NFL. The Giants were mentioned here as a team trending up. Washington leveled the Cowboys in Week 18. If the ‘Manders can figure out their QB position, then they figure to fit in the playoff race a bit more firmly in 2023. All this while the Philadelphia Eagles are representing the NFC in Super Bowl 57. Dallas has a lot to figure out if they want to avoid a down year. It may not be time to move off from Dak Prescott, but it won’t hurt to look at potential replacements. As Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd mentioned, even New England drafted guys like Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett while Tom Brady was in the prime of his career.
ON HOLD
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have been to three Conference Championship games in the last 4 years, but have only won one of those games, proceeding to then lose Super Bowl 54 to the Kansas City Chiefs. So what is the hump Kyle Shanahan's group is struggling to get over? They are routinely one of the most complete teams in the NFL. San Francisco’s defense is littered with elite, young talent. The offense might be even better. Best left tackle in the league? Check. Most dynamic running back in the league? Double check. More weapons on the outside than John Wick would know how to use? That's a triple check.
Like it always does, it all comes down to the quarterback position. More specifically, the health of who's under center. San Fran has won with Jimmy Garoppolo and Brock Purdy. Shanahan found success with Nick Mullens years ago. And we're just now going to mention 2021 third-overall selection Trey Lance, who holds all the potential in the world. Whoever is under center for this team in 2023, so long as they stay healthy, can lead this team over the hump and into the Super Bowl next year.