2023 NFL schedule release analysis for AFC teams: Win total, futures impact and who to bet early or late

The NFL revealed its 2023 schedule on Thursday night, with most of the 272-game slate being set (TBD Saturday games late in the season and primetime flexes notwithstanding). The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Detroit Lions on Thursday, September 7 to kick off the season, while the New York Jets will play five primetime games plus the NFL's first ever Black Friday standalone game after trading for four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers in late April.

While sportsbooks release win totals and a variety of futures markets prior to the yearly schedule release with a team's slate of opponents determined at the close of the previous regular season, the official schedule release provides some opportunity to dig into how each team's 18-week season is laid out to determine if there's any edge to be gained.

Below, we'll go team by team and see where all 16 AFC teams have a benefit or a disadvantage, and what it means for their futures and win totals, including whether playing certain futures make sense prior to Week 1 or at some point during the season. Our look at the NFC will follow next week.

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