NFC South: Division Rankings

As both the No. 1 offense and pass offense in the league, the Saints certainly don't lack talent in the passing game.

However, passing alone does not win games, as evidenced by their last place finish in the division and an 8-8 record last season.

The Saints have not been an unbalanced team, and they missed the opportunity to pick up some critical players in the draft. There is still a chance to pick up a free agent, but as of now, they are in last place.

As mentioned above, the Saints had the top passing game in the league, and therefore didn't feel the need to change anything. However, their running game is lacking. Yet, the Saints failed to acquire a back in the draft, though they could still get a good free agent.

Coming in at No. 23 in the league last season, the Saints' defense was not great. To fix this, they picked up some solid defenders.

The Saints only had four draft picks, and they used three on defense—the fourth was for a punter. Malcolm Jenkins could become a solid corner or a free safety, and their two fourth-round picks were two Wake Forest players that can provide depth at safety or at inside linebacker. The Saints have made some slight improvements on defense and could rank around No. 19 or 20 this season.

The Saints seem to play either difficult or weaker teams. They play the Eagles, Dolphins, Giants, and Patriots, but they face the Lions, Bills, and Rams as well.

Overall, the Saints have a ton of talent, but they lack balance. They allow teams to cheat against them without fear of being burned. This is a major weakness that will offset the Saints' strengths.

The Buccaneers finished third in the division last year and are looking to do the same again this season. They have a more balanced team than the Saints, but they aren't perfect.

The offense ranked in the middle of the road last year at No. 14. The biggest addition to the Bucs is quarterback Josh Freeman. However, it is unknown as to whether he will be ready to start this year. Even still, the Buccaneers are solid enough to score points.

Defense is a strong point for the Buccaneers, as theirs earned the No. 9 ranking in the NFL last year. The team added even more depth to the roster with second and third round defensive linemen. These players will help improve the Buccaneers' weak run defense. If they can improve that, they will become much more well rounded.

However, the Bucs could fall to last in their division because of a very difficult schedule. They start the season against the Cowboys and Bills. However, it turns downhill from there, as they then face the Giants, Eagles, Panthers, Patriots, Dolphins, and Falcons. This tough schedule could keep the team from being competitive and remaining a highly ranked team.

All in all, the Buccaneers are a decent enough team with talent in several positions. However, a few holes and having one of the more difficult schedules in the league, may keep the Buccaneers from rising above the No. 3 spot in the division.

Last year's division winners still have plenty of strengths and could potentially have another good year.

The Panthers had a good draft and picked up some players that could be very beneficial to the team.
The offense ranked No. 10 in the league thanks to a strong running game. However, the Panthers' passing game needs work, but they have still failed to address this problem.

Their defense was on the weaker side and finished 18th overall last season. But the Panthers picked up some good defenders who can provide more depth than they had last season, which could raise their rankings.

Their schedule is harder than average—though not as difficult as the Buccaneers'. The Panthers could pick up some wins against the Cowboys and the Vikings, but they might struggle against the Eagles, Cardinals, Patriots, and Giants.

The Panthers are talented, but they may not have all that is needed to make the playoffs. They should still do well, and they could even take the division if the Falcons encounter problems.

The Falcons became well known due to the success of rookie quarterback, Matt Ryan. However, it was their fantastic running game that allowed the Falcons to win games.

Even so, the Falcons had several holes to fill this offseason.

The offense was one of the best in the league in 2008, coming in at No. 4 overall. Their running game spearheaded this powerful offense and was ranked No. 2. Their passing game was just average, but now that Ryan has a year of experience under his belt, he and the wide receivers could achieve a lot more. It's true, not much effort went into improving their offense, but they should remain in the top 10.

Ranked 24th in the league, the Falcons' defense really held them back last season. They have, however, taken big steps to improve. In the eight picks they had this draft, only one player was on offense. They picked up a few defensive lineman, and added a little more depth to the secondary.

One key factor that will help the Falcons win is their schedule. It cannot be considered easy, but it isn't as tough as the Buccaneers' or Panthers'. They will face challenges against the Patriots, Dolphins, Eagles, and Giants, but they have chances for easier wins against the 49ers, Saints, and Bills.

When you compare all four teams, it seems as though the Falcons have the best chance for success. They have addressed their weakest spots, and they have a lot of talent on the field. Just looking at talent, I would say that the Panthers will win. However, the schedule could dictate the results, and the Falcons have an easier one by far.

Of course, many of you will read this and think that I'm crazy.

If the Saints are going to win, tell me why. I'd like to know so that I am more knowledgeable in the future.

I will now look to the playoffs and pick my division winners and the two Wild Cards to see who will win the conference and ultimately, the Super Bowl.

If you have any input, please tell me so I can take things into consideration.