Who will win the NFC South? Ranking all 4 teams in the division
The NFC South is considered the weakest division in the league, with no clear team as a Super Bowl contender. The last team from the division to make a Super Bowl appearance was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when Tom Brady led them to a Lombardi win against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Carolina Panthers finished last in the league, and none of the teams had a 10-game winning record for the second consecutive year. Exciting things have happened recently for some of the teams, but in the meantime, here is how they are predicted to rank in the NFC South.
NFC South Contenders Ranked
#4. New Orleans Saints
The Saints could finish the season last in the NFC South. They have players they should ideally have moved on from, but the dead cap money is much higher than the salary cap hit, so they can’t risk it.
Other teams in the division have made some good offseason moves like the Falcons signing veteran QB Kirk Cousins, and the Buccaneers seem poised to continue their performance from last season with the resurgence of Baker Mayfield.
Also, the schedule for the Saints could be a major concern, as they will have to face the Chiefs, Eagles, and Cowboys, as well as their divisional rivals, in the first six weeks of the coming campaign.
If they come out of that stretch with anything below two wins, they might find it difficult to bounce back. The overall football situation with the Saints only suggests they will fall from their last season's second-place ranking.
#3. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers finished as the worst team in the league last season, and few things suggest there will be any improvement this year.
Their 2023 number 1 draft pick, Bryce Young, has had a torrid time in the NFL since joining the team. He finished last season throwing for 11 TDs and 10 interceptions in 16 games with 2,877 total passing yards.
Though they have an impressive defense, ranking fourth overall in total yards allowed, only behind the Jets, Chiefs, and Browns, they are ranked 32nd in total offense.
Young was sacked 62 times last campaign, the second highest in the league, which they hope to fix by OL Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis.
Young is expected to improve on last year's performance given that the pressure should be less, as the spotlight will be on the new rookies, quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye.
#2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last season's division leaders are predicted to finish second, not because they are expected to drop in performance but because the Falcons are expected to improve from last year. The Bucs and Falcons had the same record, but the former edged the Falcons on a better divisional record.
The Bucs can easily replicate last season's numbers if they win the games they are expected to win: games against divisional rivals Panthers and Saints, and matchups against the Commanders, Raiders, Giants, and Broncos.
This should take them back to 9-10 wins, which should be enough to secure second place in the NFC South.
#1. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have made some impressive moves this offseason that should propel them to divisional leaders, breaking the three-year run of the Buccaneers. Linebacker Matthew Judon and safety Justin Simmons are strong additions to the Falcons' defense.
With a defensive coach who can make plays with the secondary, the Falcons defense should be among the top five defenses in the league.
Cousins will only help bolster the Falcons' chances of winning the division, as he is expected to unlock the potential of offensive talents like Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson, and Drake London.
Cousins is a perennial 4,000+ yard passer, except for 2019 and last season when he got injured. He threw for over 2,300 yards in just eight games, a clear difference from Desmond Ridder, who threw for over 2,800 yards in 15 games last season.