Atlanta Falcons Match Up Well with Rest of the NFC South

In 2007, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the NFC South with a positively towering 9-7 record and were booted in the Wild Card round of the playoffs by the New York Giants. They had clawed their way past beat-up Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints teams (both finished an underwhelming 7-9) in their division only to disappoint majorly.

And my Atlanta Falcons that year? Do I really need to reference those bottom-feeders, who started one Joey Harrington at quarterback for the majority of the season and lucked into a 4-12 mark?

But now look at this group of four; in '08, none of these teams finished under .500, and two qualified for the postseason. What a difference a year makes! The NFC South has obviously emerged to contend with the Beasts of their conference's East for the title of "toughest division in the League."

But you know what? The aforementioned Dirty Birds of the ATL will be all the better for it; tough contests this past year have them prepared for the upcoming campaign. Let's look ahead at their divisional matchups in '09.

Falcons v. Carolina Panthers

Dates: Week Two (Sep. 20 at home) and Week Nine (Nov. 15 away)

Last year's divisional champs won't be much worse, but don't expect the Falcs to do any worse than duplicate last year's home-and-home split with Carolina.

Why the optimism, you ask?

Plain and simple, the Panthers' window is closing. They have made few changes since their Super Bowl XXXVIII appearance, so the rest of the league is starting to pass them by.

Yes, the offense is still potent as long as Jake Delhomme is healthy, and Carolina brass continue to maintain a high level of talent in the receiving corps.

But the Falcons' secondary is quickly catching up; the simple fact that Erik Coleman and Chris Houston will have an additional year each under their belts is going to prevent the Panthers from taking over the air.

Plus, in case you haven't heard, the time of some guy named Julius Peppers finally looks to be coming to a close. I take it you heard the rumors earlier about him going elsewhere (I thought he was a Patriot for sure a couple weeks ago), but even if he does play for this Carolina club this year, he's on in years, has a sour attitude, and cannot provide the pressure necessary to shake Matt "Matty Ice" Ryan.

I'll throw up my hands and admit that the Panthers' linebacking group is still scary, but how undersized Thomas Davis and Jon Beason and aging Na'il Diggs will match up against Michael Turner and a more mature Jerious Norwood is more up in the air than in years past.

Falcons v. New Orleans Saints

Dates: Week Seven (Nov. 2 away) and Week 13 (Dec. 13 at home)

I'm ready to go ahead and call the sweep for the Falcons over the Saints this year. Yes, even a banged-up and defenseless New Orleans team managed a win in their Superdome last season, but I'm left scratching my head when asked what improvement they've made will push them back to prominence.

Just two years ago, an electric offense did take the Saints to an NFC Championship, and they have added elite tight end Jeremy Shockey, but it's becoming increasingly evident that Reggie Bush cannot be a feature back in this league.

Ouch! It hurts even me to say it, but the former Heisman winner will only ever be a change-of-pace guy. He's just too predictable, and the explosiveness that made him such a threat as a Trojan seems not quite as effective against pro defenses.

Even with big turnover in the Falcons' 'backing group, I expect New Orleans will have to resort to throwing the ball far too often (against us and all other teams).

Once again, I'll come clean and tell you straight-up that Atlanta could have trouble with these opposing linebackers. A certain Jonathan Vilma has returned, and the Scotts (Shanle and Fujita) are still very capable.

But strength at one spot in the D isn't going to be able to stop the Dirty Birds, not with recent pickup Tony Gonzalez. What team can realistically hope to cover the big tight end, the emergent Roddy White, and the silent-but-deadly Harry Douglas on every down?

Maybe if the Saints do a great job protecting Drew Brees, they can score on the Falcons; but chances aren't great, considering how poorly their no-name O-line compares to our Jamaal Anderson and John Abraham.

Falcons v. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Dates: Week 11 (Nov. 29 at home) and Week 16 (Jan. 3 away)

About tired of me predicting Atlanta success against South rivals? Sorry, but you know what they say: No rest for the weary.

That's right, Tampa. Just keep collecting mediocre signal-callers, I'm sure one will pan out. And chuck Jon Gruden out the window because he's having some disagreements with veterans; consistency with this motley collection of talent you call a roster is much more crucial than hanging on to the guy who made the franchise relevant.

If given the chance, I'd simply ask the Bucs: What do you plan to do on the field? Throw whichever of your quarterbacks out there and hope that he either spontaneously gets younger (Brian Griese), gets older (Josh Freeman), or plays like he never has and never will (Byron Leftwich)?

The Falcons' defense us far from the best the conference has to offer, but it's not possible that Anderson, Abraham, and Jonathan Babineaux all stumble so much as to allow this Tampa Bay offense to put many points on the board in either meeting.

The Bucs' receivers are definitely better fortified this coming year, but until they find a starter at QB and settle the debate at running back (have you guys completely forgotten what Cadillac Williams is capable of?), they won't have much of a chance against any of their divisional foes.

You're right, Tampa's secondary is still pretty solid, especially at corner. But what will this club do against the cannonball that is Turner?

Curl up and lose twice during the regular season, that's what.

There you have it: The Falcons will swoop in for a 5-1 record in the division this year, and will thereby cushion the impact of a tough rest of the schedule.

Prepare for the fourth different NFC South champ in as many years, and more importantly, the first back-to-back winning seasons for Atlanta in franchise history.