2014 NFL Season Previews: NFC South

The NFL season preview is wrapping up and my last division is the NFC South. This division has been one of the strongest divisions in the NFL for the last couple of years and will probably continue to be that way this year. Last year was an off year for the division with the Falcons and Buccaneers being among the worst teams in the league but I don't expect that to continue this year. All the teams have gotten better except for the Panthers and it will probably shift the division around a lot. Here's my outlook.

1. New Orleans Saints

2013: 11-5. 2^nd in the NFC South. Lost in the Divisional round of the playoffs.

Key Losses: Darren Sproiles, Lance Moore, Jed Collins, Robert Meachem, Roman Harper, Malcolm Jenkins.

Key Additions: Brandin Cooks,sErik Long, Brodrick Bunkley, Jarius Byrd.

Toughest Match-ups: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens.

2014:

The Saints were one of the best teams in the league last year. They showed it by going 11-5 and making the playoffs. The offense was the strength of the team as always but last year the defense was actually pretty good under new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. They just ran into the juggernaut defense of the Seahawks in the playoffs. This year I expect the Saints to be even better with the addition of Jarius Byrd at safety and Brandin Cooks at wide receiver. Byrds acqusition could mean more turnovers created for the defense. Byrd has 22 interception and 11 forced fumbles in his 5 year career. The drafting of rookie Brandin Cooks to couple with Marques Colston and Jimmy Graham should really help open up the offense more. It should really help teams not focus on Jimmy Graham as much if they have anther dangerous option in the pass game. The Saints are going to run through most of their schedule. I see them going 13-3.

2.Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2013: 2-14. Last in the NFC South. Did not make the playoffs.

Key Losses: Davin Joseph, Mike Williams, Darrelle Revis, Tim Wright.

Key Additions: Josh McCown, Mike Evans, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Brandon Myers, Michael Johnson, Alterraun Verner.

Toughest Match-ups: Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions.

2014:

The Buccaneers were really bad last year. A lot of that has to do with Greg Schiano being a terrible coach and the other part of it was their quarterback woes. They had a ton of talent on defense but they misused a few players, including Darrelle Revis. Now with Lovie Smith as the head coach the Buccaneers are looking like a formidable team. The Bucs will probably create a ton of turnovers per usual under a Lovie Smith coached team. Also the addition of Josh McCown will certainly help their quarterback woes. McCown might not be a superstar quarterback but he is the kind of managing quarterback that Lovie has worked with and maximized in the past. The Bucs don’t lack weapons with probably the tallest receiving core in the NFL with giant receivers Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson as well as behemoth tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. McCown loves to throw the jump ball and I think it will be a pretty good fit. I see the Buccaneers turning it around and going 10-6.

3. Carolina Panthers

2013: 12-4. 1st in the NFC South. Lost in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Key Losses: Steve Smith, Ted Ginn Jr, Brandon Lafell, Domenik Hixon, Mike Mitchell, Captain Munnerlyn.

Key Additions: Kelvin Benjamin, Jason Avant, Jerricho Cotchery, Ed Dickson, Antoine Cason, Roman Harper.

Toughest Match-ups: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers.

2014:

 

I loved the 2013 Carolina Panthers because they willed themselves to 12 wins behind an improved defense and a more clutch Cam Newton. This Carolina Panthers team is going to have to lean on Newton even more but have a lot less weapons with their top 3 wide receivers from last year moving on to other teams. Kelvin Benjamin could be a nice player but it is crazy to rely on a rookie wide receiver. To make matters worse the Panthers top running backs, DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart are getting older and often injured. This all places too much pressure on Cam Newton. Plus their schedule might be the toughest in the NFL. It would be miraculous if they made the playoffs playing that schedule. I see them going 7-9 and I’m not that confident in that pick.

4. Atlanta Falcons

2013: 4-12. 3^rd in the NFC South. Did not make the playoffs.

Key Losses: Tony Gonzalez, Jason Snelling, Asante Samuel, Omar Gathers, Sean Wetherspoon.

Key Additions: Devonta Freeman, Courtney Roby, Devin Hester, Bear Pascoe, Jake Matthews, Ra’Sheade Hageman, Josh Wilson.

Toughest Match-ups: New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens.

2014:

The Atlanta Falcons were surprisingly bad last year. Coming off of a 13-3 season, most people thought the Falcons were close to a Super Bowl. They were far from it as they suffered through injuries to their top wide receivers on their way to only 4 wins. Losing Julio Jones for most of the season didn’t help at all but offense wasn’t the Falcons biggest problem. The defense is what let the team down by being 27^th in the league in points allowed. So although I don’t expect the Falcons to be as bad as last year, I don’t see them being back to their NFC championship level. The Offense will play well enough to win some games but the defense will let them down more often than not. I see the Falcons going 7-9 at best.