I put the Jacksonville Jaguars in this number five spot mainly because I think this team takes the next step from a first-time playoff team to a legit Super Bowl contender. Some people may not agree but Trevor Lawrence made massive strides in his second year, under an actual NFL coach. Year two with the same staff and scheme, should only benefit Lawrence and allow him to continue to develop.
Third-year back Travis Etienne enters 2023 as the guy in the Jaguars' backfield and will be the lead back from day one. The new receivers added last offseason are no longer new and have a season with Lawrence, building that chemistry. Oh, and they have Calvin Ridley returning from his suspension.
Does anyone remember what happened the last time the Bills took on the Jaguars? If not, I don't blame you for wanting to forget but let me remind you. Josh Allen, no not the quarterback Josh Allen, wrecked the game for the Bills. Buffalo lost that game by a score of 9 - 6 and now the Jaguars are leaps and bounds better than that 2021 team.
This game is also important because Jacksonville will be in the conversation for the top seed. Winning this one will give the Bills the head-to-head tiebreaker, which will be massive in the AFC, where there are more than a few teams fighting for that number-one seed.
There are teams on the Bills' schedule that are better than the Giants, but I put this one as number four because of the obvious connections between the Bills and the Giants. That's not to say the Giants aren't a good football team, as they will compete in the NFC for a playoff spot.
All Buffalo Bills fans know and love their former offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll, who is now the head coach of the Giants, entering his second season as such. Ok, I'm aware some fans probably were happy to see Daboll go. But after some of the complaints from fans about Ken Dorsey, they might be rethinking their desire to see Daboll leave.
Then there is Isaiah Hodgins, a player many fans wanted to see get an opportunity on game day with the Bills; however, for whatever reason, he never really got that chance. The Giants stepped in and plucked him off the Bills' practice squad.
Hodgins would put up 33 receptions on 42 targets and 351 yards, with four touchdowns with the Giants. He did this in eight games, starting five. He would follow this up with an incredible playoff performance with nine catches, 108 yards, and a touchdown.
Joe Schoen already put his stamp on the Giants after working alongside Bills' GM Brandon Beane too, so there is yet another connection between the two teams. The Giants have become the Bills of the "further" east or better yet, the Bills of New Jersey.
Other than those I just mentioned, the Giants also have former Bills Matt Breida, Vernon Butler, Jamison Crowder, Nick McCloud, Tommy Sweeney, and Tyrod Taylor.