2016-17 Season NFC South Preview

Last season, I predicted that the New Orleans Saints would win this division, that the Falcons would come in second, and the Panthers would be third. Carolina hardly seemed all that impressive to me going into the season. Just a little bit off. The Saints dropped their first three games and were 1-4 before they really began to recover. By that point, the Falcons and the Panthers were both undefeated, and four games ahead of New Orleans, which made it seem like a two team race. The Saints shocked the Falcons to start a winning streak that saw them look somewhat like a contender, while in the meantime, Atlanta's season quickly spiraled out of control, proving that they 5-0 start was pretty much a fluke. With Tampa Bay hovering around the .500 mark until the final four games, which were all losses, this division was basically dominated by one single team. The Carolina Panthers raced out to a 14-0 start before dropping their only regular season loss at Atlanta. The Panthers easily earned home field advantage, and they hung on to beat Seattle, and devastated the Cardinals, before losing to the Broncos in Super Bowl 50/L. That leaves one question going into this season: can any of the other three teams even give the Panthers a run for their money, or will this be another season where one team wins the division by mid-season, or Thanksgiving at latest?

Here are my predictions for the 2014 NFC South standings:

1. Carolina Panthers (projected division winner) - The Carolina Panthers won their third straight division title last season, and it was not even close! It looked like they were going to get a serious challenge from the Falcons, as both teams raced out to a 5-0 start. But the Falcons lost seven games in an eight game stretch, and the other teams were also struggling, which meant that the Panthers won this division well before Thanksgiving even rolled around. Carolina sprinted out to a historic 14-0 start, becoming only the fourth team in NFL history, and the first NFC team, to have achieved that distinction. They ended up with a 15-1 regular season record, becoming only the seventh team in NFL history to have a record that good or better since the 16-game season was implemented. Indeed, the levels of success were incredible, and the offense put up some incredible numbers. Of course, the main reason for that is Cam Newton, who earned MVP honors with his best ever season, beating opposing defenses with both his arms and his legs. The Panthers hung onto finally knock off the Seattle Seahawks after racing out to a 31-0 lead, and they rolled over the Cardinals in a blowout in the NFC title game to earn the franchise's second ever Super Bowl appearance. They were clear favorites, and it seemed that they were on their way to a memorable and historical championship. However, the Denver Broncos exposed some weaknesses, particularly regarding the team's toughness. It all fell apart in the biggest game, on the biggest stage, and the frustration level on the part of the Panthers was clear. The main question with this team, then, is just how much they did to address these weaknesses during the offseason. Have they gotten tougher? Can they follow up on the tremendous promise that they showed last season? Can they remain healthy and, if so, will they find themselves right back in the Super Bowl this year? All of that will be answered, of course. But heading into the season, the Panthers are. at the very least, clear favorite to take their fourth straight division title. 

2. Atlanta Falcons (projected second place team) - Atlanta looked awesome for the early part of last season, racing out to a 5-0, undefeated start, and still maintaining a solid 6-1 mark entering the mid-season point. And then, they could do nothing right anymore. Yes, despite the incredible early season success that they enjoyed, the Falcons lost six straight games, and were too far behind to entertain any hopes of winning the division. They did not manage to qualify for the playoffs, nor did they manage to salvage a winning season, which proved to be extremely streaky and bittersweet. During the offseason, Atlanta tried to make some moves to improve and toughen their defense, as well as their offensive line, and this should help. However, last season's failures highlighted just how far behind this team is from catching the Carolina Panthers. Remember, they lost the division by getting blown out in the final game of the season two years ago, and then were not even able to make a race of it last season. This year, Atlanta would have to have everything go right for them to even make a race out of it, although there are some positives to come out of last season. The Falcons defeated three playoffs teams, including Houston, Washington, and the biggest win for them came when they ended the Panther's hopes for a perfect season in the second to final weekend of the regular season. Whether they can build on that to improve and make a serious playoff run remains to be seen. 

3. New Orleans Saints (projected third place) - The New Orleans Saints still have Drew Brees, but he is not getting any younger. The Saints are hoping to surprise a lot of the skeptics, although they have been forced to endure two consecutive 7-9 seasons. Unfortunately, they have one of the toughest teams in the league to deal with within their division, and the Carolina Panthers figure to cast everyone else in their shadows in the NFC South. That includes the New Orleans Saints, who likely do not quite have enough weapons on offense, and enough toughness on defense, to really challenge Carolina's supremacy within the division. Still, with Brees at the helm, New Orleans can score some points. The major problem is, however, that their defense has such trouble trying to stop other teams from scoring, and they allowed more points than almost any other team last year. If everything goes right for New Orleans, a playoff appearance is not out of the question. But everything would have to be just so, and with that weak defense, it just is hard to imagine that they will fare better than last season's third place finish, at best. 

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - (projected last place) - Tampa Bay always seems on the verge of finally recovering to have a strong season. It seems that every preseason, they are supposed to make some noise in the upcoming season. And then, once September hits, reality hits harder. Last season, the Bucs had an up and down season. They started off roughly at 1-3, but fought their way back into contention, as they stood at 6-6 in December. However, that was where it all fell apart for this team, as they dropped their final four games to finish at a dismal 6-10. No playoffs, no winning season. Another offseason filled with questions. The Buccaneers still might have a bright future ahead of them, having recruited some decent young talent with an eye towards building a serious contender for the future. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, that future likely is not going to be this season, as the rebuilding continues. It will be difficult for this team to escape a last place finish.