The NFC South may be the most bi-polar division in the league. We take a look at how things look to shape up this season.
2014 NFC South Predictions
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS:
2013 Season Record (11-5)
After the Saints finished the 2012 season tied for last place in the division, they bounced back in a big way in 2013. Getting Coach Sean Payton back from suspension was a big factor in that, as was the acquisition of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. He helped turn the unit into one of the best in the NFL.
With Drew Brees at the helm, you can expect another monster season on the offensive side of the ball as well. He has the greatest TE in the game with Jimmy Graham. Graham hauled in 16 TDs and 1,215 yards receiving in 2013. Sprinkle in Marques Colston and the speedy Kenny Stills and Brees should be able to surpass 5,000 yards passing for a record fourth consecutive season. The Saints will also prosper greatly by trading up in the draft this year to get Brandin Cooks. Cooks is lightning fast and has great hands. He has the potential to be the offensive rookie of the year this season.
Rob Ryan has turned the Saints defense, which was once the laughing stock of the NFL, into one of the best in the league. The addition of one of the best young stars in safety Jairus Byrd will be an immense boost to the secondary as well. The secondary is so deep that new addition, and future Hall of Fame CB Champ Bailey won’t even have a guaranteed roster spot on the team.
Expect a division crown and another big year in the Big Easy.
2014 Projection (12-4)
ATLANTA FALCONS:
2013 Season Record (4-12)
If you want to pick one sure-fire team to rebound in 2014, look no further than the Atlanta Falcons. The 4-12 record should read more like an outlier than a true indication. The Falcons lost four close games in the first five games of the season. At this point they lost their greatest offensive weapon, Julio Jones, to a season ending torn ACL. He was on pace for an absurd 1,860 yards receiving before going down. It is nearly impossible to come back from such a set back. The season was over at that point. The Falcons also had two other key players lose games to injury. Roddy White and Steven Jackson both missed playing time in 2013.
The Falcons are still a pretty decent team. They bolstered their defense with some key acquisitions this off-season. Tyson Jackson and Paul Sollai will fit in nicely on the D-line. They already have a decent young CB in Desmond Trufant.
Expect a few teams to be taken by surprise by the resurgent Falcons in 2014. They do have a difficult schedule to deal with, and will miss the injured Sean Weatherspoon as well as newly retired TE Tony Gonzalez. This will force Matt Ryan to use Harry Douglas more in a three WR set.
The season will be a vast improvement over last season, but with many question marks still out there, they won’t be able to surpass the Saints. A wild-card spot might be in reach.
2014 Projection (9-7)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS:
2013 Season Record (4-12)
Just like in Atlanta, I envision a resurgence in Tampa Bay. They played a lot better last year than their record indicated. The team never seemed to have proper leadership or guidance. Greg Schiano was a train wreck as coach, and QB Josh Freeman seemed to always be dealing with personal issues. Lovie Smith will be a great fit as the new head coach in Tampa Bay. Smith went to the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman as his starting QB. A daunting task to say the least. He will also have a familiar face at the helm in newly acquired QB Josh McCown. Only Nick Foles and Peyton Manning had a better QB rating in 2013 as he played brilliant once Jay Cutler went down with an injury.
The Bucs will definitely miss the departure of CB Darrelle Revis, but filled the spot nicely with the very underrated Alterraun Verner. The 25-year-old Verner had a brilliant campaign in 2013 and signed a 4-year, $26.5M contract which sits well on the books. The offence will be a pleasant surprise with stability at the QB position, and the addition of the number seven overall pick in this years draft, Mike Evans out of Texas A&M. I believe Evans made Johnny Manziel a star as much, or more, than Manziel made Evans a star. The big 6’5″ wideout will join equally large and outstanding WR Vincent Jackson in a superb receiving duo. The Bucs also have a nice rushing attack in “the Muscle Hamster,” Doug Martin. Martin only played in six games in 2013, so the offence will benefit hugely if he can stay healthy.
Tampa Bay will be one of the top rebound teams of 2014, and could push Atlanta hard as one of the two teams to vie for a wild card spot.
2014 Projection (8-8)
CAROLINA PANTHERS:
2013 Season Record (12-4)
As the above two teams take great leaps in rebuilding from terrible 4-12 seasons, the Panthers are a team heading in the completely opposite direction. It’s hard to believe that a team that just compiled a franchise record of 12 wins would be in rebuild mode, but that is the way they are heading.
The top three receivers in 2013 have all moved on. Panthers legend Steve Smith, Brandon Lafell, and Tedd Ginn. Cam Newton must be frustrated with management as all they got to fill the WR spot was Jerrico Cotchery, who is very mediocre. Newton will get the short end of the stick. As the leader he will take the blunt of criticism as they struggle in 2014. Very little will be in his control as they have lost many key pieces on both the offence and in the secondary. They will also face a very tough schedule in 2014 as well.
With the retirement of great LT Jordan Gross, Cam Newton will be on the run a lot more often. The running attack will struggle to look for holes as the O-line is depleted. Both RB DeAngelo Williams and Johnathan Stewart have been hobbled by injury and consistency over the past few seasons.
The Panthers will be the biggest disappointment in 2014, as they go from first to worst in the NFC South.
2014 Projection (6-10)
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