Every season, there's always plenty of talk about teams that could be unexpected contenders. However, if every team claimed as a sleeper made the playoffs, we would have over 20 teams in the postseason. The reality is that the NFL is very competitive, with few unexpected contenders. So here are 3 NFL teams that could be legitimate sleepers this 2023 season:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
The Bucs had low expectations heading into the season. But since the Bucs are on this list, they certainly defied those expectations. Let's start with the quarterback position: This is a make-or-break season for journeyman quarterback Baker Mayfield. Thus far, it has been a "make". Mayfield is a game manager and can succeed with the talent around him. The Bucs certainly have that talent on offense. Mike Evans, a receiver who recorded 1,000+ yards for all of his nine NFL seasons, is on pace for a tenth 1,000-yard performance. No.2 receiver Chris Godwin has also played a significant role in an efficient passing offense. While the rushing is not as strong, averaging just 3 yards per carry, the defense more than makes up for the Bucs' biggest weakness.
The Bucs shocked many in week one with an upset road victory over the Vikings. The defense was majorly impactful in that 20-17 win, forcing three turnovers against an above-average Vikings offense. Despite their age, the Bucs' defense continued to shut down offenses, with their latest victim being the Saints. In the 26-9 week four win, the defense completely shut down their division rivals' offense, not allowing a single touchdown. Defensive tackle Vita Vea led the team with two sacks and a forced fumble in this game. Safety Antione Winfield Jr. has also been a cornerstone of this strong defense, with two sacks and two forced fumbles through his first four games. Not only has this Bucs' team greatly exceeded expectations, but are a legitimate sleeper team, as they lead the NFC South with a 3-1 record.
Los Angeles Rams:
Similarly to the Bucs, the Rams came into the season with low expectations following up a disappointing 5-12 2022 season. But through the season's first five games, the Rams looked like legit contenders. The offense has especially exceeded expectations, ranking 5th in passing yards, despite Cooper Kupp out for the first four games with a hamstring injury. This injury to one of the league's best receivers should have ended the Rams' season, but breakout rookie Puka Nacua picked up the slack. Nacua caught 39 receptions for 511 yards during those games and is quickly becoming one of the NFL's best slot receivers. After an injury-riddled 2022 season, quarterback Matthew Stafford is back to his vintage self, ranking 5th in passing yards thus far this season.
The Rams' defense is not as strong, as the offseason departures of Jalen Ramsey and Bobby Wagner have certainly hurt this once-dominant squad. While the young and inexperienced secondary has been lacking, the pass rush has kept this passing defense afloat. Even at age 32, Aaron Donald is still a quality pass rusher. This Rams team has been able to beat average and bottom-dwelling teams and compete against the league's best teams, which is a great sign. Even though they sit at 2-3, 2 of those losses were against both undefeated teams, losing to the 49ers, 30-23, and 23-14 to the Eagles. They have a softer schedule down the stretch and could find themselves contending in a wide-open NFC come January.
Seattle Seahawks:
After a surprisingly good 9-8 2022 season, the Seahawks didn't exactly hit the ground running, with a disappointing 30-13 loss to the division rival Rams. But since then, the Seahawks have been playing high-quality football, especially on offense. Veteran quarterback Geno Smith is proving that his career renaissance last season was not a fluke, as he is on pace for similar statistics. Kenneth Walker is one of the most consistent and reliable running backs in the NFL, whilst DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockette make a deep and effective receiving squad. Having two 1,000-yard receivers in the fold is a major edge on the offensive side of the ball. Seattle scored 37 points in weeks two and three, and 24 in week 4, proving that the week one performance was just happenstance.
However, the defense struggled until week 4, allowing an average of 34.6 points per game in the first three weeks. But rookie corner Devin Witherspoon had his breakout game, scoring a 97-yard pick-six in a 24-3 rout of the Giants. The Seahawks' young secondary is quickly becoming one of the league's finest, consisting of the 2022 interceptions leader, Tariq Woolen, 3-time pro bowler Quandre Diggs, and Witherspoon is its latest addition, in what could be a Legion of Boom 2.0. The offseason addition of 6-time Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner has also greatly helped this defense. After improving from a 9-8 season and currently sitting at 3-1, the Seahawks have not received much attention, making them a sleeper team.
Houston Texans:
Even though they made plenty of offseason improvements, the most notable being a new rookie quarterback under center, expectations were still relatively low for this rebuilding Texans team. However, through the season's first five games, it's clear that this rebuild is moving faster than expected. Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud has a great balance of running the ball effectively and being able to force a quality pocket pass to a 2nd or 3rd read, something that many rookies under center don't have. Stroud is in the midst of a cutthroat race between Puka Nacua for the offensive Rookie of the Year award. Stroud's receiving weapons have seemingly come out of nowhere, with pass-catchers like Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Robert Woods all on pace for career-best performances. Running back Dameon Pierce has been a bit disappointing after a promising rookie season, but if he gets back on track down the stretch, the Texans will be an even more dangerous team.
The defense has vastly improved, with the offseason head coach hiring the brilliant defensive mind Domeco Ryans. The squad struggled to find its footing in the first two weeks, but averaged 14.6 points per game allowed in their last three games, including holding the Steelers to a mere six points. The Texans also have one of the league's best safety duos in Jimmie Ward and Jalen Pitre. While landing a playoff berth this season seems unlikely due to the AFC's competitiveness, this team will only improve as the season progresses. The Texans are a sneaky sleeper team disguised as a rebuilding one.
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