The 2009 NFC South: What This Means For the Falcons

While many NFL pundits lauded the depth of the NFC East in 2008, the NFC South was every bit as good, with two teams making the playoffs (the Panthers and Falcons) and another (the Bucs) barely missing out on the last day. However, much has changed in the division since the end of the 2008 season.

Jon Gruden and Jeff Garcia have left Tampa Bay, Tony Gonzalez has been added to the Falcons roster, and in what may have been the most shocking move of the post-Super Bowl signings, the Panthers re-signed quarterback Jake Delhomme to a 5-year extension.

Coming off the heels of his five-interception implosion in the NFC Divisional playoffs against the Arizona Cardinals, I sincerely figured the Panthers would try and cut Delhomme and go to either a young quarterback, or one who would not divert to far from what should be Carolina's offensive game plan: hand the ball off to DeAngelo Williams or Johnathan Stewart.

The other team in the division may be the most intriguing. The New Orleans Saints were the toast of football two years ago, advancing to the NFC Championship Game after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. However, the last two seasons have been major disappointments in the Big Easy, despite the Herculean efforts of Drew Brees.

From 2003-07, the NFC South had one of the more curious sports oddities: the team that finished last the season before won the division in each of those years. That nearly happened again in 2008, before John Kasay's 42-yard field goal with one second left at the Superdome gave the Panthers a 33-31 win over the Saints and clinched the division for the Panthers.

I would not be shocked if the Saints won the division. The offensive talent is there, and a healthy Randall Gay, Roman Harper, and Darren Sharper would improve their weak secondary. However, the Falcons, with the addition of Gonzalez, should be the favorites.

Michael Turner was perhaps the most surprising development in the NFL last year. After serving for years as LaDainian Tomlinson's understudy in San Diego, Turner finished second in the NFL in rushing yards, just behind Adrian Peterson. Also, Roddy White, who had been inconsistent the previous years, turned into a Pro-Bowl caliber receiver.

The addition of Gonzalez should help Matt Ryan ease into his second year as a signal caller, as well as open things up for the rest of the offense, including Turner, White, and Jerious Norwood. The defense, under Brian Van Gorder, should get immediate help with Ole Miss defensive tackle Peria Jerry. Jerry was the best interior defensive lineman in the SEC in 2008, and should give the Falcons a boost at one of their weak points.

The NFC South will probably not be as strong in 2009 as it was in 2008, but it will still be one of the stronger divisions in the NFL. And the Falcons should, once again, be right in the thick of the division race.