No team has captured the NFC South in consecutive years since the division’s inception in 2002.
Tampa Bay, Carolina, Atlanta, Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Carolina, New Orleans, Atlanta, New Orleans, Atlanta—this is how the South has played out for the past 11 seasons.
The Falcons cruised their way to a 13-win division title, as the Saints, Buccaneers and Panthers all finished at 7-9. But if history serves, Atlanta is doomed for a fall from grace—that is if losing first-place status qualifies as bad behavior.
Point being, it’s all up for grabs in the NFC South.
Let’s take a gander at each team and decide which one is line for the latest version of division bragging rights.
Atlanta Falcons
The Matt Ryan-led Falcons don’t have many reasons for losing their reign over the NFC South.
They own elite status at quarterback, wide receiver and tight end, as well as featuring a formidable backfield and revamped secondary. Ryan, Julio Jones, Tony Gonzalez and newly acquired running and defensive backs have this squad sitting pretty in 2013.
Issues exist with a John Abraham-less defensive line, average linebacker corps and second-year player Peter Konz moving over to center. Rushing the passer and winning the trenches in front of running backs on the other side are legitimate problems moving forward.
That said, the Falcons are still the best and most proven team. It’s their division to lose.
New Orleans Saints
What happens when your head coach returns from a season-long suspension, a fire-and-brimstone defense coordinator joins the staff and Drew Brees is still taking snaps under center?
Motivated, qualified and, well, really motivated.
The quarterback-head coach combination of Brees and Sean Payton is one of the more accomplished duos in all of football. Having Payton back on the sidelines will only power the man who has led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns the past two seasons even further.
Questions at left tackle and a returning defense that surrendered the most yards in NFL history switching to a 3-4 alignment will keep this team at an underdog position.
However, receiving targets Marques Colston, Lance Moore and Jimmy Graham, and new coordinator Rob Ryan could be enough to overcome those deficiencies.
This is a team very much on the rise. Don’t count out the Saints when it’s all said and done.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A passing defense even worse than one on the team before received the medical attention it so desperately needed.
Tampa Bay ranked dead last in surrendering just under 300 yards per game and 30 touchdowns. Those unfortunate statistics should improve dramatically with reigning shutdown corner Darrelle Revis, free agent safety Dashon Goldson and second-round draft pick Johnthan Banks coming on board.
The Buccaneers also retain the No. 1-ranked rushing defense. Losing Michael Bennett will hurt, but adding Akeem Spence and William Gholston will help pick up the slack.
It all comes down to quarterback Josh Freeman in his fifth year as a pro. If he pulls it all together for a full season with prolific wideout Vincent Jackson and running back Doug Martin, then the Bucs have a genuine opportunity in front of them.
Big-time stats just need to translate into big-time wins.
Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton wants the honor of team captain.
He had better earn it if Carolina has any desire of rising above mediocrity.
The Panthers are a total hodge podge of good and bad across the board. They’re thoroughly stacked at running back, but are seriously flawed in the secondary. They’re solid in the defensive trenches, but lack any semblance of depth at wide receiver.
Newton must play at a transcendent, captain-worthy level for this team to overcome its flawed nature. Defensive quarterback Luke Kuechly needs some supporting contributions on his side of the ball as well. Carolina isn’t first-place caliber quite yet. It does, however, have a chance at fighting for a second-place, wild-card finish.
Division Winner: Falcons
The Falcons break the NFC South curse and keep the division crown for consecutive years. They'll win fewer games in a much more competitive division, but will secure the title on the last game of the season.
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