Breaking Down the Buffalo Bills 2009 Schedule Part 3: NFC South

(Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Definition of Improvement:

1: the act or process of improving
2 a: the state of being improved ; especially : enhanced value or excellence b: an instance of such improvement : something that enhances value or excellence

Technically, every year all 32 teams in the NFL "improve" because of Free Agency and the draft, yet only 12 will make the playoffs. The other 20 teams will be looking ahead to next year—some with many holes to fill, others only a player or two away from taking that next step, and the rest are left wondering what went wrong—believing they made the necessary moves to make the playoffs, but didn't.

A common theme we've heard this off season from the media talking heads and "expert" NFL analysts is that the Buffalo Bills have gotten better (at least in some areas), but so has the rest of the AFC East; negating the improvement on our end. therefore we are destined to finish last place again for a second consecutive season.

We're also led to believe we play two extremely difficult divisions from the AFC South and NFC South in 2009. Both divisions sent two teams to the playoffs last year, and the worst team in the NFC South finished 8-8.

Of course, all of this could end up being true. But that's why they will line up and play the games this fall.

I've decided to break down all the teams on the Buffalo Bills 2009 schedule and take a look at who improved, who will maintain the status quo, and who took a step backwards.

Here is the third installment in which I’m taking an in depth look at the NFC South:

1) Carolina Panthers

2008 Results:12-4, NFCS Champion, No. 2 seed, 2nd round loss at home to No. 4 Arizona

Key Additions: Everette Brown, Sherrod Martin, Justin Geisinger

Key Losses: Jeff Hangartner, Nick Goings, DJ Hackett, Darwin Walker, Ken Lucas

Have they improved from 2008 to 2009?

When your biggest FA acquisition is a former 7th round pick of the Buffalo Bills, it’s a bold statement to claim you’ve improved.

They also mortgaged a 2010 1st round pick to draft Everette Brown as a possible insurance policy, who tumbled from a top 15 prospect all they way to the middle of the 2nd round.

Resigning the aging Jake Delhomme to a big contract raised eyebrows around the NFL world especially after a shaky finish and 6 INT performance in the playoffs.

Let’s not forget that the face of the franchise’s status is very much up in the air, in addition to Peppers demanding a gargantuan payday.

Yes, they return a bulk of their core that won the division last year, but I don’t see this squad being improved and maintaining the status quo might not be enough in a vastly improved NFC conference.

Still have questions about: QB, OL Depth, TE, Safety, DT

The key to their season: Julius Peppers. Will he be motivated and productive if he returns? Also, Delhomme will have to rebound in a major way from his horrible playoff performance and late season funk for this team to get back to the playoff. What will be working against him is his "Penningtonesque" track record of following a playoff year with an injury riddled and inconsistent season.

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