(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Phoenix residents call it being in the way of destiny.

In Charlotte, the Panthers’ 33-13 loss to the Cardinals in the 2009 NFC divisional playoffs is called nauseating.

However, 2009 appears to be the Pepto-Bismol that remedies that feeling, or so many are reporting.

Before their playoff loss, the 2008 Panthers finished first in the NFC South and racked up 12 wins thanks to having the third-highest point differential in the NFC (85).  The Panthers return the NFL’s third leading rusher in DeAngelo Williams, Pro Bowl receiver Steve Smith, and their stalwart quarterback Jake Delhomme, who signed a five-year extension this offseason.

It’s logical for Panthers fans to expect another division title.

Showing that they’re not content being one trick kitties, Carolina took defense with its first three picks in the 2009 NFL Draft. Watching over the players, the team has a coaching staff that is bad at losing.

While the 2009 Panthers attempt to wash away the pain delivered in last year’s playoffs by their desert foes, the optimistic eyes may be seeing a mirage.

Here are four reasons the Panthers won’t repeat as NFC South Champions:

You Say You Want a Revolution…

When the Atlanta Falcons drafted Mike Vick with the first pick in the 2001 draft, he was supposed to be the biggest revolutionary since Che.

Vick couldn’t live up to the expectations of being John Elway, Barry Sanders, and God rolled in one. Instead, as you may have heard, Vick is now living at home making $10 an hour.

However, another quarterback, the third overall pick in the 2008 draft, pushed the Falcons to the playoffs in his first season. A more conventional quarterback who looks to pass first, Matt Ryan threw for 3,440 yards as he led the Falcons to 11 wins.

His performance earned him the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Assuming Ryan can avoid a sophomore slump, a year of seasoning can only mean bad news for the Panthers. The Falcons seem to think Ryan will be fine as it chose to make few moves concerning its offense this offseason.

On the other side of the ball, the Falcons signed linebacker Mike Peterson—a tackling machine—this offseason to be a leader on and off the field. Peterson will have his work cut out for him because there is a lot of new blood.

The Falcons drafted defense with its first five picks.

Their first round pick, Peria Jerry, gives the Falcons’ porous defensive line some depth.  

The Falcons’ decision to improve by sitting still could be just what they need to take back the NFC South crown.

Coming Up Short…

Before Panthers’ kicker John Kasay booted a football through the uprights with one second left on the clock in the final game of the regular season, the NFC South had an unusual streak

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