The schedule for the 2023 NFL season will be released later in the week. However, we already known the 17 matchups for all 32 teams and where games are going to be played. We also know the International Series games as they were announced earlier on Wednesday.
With this comes an idea about how much each team will travel during the 17-game slate for the 2023 NFL season.
The Seattle Seahawks (31,600 miles) and 36 different time zones rank atop this not-so-friendly list. They are joined by the NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers (29,958 miles and 36 time zones) as the teams that will travel the most. Interestingly enough, neither of these two teams are playing international games in 2023.
The Miami Dolphins (27,110 miles) and two Los Angeles teams in that of the Rams (26,332 miles) and Chargers (26,102) round out the top five.
On the other hand, the Cincinnati Bengals will travel the least with just 11,942 miles while the Green Bay Packers rank second-to-last with 11,956 miles.
Historically, teams playing on the west coast travel more than their counterparts. With five of the top seven either in the mountain or pacific time zone, that’s the case during the 2023 NFL season.
Related: Sportsnaut’s updated 2023 NFL power rankings
What travel tells us about the 2023 NFL season
Of the five teams that traveled the most last season, three earned a spot in the NFL Playoffs. The Seattle Seahawks once again topped that list with 29,446 total miles. They earned a surprise postseason appearance with quarterback Geno Smith winning the NFL Comeback Player of the Yar award.
The Denver Broncos ranked second. As you already know, they struggled big time in future Hall of Famer Russell Wilson’s first season with the team. Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars came in third. They joined Seattle in earning a surprise trip to the postseason. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins traveled the fourth most under then-first-year head coach Mike McDaniel. They also made a trip to the playoffs.
Of the five teams that traveled the fewest, only the Baltimore Ravens earned a spot in the playoffs. Whether this is just a coincidence remains to be seen.
Looking at the 2023 NFL season, the Seattle Seahawks have games in the eastern time zone against the Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants and Detroit Lions. Seattle’s trip to Jersey is north of 5,700 miles roundtrip.
As for the defending NFC West champion San Francisco 49ers, they have five games in the eastern time zone. That includes outings against the Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Typically, San Francisco remains back east if it has consecutive games in the time zone. That will limit travel to an extent.
Either way, it’s certainly something to look at with the schedule for the 2023 NFL season set to be released here soon.
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