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The start of the 2023 regular season is so close we can almost taste it. As is the case heading into every year, there's a baseline of what we all expect to see and have happen. For example, the overwhelming consensus is that the likes of the , , , and will all boast elite offenses Tyler Bertuzzi Jersey this coming season as they have in the years prior. That said, we have to leave some room for various clubs to surprise us. After all, who saw the Geno Smith-led ranking as a top-10 offense entering 2022? How about the Jared Goff-led ?It's in that vein where we'll comb through various offenses that have somewhat muted expectations and try to identify those that could burst onto the scene this year. PIT QB #8 CMP%63.0YDs2404TD7INT9YD/Att6.18 The Steelers have been a preseason darling, so seeing them make this list shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, but it's still well warranted. Of course, all eyes are on as he looks to make a sophomore leap after a solid rookie season. He didn't light the world on fire, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns through his 13 games played, but there is room for optimism. On top of the simple progre sion thanks to his 12 starts last season, Pittsburgh has also emphasized fixing one of its major i sues in 2022: the offensive line. It'll likely have two new starters on the left side after signing guard in free agency and then trading up in the first round to select Georgia left tackle . The Steelers already ranked just outside the top 10 in adjusted sack rate last season (12th), and there's reason to believe they'll be able to protect Pickett even better with these newbies coming in along the O-line.This reshuffled group should also help what was an overall mediocre running game. The Steelers averaged just 4.1 yards per rush last season, with starter averaging an underwhelming 3.8 yards on 272 rushing attempts. While the jury is still out on whether or not Harris will rebound to a more efficient level, Pittsburgh appears to have options in the backfield, primarily with second-year standout . Thus far, Warren has been the most explosive back, averaging 4.9 yards per carry in a complementary role during his rookie year. That has also seemed to carry over into 2023 (or at least the 2023 preseason). Check out this 62-yard touchdown run against the Bills, which also came in front of left tackle . (currently battling with Jones) and Seumalo, who could be the Week 1 starter on the left side. 62-YARD TOUCHDOWN : Stream on NFL+ Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) No matter if that's Warren or Harris in the backfield, the hole that the left side of the line was able to create should excite the Steelers for their potential uptick on the ground.Of course, we can't forget about the pa s-catchers. Pittsburgh has turned itself into a factory that produces extremely talented wideouts, and it seems like they have a strong duo with and . Johnson has been a solid po se sion receiver since he entered the league in 2019 and should see some positive touchdown regre sion after going through the 2022 season without a single score. Meanwhile, you have Pickens, who is the more explosive of the two. He showed flashes of game-breaking ability during his rookie season, and with a year now under his belt, the expectation is that he'll take a leap. Tight end Pat Freirmuth has also been one of the league's better pa s-catchers at the position.Pittsburgh's offense ranked 18th in DVOA last season. If Pickett can take the proper steps in Year 2, coupled with the talent the Steelers have put around him, it's not out of the realm of po sibility that they squeak into the back end of the top 10 in 2023. ATL WR #5 TAR117REC72REC YDs866REC TD4FL3 The Falcons have spent the past handful of drafts bringing aboard ceiling-shattering talents at the skill positions. It was tight end in 2021, wideout last year and then running back as the No. 8 overall selection this spring. Those are three significant pillars that any team would scratch and claw to try and surround their quarterback with. The big variable with Atlanta, however, just so happens to be its most important position: quarterback.After started the year in 2022, the Falcons made way for then-third-round rookie down the stretch, giving him some valuable game reps as he now looks ahead to his first season as the full-time starter. While it was a small sample size for Ridder, improved in each of his four starts to end the year. That culminated with a two-touchdown performance against the where he threw for 224 yards and finished with a 108.2 pa ser rating. In his lone preseason appearance thus far, Ridder was a sharp 7 of 9 for 80 yards. He did throw an interception, but the ball was tipped, so we'll give him a mulligan on that. More importantly, Ridder showed amazing touch on this throw to London down the right sideline. It's plays like this that have the Falcons as a dark horse to win the NFC South. . !: FOX | NFL+ Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) London is the most fascinating piece to this offense in my eyes, specifically because of his blo soming rapport with Ridder. In the four games Ridder started last season, London caught 25 of his 36 targets for 333 yards. If you project that out throughout a full season, London would be looking at 106 receptions and 1,415 yards. Not only does Ridder have top-tier weapons at his disposal, but there's a strong amount of depth on the Falcons roster as well. In the backfield, second-year back is coming off a rookie season where he averaged nearly five yards per carry en route to a 1,000-yard campaign on the ground. They also have veteran rounding out the stable of backs. Outside of London, is coming off a career year with the during which he totaled 690 yards receiving. Even tight end is intriguing based on his succe s with Arthur Smith when they were both in Tenne see.Most importantly, the Falcons have a good offensive line. The arrival of left guard (the team's second-round pick in the 2023 draft) will further bolster a unit headlined by fellow guard and left tackle . GB QB #10 CMP%66.7YDs195TD1INT0YD/Att9.29 If any team has a similar feel to the Seahawks of 2022, it might be the Packers. After all, Green Bay is also entering its first season after moving on from one of its greatest quarterbacks in franchise history following the trade of to the . Now, what has after the team selected him in the first round of the 2020 . While Love has minimal experience in regular season games, he did have the advantage of learning behind Rodgers, which, in theory, should make him well-versed in Matt LaFleur's offense. From what Love has shown in the preseason, he looks the part. So far, he has completed 12 of his 18 pa s attempts for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Beyond the numbers, Love has shown he can fit the ball into some extremely tight windows. Jordan Love throwing DARTS PFF (@PFF) The whole series from on Jordan Love is great but look at the end zone angle on this wrap route. Between the outstretched arm of the LB and sticky CB coverage. This is a tight window throw against an elite defense Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) If Love keeps this play up as we transition to the regular season, Green Bay has the weapons to be a threatening offense. At receiver, is the most dynamic. Down the stretch last season, the then-rookie totaled 523 yards and seven touchdowns on 31 receptions in his final eight games. He also added 61 yards and another score on the ground. is another threat in the pa sing game heading into Year 2, and the Packers also spent a second-round pick to bring in Michigan State wideout . This unit is young but has tremendous talent that Love can tap int
f course, the backfield duo of and is arguably the best in the . Jones can provide relief in the pa sing game, while Dillon is as sturdy as they come. Either could carry the load if the other goes down with an injury, making this backfield ironclad. As for the offensive line, this unit has constantly been among the best in the league; it ranked as the No. 2 line in run blocking in 2022 and sixth in adjusted sack rate.
f course, the backfield duo of and is arguably the best in the . Jones can provide relief in the pa sing game, while Dillon is as sturdy as they come. Either could carry the load if the other goes down with an injury, making this backfield ironclad. As for the offensive line, this unit has constantly been among the best in the league; it ranked as the No. 2 line in run blocking in 2022 and sixth in adjusted sack rate.