NFC South: Each Team’s Path To A Division Title

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are coming off a season where they were not even in the conversation to win the division. Injuries battered the Falcons and put them out of the division race fairly early. Now, everyone is healed and the Falcons are ready to make a run at the crown.

Offense:

The offense will welcome back RB Devonta Freeman who missed the majority of 2018 with a couple of injuries. The ground game last year was stagnant so being able to blend that back in will help make the Falcons offense as explosive as they are used to being. The additions of several new offensive linemen (notably rookies Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary) will fix Atlanta’s most pressing issue from last season. The offensive line gave up 42 sacks last season, their skill and strength will bring stability to the line for the future. Second year players Calvin Ridley (WR) and Ito Smith (RB) combined for 14 touchdowns so if they repeat that production, that will help take the load off of Matt Ryan and Julio Jones. This offense is dangerous in every way and will be impossible to contain.

Defense:

The make-or-break factor is the defense. They were battered with injuries to key players like Keanu Neal, Ricardo Allen and Deion Jones. If they can play the whole season then it will be much harder to get past Atlanta. Second year play Damonte Kazee, who finished last year with 7 interceptions, will be a key player in the secondary that can hopefully shutdown opposing air attacks. If Defensive Linemen Takk McKinley, Vic Beasley and Grady Jarrett can stuff the run and get to the quarterback, then it will be quite impossible to score on Atlanta. Which in the end, will spell doom for all opponents and can help Atlanta easily be the NFC South Champions as long as they stay consistent.

By: Myles Bloomquist (@thephantomjazzy)

Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton is healthy (mostly). The Panthers will win the NFC South. It is that simple. With a healthy franchise quarterback last year the team was 6-2, without 1-7. I am not sure how much clearer it can be. If you need more, they also have one of the best running backs in the NFL. Want more reasons why? Then here you go.

D.J. Moore, WR:

Cam Newton finally has a legit threat since his days with Steve Smith. D.J. Moore stepped in as a rookie and caught 55 balls for over 700 yards with only ten starts under his belt. In those ten starts, Moore had 35 of those receptions becoming Newton’s primary target, and that was a hurt Cam. With Cam healthy and a full season under Moore’s belt, they have a chance to blossom into a superstar duo.

Defensive Upgrade:

The defense opened the year as strong as ever. Through the first half of the year, they gave up just 22.5 points per game. Then the offense went south, and the defense went with them. Over the last eight games, that total jumped to 26.5 per game. The letdown on the offensive side of the ball placed more pressure on the defense. A healthy offense and the additions of Bruce Irvin and 2018 first-rounder Brian Burns should help get that defense back on track.

Christian McCaffrey:

I know, I know I already mentioned McCaffrey above but when a player is this good you have to make sure everyone knows. McCaffrey took his game to another level last year averaging 122.81 yards from scrimmage and scoring 13 touchdowns. And all of this was done with an injured quarterback making him the focal point of defenses everywhere. Imagine the type of season he could have this year with additional weapons taking away some of the attention. As a weapon at every level expect McCaffrey to break 2000 total yards from scrimmage in 2019 and help bring the Panthers back to the top.

We Got This:

In the end, the Panthers are a great football team and will be the team to beat in the NFC South. While the Saints and Falcons are both excellent football teams, the Panthers have Cam back healthy (In case you haven’t heard) and a defense that is ready to retake its place as one of the best in the NFL. Not only will the Panthers be the NFC South Champions, but they have a chance to hoist the Lombardi when its all said and done finally. Watch out everyone because the Panthers are ready to roar in 2019.

By: Josh Brown (@WeirdJBronavich)

New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints had an excellent year last season. On their way to 13 wins, they both scored the most points and allowed the fewest points scored against them in the division. By early December 2018, the Saints had been crowed NFC south champions. The first time in franchise history where they collected that honor in back to back seasons. After the upcoming NFL season, they’ll make it three in a row.

Offense:

The Saints offense remains in the hands of one of the best quarterbacks in the league as Drew Brews enters his 19th season in the league. In 2018 Brees failed to top the 4,000 yard passing mark for the first time in the past 12 seasons but was only eight yards shy of hitting that benchmark. He did achieve a career-high passer rating and touchdown to interception ratio. Brees will once again look to be an efficient, high scoring passer while he tosses touchdowns to Michael Thomas, one of the best receivers in the game.

