2014 NFL Preview, NFC South


Today I continue my look at the upcoming NFL season with a preview of the NFC South. I'm tackling the divisions in order of how good I think they are, and we're over the half-way point. As always, the team's are listed in the order I believe they will finish.

1. New Orleans Saints
About: The Saints remain the class of the division. They have Drew Brees at quarterback and a lot of talented players on offense, including tight end Jimmy Graham. I think the Saints will be able to put up points, but I also think their defense will be better. The splashed a lot of money out on Jarius Byrd at safety, to pair with Kenny Vaccaro, and if nothing else Champ Bailey will bring a veteran presence and make the younger players better. I think the Saints are good for 11 or 12 wins, and that will be good enough to win the division.

2. Atlanta Falcons
About: The Falcons had a horrific year last season. Before that, they were Super Bowl contenders. I don't think either will be the case in 2014. This isn't a great team, and I don't think they'll be playing for the one seed in the NFC. That being said, I don't think they'll be at the bottom of the division either. I think this year's Falcons, with Julio Jones and Roddy White healthy, should be more like a 9-7 team. The Falcons could even compete for a playoff spot. I still think the Saints are better, but this Falcon team will bounce back after last year's complete disaster.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
About: This team will be much more stable. I don't think they're a playoff threat, but it has to be an improvement over last season. Lovie Smith will bring more stability to the coaching position, and Josh McCown will do the same at quarterback. If Doug Martin is healthy, and returns to the form he had a few seasons ago, the Buccaneers won't have as much trouble scoring. The defense will also be strong — as that was a forte for Smith during his time in Chicago. The Buccaneers have some strong players up front, but the secondary is a bit of a question. Moving from Darelle Reevis to Alterraun Verner feels like a bit of a step back. Still, this should be a team that's competitive and hangs around .500 all season.

4. Carolina Panthers
About: The Panthers won't have the magical season they did last year. The team had an awful off season and suffers from a lack of talent in a lot of areas. Cam Newton is coming off an ankle injury and now has a cracked rib — and there are major questions about whether the Panthers can protect him. That combined with the Panthers' lack of receivers and mediocre running game is a problem. The Panthers also have some serious questions in the secondary. The front seven is still stout, but the secondary is a work in progress. The real secret of the Panthers' success last season was its ability to eek out close games. Those things tend to be hard to carry over, particularly on a team that is struggling for talent in key areas. The Panthers were the darlings of the NFL in 2013, but I see a 6-10 season in 2014.

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