Three NFL teams under pressure in 2023

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated Jul 9, 2023 5:56 PM ET

Every NFL team wants to win, but how many of them need to win? To answer this question, Dan Hanzus of NFL.com created the NFL Urgency Meter and with all due respect to Mr. Hanzus, we couldn’t disagree more.

According to Hanzus, the Chicago Bears are under the most pressure to win in 2023. Seriously, how much pressure can a 3-14 team featuring a young quarterback and a second-year head coach really feel? Not as much as these three teams, that’s for sure:

Washington Commanders

The Commanders haven’t had a winning season since 2016. Even when they won the NFC East in 2020, their record was 7-9. After passing on quarterbacks like Will Levis and Hendon Hooker in April's draft, the squad will rely on Sam Howell, a fifth-round draft pick from 2022.

Did we mention that new owners are about to take over? After holding D.C. hostage for over two decades, Dan Snyder has agreed to sell the team to Josh Harris. For those that don’t know Harris, he owns the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, but has no attachment to any player, coach or executive currently with the franchise.

In other words, everyone associated with the Commanders will be playing for their jobs this year. How’s that for urgency?

Cleveland Browns

Not only have the Cleveland Browns never won a Super Bowl, they’ve never been to a Super Bowl. While they have played in five conference championships over the years, the most recent coming in 1989, but have lost every one.

Maybe that’s why the Browns decided to ruin the NFL’s salary structure by signing QB Deshaun Watson. Any team that gives a fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million contract to a man who had 26 civil lawsuits filed against him deserves to be scrutinized.

To be fair, the Browns did appear on Hanzus’ list, but behind more decorated teams such as the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. All things considered, Cleveland could be under more pressure than any other team in 2023.

Detroit Lions

After their run on Hard Knocks, the Lions became the darlings of NFL media in 2022. The team lost their first eight games and finished 3-13-1 under new head coach Dan Campbell in 2021. But this past season, they recovered by winning eight of their last 10 games to give Detroit its first winning season since 2017.

Unfortunately, their 9-8 record still wasn’t good enough to make the playoffs. In fact, the Lions haven’t made the playoffs since 2016 and haven’t won a playoff game since 1991. As one of four teams to never play in a Super Bowl, the Lions will certainly feel the pressure this year.

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