NFC South Preview

 


We're approaching the 2024 NFL Season, so it's time to dig in and preview the action. Over a series of posts the next two months I'll be previewing the league, division by division. Teams will appear in order of finish from 2023 and I'll include my 2024 prediction. Today, it's the NFC South!

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2023 Finish: 9-8, First Place
About: The Buccaneers took the division with Baker Mayfield finishing as QB10. The Buccaneers are keeping the band together in 2024, bringing back Mayfield and his top target, Mike Evans. Along with Chris Godwin, tight end Cade Otton, and running back Rachaad White, the core of this group returns. But they're missing Offensive Coordinator Dave Canales, who is now the Head Coach for the Panthers. The defense also lost some key pieces due to budget constraints. The division remains open, but the competition might be better in 2024.
Prediction: I think the Buccaneers will remain around the nine win mark, but that might not be enough to get them back into the playoffs.

New Orleans Saints
2023 Finish: 9-8, Second Place
About: The Saints were agonizingly close to winning the division and/or making the playoffs. Unfortunately, they didn't get either. That puts plenty of pressure on Dennis Allen as he tries to secure his job. Derek Carr is back, but he comes with a new Offensive Coordinator in 2024. The team still has Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave, but not much behind them. Additionally, there are holes to fill on defense. The division is winable, but do they have enough to get it done and make a return to the playoffs?
Prediction: I think the Saints will be competitive, and will again be around .500. But I don't see them making the playoffs, which opens the door to questions about the future of the coach, quarterback, and even Kamara.

Atlanta Falcons
2023 Finish: 7-10, Third Place
About: The Falcons had promise in 2023, and weapons. But they couldn't put it all together. Arthur Smith, the Head Coach, is gone. So, too, is quarterback Desmond Ridder. In his place, the Falcons grabbed Kirk Cousins. If he's healthy, coming back off an Achilles injury, he'll be the best quarterback the Falcons have had in some time. The team also added Darnell Mooney and Rondale Moore as weapons. But the hope is Cousins, and a new coaching staff, can open the door for Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts to thrive.
Prediction: The Falcons should have won the division in 2023. I think they'll get it done in 2024.

Carolina Panthers
2023 Finish: 2-15, Fourth Place
About: The Panthers flamed out. Frank Reich didn't even last one season and No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young looked lost. Can Canales fix that? The team also added Diontae Johnson, to provide a better No. 1 receiver, and drafted Jonathan Brooks to add to the backfield. Those are potential upgrades, but it could still be a long season in Carolina.
Prediction: It will take more than one year to turn the Panthers around. I think they'll be better in 2024, but still not a playoff team.

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