In the NFC South, the road goes through Tampa.

NFC South Preview

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+900 Super Bowl, +400 NFC, -275 NFC South)

TB12 One More Time
  • Coaching: Todd Bowles steps up as the Head Coach this year with the retirement of Bruce Arians (again). Bowles was a HC in NY with the Jets unsuccessfully. He has TB12, so that helps him, and the OC Byron Leftwich returns. DCs are Kacy Rodgers and Larry Foote who move up from last year, too. So, the same scheme, but not the same at the top.
  • Personnel: On Offense, TB12 retired for a minute and returned, and now he started camp slow with an appendix. The O Line lost 2 guys, so new players: OG Shaq Mason was acquired in a trade from NE and OG Luke Goedeke was drafted from Central Michigan and will start. Now, TE Rob Gronkowski did retire (again), so Cameron Brate and now Kyle Rudolph will need to step up. On D, they have reloaded a bit with DT Akiem Hicks (CHI) and S Logan Ryan (NYG). So, they have two strong sides of the ball.
  • Outlook: Tampa is going to win this division, if Brady is upright. The O Line is not great, which limits their ability to go deep. As of right now, they are they have the highest odds to win their division in the NFL. They are also the NFC favorite, which I find a little strange with the Rams being the defending champs. However, it could be Brady’s last run, despite the contract extension. They will be there to via for another title.
  • Record: 14-3

Carolina Panthers (+12500 Super Bowl, +5000 NFC, +1100 NFC South)

New Home For Baker Should Help Carolina
  • Coaching: HC Matt Rhule is back again, but he needs to make it happen this year. With his feet to the fire, he switched up OCs with Ben McAdoo in. DC Phil Snow returns, and his team has been the strength the past 2 years. I expect better on Offense both with the new QB and McAdoo.
  • Personnel: In the off season, the Offense improves with QB Baker Mayfield coming to CAR. Sam Darnold could beat him out technically, but it won’t happen and he got hurt in camp. Baker is a winner, and I expect a better showing with him under center. RB Christian McCaffery has to find a way to stay on the field to keep the O moving, and the Panthers have invested on the O Line – C Bradley Bozeman (BAL), OG Austin Corbett (LAR), OT Ikem Ekwonu was drafted from NC State. If the Offense improves, then the Panthers can thrive. On D, LB Damien Wilson was added from JAC and S Xavier Woods from MIN – those additions with Brian Burns and Company should keep CAR in the Top 5 of Defense.
  • Outlook: I think CAR is an under the radar team. Oddsmakers don’t like this team, and I don’t have them with a ton of wins, but it would not surprise me to see this team at 8 to 10 wins and better than NO. Baker’s health and the Offense being decent will go a long way with this Defense.
  • Record: 6-11

New Orleans Saints (+4000 Super Bowl, +1600 NFC, +285 NFC South)

Do You Believe in Jameis Winston?
  • Coaching: Huge change at the top with Sean Payton “retiring” (word has it that he will coach DAL next year). Former DC Dennis Allen at the helm, which allows for consistency in the organization. OC Pete Carmichael returns, and Ryan Nielsen and Kris Richard will ascend to be the co-DC for this team. I think consistency is great, but Sean Payton was one of the best and his absence will hurt.
  • Personnel: On O, some interesting developments: RB Alvin Kamara got into a serious altercation in the off season, and he will be suspended 6 games at some point but it may get pushed to 2023. I still think without Payton the control of this team is apparently not as good. QB Jameis Winston is starting camp with an injury, but he has the job. WR Michael Thomas supposedly is returning after missing nearly 2 seasons. The new faces on O are: WR Jarvis Landry (CLE) and rookie WR Chris Olave (Ohio State). The Defense has been the better unit the past 2 seasons. The new additions are at S Marcus Maye (NYJ) and the local boy returns, Tyrann Mathieu (KC).
  • Outlook: Look the Saints are a solid team, but I just see a decline. 9 wins in 2021 is probably the ceiling here for me. The new faces may give them a jolt, but I am predicting a fall without Payton making the game plans. Maybe Jameis and the Saints will prove me wrong. The oddsmakers seem to love them. I’m fading them, which my prediction is definitely harsh here. This is not a playoff team though.
  • Record: 5-12

Atlanta Falcons (+25000 Super Bowl, +8000 NFC, +2800 NFC South)

Pitts Is The Lone Bright Spot in the ATL
  • Coaching: HC Arthur Smith runs it back with the same group of coaches: OC Dave Ragone and DC Dean Pees, which they had a pretty poor Year 1. Maybe they improve.
  • Personnel: On O, the Falcons move away from QB Matt Ryan with downgrade to Marcus Mariota. Rookie QB Desmond Ridder was drafted out of Cincinnati as a potential long term solution. The Falcons added WR deep threat Bryan Edwards (LVR) and OG Elijah Wilkinson (CHI), plus they drafted WR Drake London out of USC for some sizzle. TE Kyle Pitts is the main weapon here still. On D, ATL was not good, but they really only upgraded at LB with Rahsaan Evans (TEN) and Lorenzo Carter (NYG) plus CB Casey Hayward from the Raiders. This unit will still struggle.
  • Outlook: Atlanta is one of the worst teams in the league this year. They probably will be the worst in the NFC along with SEA. So, not sure if Smith will survive this rebuild. It is going to be a long year for the Falcons faithful.
  • Record: 3-14

Prediction: The Bucs take this weakened division again.

About the author

I'm a 49 year old, twice divorced guy with a 20 year old. The blog has morphed a bit lately. Not just sports or dating, social commentary and now some stories from my past experience.