The NFC South: It's Anybody's Game…But Probably Not the Bucs'

(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

How unpredictable is the NFC South?

Well, for starters, no team has won the division in back-to-back years since it was created in 2002.

In fact, from 2003 to 2007, the team that finished last the previous season won the division the following year.

Had Carolina not beat the Saints by a last-second field goal in the final week of last year’s regular season, the upstart Falcons would have won the NFC South and continued the last-to-first streak, despite starting the season dead last in ESPN’s power rankings.

Either way, the division was surprisingly strong last season. Without a designated doormat, the NFC South was one of two divisions in the league in which all of its teams finished at or above .500.

Had the Bucs not lost four straight to end the year, the NFC South might have been the only division in the league with three 10-win teams.

In the end, the Panthers (12-4) and Falcons (11-5) rose to the top of the division with potent running games, while the Bucs (9-7) and Saints (8-8) underachieved to finish in the cellar.

Though, at .500, the Saints would have been in a three-way tie for first in the AFC West.

This season, the Panthers return 21 starters, the Falcons and Saints hope to rebuild their defenses in time to be playoff contenders, and the Bucs have a new coaching staff essentially building from the ground up.

As the division improves around them and the schedule becomes less forgiving, the Buccaneers can probably plan on sitting out this year’s postseason.

I wouldn’t go as far as the Denver Nuggets—see Denver’s postseason scheduling conflict with the WWE—and open up booking dates for Raymond James Stadium through January, but it’s a pretty safe bet.

The Bucs finished 3-3 in the division last year, face pressing questions on both sides of the ball, and lose more ground than anyone else in the foursome.

It is the NFC South, however, and ultimately, your guess is as good as mine.

But undoubtedly, this year’s race for the division title will come down to defense.
 
Three of the four teams in the NFC South have brought in new defensive coordinators this offseason, and the Falcons—entering Brian VanGorder’s second season—are also overhauling their defense.
 
Needless to say, game preparation will take on a new meaning this season between division foes.

While not everyone’s high on defending division champion Carolina, the Panthers return all but one starter from last season’s strong showing, including the explosive backfield tandem of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

An aging Jake Delhomme, who threw six interceptions in the team’s playoff loss to Arizona, is a potential weakness, but the veteran quarterback can still rely on stud receiver Steve Smith to make plays down the field.

Carolina’s defense, now led by first-year coordinator Ron Meeks, could also be better. Meeks coached formerly under Tony Dungy and will introduce the Panthers to his variation of the “Tampa Two” this season.

All things considered, Carolina should once again be a top team in one of the league’s toughest divisions.

The Falcons will also rebuild their defense this season after releasing a host of veterans and spending seven of their eight draft picks on rookie defenders.

The team also acquired former Jaguar and veteran linebacker Mike Peterson.

Offensively, the Falcons add Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez to last year’s breakout receiving corps, and return the league’s second-ranked running game.

If a young defense can step up to the plate and second-year quarterback Matt Ryan can avoid a sophomore slump, the Falcons could build off last season’s success and do more than simply make the playoffs.

But perhaps the team with the most upside in the NFC South this season is New Orleans.

Behind quarterback Drew Brees, the Saints had the highest scoring offense in the NFL last season—they just couldn’t play defense.

That’s where veteran defensive coordinator Gregg Williams comes in. Known for his aggressive 4-3 scheme, Williams likes to put pressure on the quarterback and is expected to get more production out of the Saints defensively with a few key additions.

The Saints upgraded their secondary by adding safety Darren Sharper, former Patriot Randall Gay, and first-round draft pick Malcolm Jenkins.

The team also brought

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