5 Dark Horse Super Bowl Contenders for 2023

As the famous and iconic Herm Edwards said, “You play to win the game!” The Super Bowl is what every team plays for each season. We know the favorite right now, The Kanas City Chiefs, my Philadelphia Eagles, and the San Francisco 49ers. However, I want to break down some dark horse team that can win the Super Bowl in 2023.

All these teams have a chance to make a legitimate leap from last season. However, some teams have a better chance than others on the list, yet they can all surprise us in 2023. So let’s break down who these five dark horses will be in the 2023 season.

Dallas Cowboys

As an Eagles fan, I hate to admit this, but the Dallas Cowboys can make the jump to Super Bowl winner this year. The issue was never the talent in Dallas, but more of the mental fortitude surrounding that team, especially in the playoffs. The Cowboys have the makeup of a dominant Super Bowl winner. They have a franchise quarterback in Dak Prescott, a stud wide receiver in CeeDee Lamb, a solid number two wide receiver Brandin Cooks and a strong turnover-heavy defense. The biggest issue for them will be when it comes to running backs and the health of Tony Pollard.

Let’s not forget he was hurt at the end of the 2022 campaign. Pollard could miss time, and if he doesn’t, he may take some time to bring himself to game ready talent level during the 2023 campaign. If Pollard returns healthy, this team playing a second-place schedule can compete for the number one seed, which is the coveted prize to make it to the Super Bowl. It’s clear that Ezekiel Elliott won’t be back with the Cowboys either, and they did add some depth with Deuce Vaughn in the 6th Round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

For Dallas, their mentality is the biggest issue that can hold the Cowboys back from winning a Super Bowl. It’s no secret that the Dallas Cowboys have choked away most games in the postseason in recent history. Who do we blame for that? I would place the blame solely on the shoulders of the head coach Mike McCarthy. If the Cowboys fail to make it to a championship game or Super Bowl again, Jerry Jones needs to move on and change the perception in Dallas.

Cincinnati Bengals

If you ask most people about the top four teams to win the Super Bowl, I am sure the Cincinnati Bengals are in that conversation. However, they won’t be among the top two teams and could fall behind the San Francisco 49ers. Additionally, betting against the Bengals could be a mistake in 2023. This Bengals team is a very talented team that faces a middle-of-the-road strength of schedule this season (17th overall). That combination could lead to an easier path to the one seed in the AFC, which history shows increases your chance to make the Super Bowl.

Also, this talent has all the same building blocks we discussed with the Dallas Cowboys. We have a strong franchise quarterback, excellent wide receivers, a stronger defense, and only one real question relating to their running back room. If the Bengals can move past Joe Mixon’s off-the-field issues, they could take the AFC by storm in 2023 and make the Super Bowl.

Baltimore Ravens

Finally, the Baltimore Ravens ended the Lamar Jackson saga and we can finally move forward on the 2023 season. With that said, The Ravens have done a few things to help this offense succeed. The first thing is hiring a different offensive coordinator in Todd Monken, that will introduce more passing into the scheme and allow this offense to evolve from the past.

Next, the Ravens brought some viable pass-catching options to Lamar Jackson this offseason. First, they went out and signed Odell Beckham Jr. The Ravens also drafted Zay Flowers in the 1st Round. Remember, they also signed Nelson Agholor and will have Rashod Bateman returning to join with Mark Andrews. Finally, we have J.K. Dobbins, two years removed from his injury, with a scheme on offense that will introduce more screen passes to the running back.

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions have become America’s darling over the offseason. They have done a lot of work to both sides of the ball and are looking to improve on last season’s positive swing in the record column. With Aaron Rodgers leaving Green Bay, the Chicago Bears still building, and the Vikings as the only competition in the NFC North, the Lions could compete for the division if not the wild card.

Their most significant issue is the return of Jameson Williams. If he returns and cant provide what his draft capital insists he brings to the field, this underdog story will fall short due to the late depth in their wide receiver room. However, if Jameson comes back strong and their rookies of Jayhmyr Gibbs and Sam Laporta can provide the proper weapons to Jared Goff, these Lions could be a scary team to face in the playoffs.

With the offense being rebuilt and the Ravens’ defense working its way back to its dominant style from the past, the Ravens facing a second-place schedule have a chance to become the dark horse in the AFC as a contender for the Super Bowl.

Atlanta Falcons

This article wouldn’t be fun unless I took one deep Hail Mary-style shot at the end of it. Let’s try to convince you to believe in the Atlanta Falcons. Let’s start with their offseason. They spent the offseason retooling their defense to build it into a strength. They have signed Jessie Bates III, Calais Campbell, Tre Flowers, Bud Dupree, and more. Additionally, they traded for Jeff Okudah, a valuable and talented veteran. Finally, they went out to hedge their bet on Desmond Ridder with Taylor Heinicke, who has starter ability in his toolset. Potentially, he could even unlock more of the offense there in Atlanta.

The Falcons followed this up by drafting Bijan Robinson with the eighth overall pick. They now put Robinson in an offense with Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Tyler Allegier. All the Falcons need is for a quarterback to play serviceable to above-average football in this weak division to win the division. This outcome is possible when you realize the Falcons have the easiest strength of schedule in 2023. 

Once this team makes the playoffs, it is any given Sunday. Will it be an uphill battle for the Atlanta Falcons? Of course, it will be an uphill battle, but it is doable. Let’s remember this trajectory mimics what the Philadelphia Eagles did with Jalen Hurts. Personally, I believe the Falcons could very well be the 2021 Eagles. That is, where they may make the playoffs and are immediately bounced from the playoff picture. However, the quarterback position could click with this star-studded offense, giving us a meteoric type rise and bringing us a dark horse to compete in the Super Bowl picture this season.

Did I convince you about the Falcons? How about on any of these other teams? Who do you think could be a dark horse for the Super Bowl in 2023? Let us know on Twitter @FFFaceoff and @jpep20.

For the latest free agent news, check out the Fantasy Football News Tracker.

Trending Now

• Rookie ADP

• 2023 Rookie Profiles

• NFL Future Bets

• Fantasy Football Consistency Score

Dynasty Content

• • ADP (1QB)
  • ADP (SF/2QB)
  • Rankings
  • 2023 Class Preview
  • Top 10 Quarterbacks
  • Way Too Early Mock Draft