The passing game is backed up by a strong ground attack led by Alvin Kamara. In his second season in the NFL Kamara gained a combined 1,592 yards running and receiving while scoring 18 touchdowns. He will be given full reins of the running game after Mark Ingram left to join the Ravens in the off-season. Kamara is the epitome of a dual threat back as he can do just as much damage on the ground as he can through the air. Between Brees, Thomas, and Kamara the Saints have an elite core of skill players that will consistently cause problems for defenses.

Defense Line:

After several years of strong drafts focused on accumulating defensive talent, the Saints might have a more prolific defense than offense in 2019. The Saints have talent on every level of their defense. Starting up front the unit is led by potential Defensive Player Of The Year candidate Cameron Jordan. Fresh off two seasons of double digits sacks, Jordan should be let loose on opposing quarterbacks in 2019. Playing alongside newly signed defensive tackle Malcolm Brown and former first-round pick Marcus Davenport will only help free Cameron up to make even more plays this year. Davenport is still adjusting his game from being a stand-up rusher to playing out of a three-point stance but has drawn rave reviews from coaches this off-season. Throw in a healthy Sheldon Rankin’s and the Saints have a formidable defensive front.

Defensive Backfield:

The Saints have a deep and talented secondary led by third-year corner Marshone Lattimore. Patrick Peterson is healthy to start the year and Eli Apple has been in the system for a full off-season after being picked up by the Saints in a trade halfway through last season. Third-year safety Marcus Williams adds another rangy and talented player to a stacked secondary. In 2018, the Saints defensive backfield started off somewhat shakey allowing over 300 yards a game for the first half of the year. Once everyone settled in, they dropped that average to just over 200 yards passing in the latter half of the year. Between the talent and experience playing together, the Saints pass defense should be one of the better units in the league.

Conclusion:

Between the firepower on offense and the playmakers on defense, the Saints are set up extremely well. They should put up big scores while holding opposing offenses to low scoring outings. The Saints’ main strengths resided in the trio of Brees, Thomas, and Kamara they would be in crowned the NFC South Champions for the third time in a row. With the high level of talent across their defense, they should be considered a lock to once again take home the division title.

By: Ben Davidowitz (@DavidowitzB)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs lured 67-year-old Bruce Arians out of retirement this offseason to help right the ship. Arians has a proven track record of quick turnarounds. 9-3 and coach of the year honors with Indianapolis in 2012. 10-6, 11-5, 13-3 and an NFC Championship appearance in Arizona. If anyone can put an end to the 11-year playoff drought, it’s him. The real question for this Bucs team is Jameis Winston the future of the franchise?

Offense:

Bruce Arians left no doubts about his feelings on the subject. Announcing at his first press conference “this is Jameis Winston’s team”. Winston will be given every chance to succeed. The offense is loaded with skill-position talent. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin at WR are dynamic playmakers. Cameron Brate and OJ Howard form the best TE duo in the NFL. Running back and offensive line are glaring weaknesses that need to be fixed. Peyton Barber could be the answer at RB and Arians likes what he sees in him. The entire right side of the offensive line needs to be rebuilt, yet was again ignored in the draft. That could be a problem as Arians likes to send out 5 in his passing plays. Protection and balance would go a long way in answering the Winston question.

Defense:

The defense will have a whole new look under former Jets head coach, Todd Bowles. Bowles is scraping the vintage Tampa 2 in favor of an attacking style 3-4 scheme. The growing pains are going to be real, as the personnel doesn’t fit. They gave up 29 points a game last year, so it can’t get any worse. They went out and drafted linebacker Devin White in the first round to be the centerpiece of the new-look defense. Last years #1 pick Vita Vea came on strong at the end of last year and should anchor the new front. Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves got his 5th-year option picked up, the switch to more press man should help him sure up the backend.

Schedule:

The Bucs have the worst schedule I have ever seen. They go from September 22nd to November 10th without a true home game. They have trips to London, Seattle, and Los Angles in that stretch. Traveling over 25,000 miles in six weeks! That is a daunting task for any team.

Conclusion:

The Bucs need to find out if Jameis is the answer. Quarterback whisper Arians is his last and best shot in Tampa. The offense can score with anyone and the defense has some pieces. Arians quick turnarounds have had far less talent, the division is the most competitive in the NFL which should hold down the win totals. A few breaks and the Bucs could find themselves right in the playoff hunt as NFC South Champions.

By: @SteelCurtainPEH