NFC South Preview

The NFC South is home to the NFL champion New Orleans Saints, but they will have competition from the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won't be an easy out either. This division has always been so strange from the time it was created back in 2002. The Saints won the division last year with a 13-3 record, but only had an 8-8 record the year before. The Carolina Panthers won the division the year before with a 12-4 record, but were only 8-8 with the same team. The Falcons were good in QB Matt Ryan's rookie year, with an 11-5 record, but they regressed to a 9-7 record.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 3-13 last year, but they are actually optimistic about the direction of their franchise. They used their first round pick last year on Kansas State QB Josh Freeman, and he was able to get on the field as a rookie. They were 3-13 last year because of the instability at the quarterback position. They started three different quarterbacks last year, and they also got rid of all of their veterans. The year before, they were 9-3 before taking a nosedive and losing the final four games and missing the playoffs, a first in NFL history. They play Baltimore and Cincinnati on the road, but their schedule isn't that hard. I expect them to improve upon last season, to 6-10, falling short of the playoffs.

The Carolina Panthers were 8-8 last season, finishing off the season greatly behind QB Matt Moore. QB Jake Delhomme was awful after having a great season the year before, prompting the Panthers to cut him. They also drafted QB Jimmy Clausen, so they have a competition at that position. However, Moore is expected to be the starter, and they have a defense that ranked fourth in pass defense. They were also the third best rushing team, with RB DeAngelo Williams and RB Jonathan Stewart. Their success comes down to the play at the quarterback position, and I think they'll definitely struggle with Moore being the full-time starter. He'll be removed, and Clausen will enter and struggle as well. The Panthers will also finish 6-10, probably costing John Fox his job.

The Atlanta Falcons were 11-5 in QB Matt Ryan's rookie season, and things were looking great for the quarterback. He didn't have a bad sophomore season, but the Falcons were only 9-7, and barely missed the playoffs. Their pass defense was awful, close to the bottom of the league. They made a move to improve their pass defense, signing underrated CB Dunta Robinson. The only question is who will play opposite him. Their pass defense will improve, but not significantly. They will improve however, as a team, and will win the division with an 11-5 record.

The New Orleans Saints are the defending champions, pulling off an upset over the Indianapolis Colts. With much of their team remaining intact, they are some people's picks to have success again. Even though the statistics don't show an improved defense last year, they were certainly improved from the year before. Much of the credit should go to the additions of Gregg Williams and S Darren Sharper. Sharper will miss the first six games, and they also let go DE Will Smith in the offseason. Offensively, they are capable of lighting up the league again with proficient QB Drew Brees and his receiving core. However, they will have a Super Bowl hangover and finish at 9-7, just short of a playoff berth.