NFL Division Previews: NFC South

 


We're rapidly approaching the 2023 NFL Season, which means it's time for some previews. I'm going to be looking at each division, one-by-one, continuing today with the NFC South. Let's dive in.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
2022 Record: 8-9, First in the NFC South. Lost in the Wild Card
2023 Outlook: The Buccaneers won their division last year, but it wasn't pretty. Even with Tom Brady, the team finished 8-9 and limped into the playoffs. Brady is gone now and Baker Mayfield is in. The Buccaneers still have some good roster pieces but also still have plenty of issues to overcome. The NFC South figures to be a weaker division, so if things break right the Buccaneers could again make the playoffs. But that depends on which Mayfield we see.
2023 Prediction: I think the Buccaneers will be competitive, but a six-to-eight win season feels right.

Carolina Panthers:
2022 Record: 7-10, Second in the NFC South
2023 Outlook: The Panthers started bad in 2022, so bad you might not realize that they finished as the No. 2 team in the division. In this year is coach Frank Reich and the No. 1 overall pick, Bryce Young. The Panthers have some pieces in place, including new running back Miles Sanders, to make some strides. But are they a lot better than the seven-win team from a year ago? That's the question. How quickly can Young develop, and how can the team work to overcome its somewhat makeshift receiver group. There's potential for the future but that future might not be in 2023.
2023 Prediction: I think the Panthers are also a six-to-eight win team.

New Orleans Saints:
2022 Record: 7-10, Third in the NFC South
2023 Outlook: The Saints moved to get veteran Derek Carr this off-season, giving them some stability at that position. Is it enough? There's still questions about Alvin Kamara, who is likely due a suspension. The Saints have the pieces to compete, but it will depend on how the offense comes together. Jamaal Williams and Kendre Miller add depth at running back, while the hope is Michael Thomas will be able to come back healthy.
2023 Prediction: The Saints are another team that's hard to read. They could finish in the playoffs, but I think their range is five-to-nine wins.

Atlanta Falcons:
2022 Record: 7-10, Fourth in the NFC South
2023 Outlook: The Falcons started strong in 2022 but faded down the stretch. The team added Bijan Robinson, giving them a trio of First Round picks in Robinson, receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts. That's a lot of offensive firepower for new quarterback Desmond Ridder. The development of the offense will be key, while the team added pieces on defense to make them more competitive. Can the Falcons get it together this season?
2023 Prediction: The range for the Falcons is about the same, six-to-nine wins. However, I feel like this is the team that will emerge. They're my pick for the playoffs.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju...
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more