NFC South Predictions

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  1. Carolina Panthers (11-5)

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Carolina is the most balanced team in the NFC South and the back to back Division Champs should make it 3 straight. Even with the loss of Kelvin Benjamin, Cam Newton has big weapons with rookie Davin Funchess and tight end Greg Olsen and the Panthers could make noise through the air once again. Even with the loss of Greg Hardy, the defense will still be dominant with Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis along with Shaq Thompson at linebacker and a line led by Charles Johnson. Charles “Peanut” Tillman joins a young secondary that is certainly talented.



  1. New Orleans Saints (11-5)

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The Saints offense will have to deal with The losses of Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills, but the Saints offense will be still potent with Marques Colston and Brandin Cooks. The addition of CJ Spiller and the hope that the run game will improve should take the pressure off Drew Brees. Defensively, the selections of Stephone Anthony and Hau’oli Kikaha should improve the linebackers and the return of safety Jarius Byrd should help improve the defense. Expect the Saints to return to the post season in 2015.



  1. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)

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Atlanta’s offense will still be explosive with Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Roddy White through the air and Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman to run the ball. The defense will transition to Dan Quinn’s system and it may keep the Falcons out of the post season, at least for this season as they don’t yet have the right personnel to run it. The Falcons do have a young and talented linebacker corps and solid secondary, but their defensive line needs a lot of work. The Falcons do have the one of the best, if not the best returners in NFL History, Devin Hester, so you never know when a spark will come from their special teams. Look for Atlanta to compete again in 2015 but fall short in the end.



  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)

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The Bucs selected the highly scrutinized Florida State Quarterback Jameis Winston with the first overall pick in the draft. Winston’s receiving core will be led by second year wideout Mike Evans and veteran Vincent Jackson, two big and talented wide outs. A healthy Doug Martin leads Tampa Bay’s rushing attack that was nowhere to be found for much of the 2014 season. The return of studs Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David to lead the Bucs’ Front seven, and a young, improving secondary offer some hope on the defensive side of the ball. However, the Bucs will finish last in the division again in a very competitive NFC South. They’re heading in the right direction, but it may take a a year or two for them to be a legitimate contender in the NFC South.

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So this division is going to go from EVERY team being under .500 to having ZERO teams under .500? That would make it the strongest division in the league. I think the write-ups on each team are a little sunny but that's OK. When predicting season records you have to build in some losers.

CAR, NO and ATL I see as all pretty close to one another. They have strengths and weaknesses. CAR has an excellent front 7 but weak secondary. NO and ATL have more potent offenses but are both weak on D. Jarius Byrd is still dinged up and has been a complete bust in NO, and Rob Ryan is on his way out. To me they all look bunched together in the 7-9 - 10-6 range. And I think it's going to be another rough year in Tampa. Winston is just so raw right now, no matter what you think his potential is.
 
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