NFC SOUTH PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Saints
2. Falcons
3. Panthers
4. Buccaneers
NEW ORLEANS: A FIRST IN TEAM HISTORY
For the first time in the Saints 43 year history, they enter a new season as defending Super Bowl champions.
Even I cannot believe that as write this.
This was a team that was once known as the Aints. They did not make the playoffs until 1987 with the linebacking corps known as the “Dome Patrol”. They did not win their first playoff game until 2000.
If you have ever wondered who started the tradition of fans wearing paper bags during a terrible season, it was the 1980 Saints.
Now they can take those bags off.
What the Saints did in the playoffs was remarkable. If you look at “Who Dat” played in the playoffs, they defeated THREE teams: all led by Hall of Fame quarterbacks.
Kurt Warner…
Brett Favre…
Peyton Manning…
Drew Brees has been an answered prayer for this franchise. In 2006 with this spark from this moment in Saints history…
Brees led the Saints to their first NFC Championship game appearance. Three seasons later, we see this image…
Brees knows how to motivate his troops and shows that with his play on the field. Brees was in the top ten for pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards, and the league leader in touchdown passes with 34 and had the highest quarterback rating at 109.6. Since coming to New Orleans in 2006, he has posted four consecutive seasons of throwing for over 4,000 yards. Currently he is the Saints all-time leader in touchdown passes with 122 and is poised to pass the Saints all-time leader in passing yards: Manning.
Archie Manning.
Interesting, huh?
In fact, Drew Brees holds the top four spots for single season passing yards in Saints franchise history. Sitting at number five?
Brees’s numbers would not be possible without his backs and receivers such as Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, and last season’s Saints scrimmage yards leader Pierre Thomas. Seven players caught at least 30 passes and ten players caught at least one touchdown pass from Brees.
I would expect Pierre Thomas to get more exposure as the Saints feature back and Reggie Bush to be more of a return specialist.
Even though the Saints did not have a 1,000 yard rusher this season, they did rank in the top ten in rushing yards. If needed, they can get a yard as shown in last season’s NFC Title Game.
As shown with safety Darren Sharper, the Saints throughout 2009 were able to turn defense into points, picking off 26 passes that resulted in a league leading five pick-sixes. The Saints also led the league in fumble recoveries with 12 and fumbles returned for touchdowns with 3. Even though those other turnovers did not directly result in points, it did bring the Brees scoring machine back on the field.
Well… except for the final interception of the season.
There is one other factor the Saints have going for them and that is their Head Coach. Sean Payton is a Parcells disciple. He is aware of what plays to call during the right situation. Case in point, the onside kick…
There is a back story behind why that play was called.
The Saints open the season to celebrate the raising of the Super Bowl XLIV Championship banner with a rematch against Brett Favre the Vikings. Expect the Superdome to be fired up…
Eleven days later, the Saints travel to San Francisco on Monday Night in Week 2. In Week 3, the Falcons visit the Big Easy in a clash between division rivals.
You can expect the Saints fans to really be in their Week 8 matchup against the Steelers on Halloween. I think NBC is going to get just as much footage of their fans in costumes as they do of the game.
They have a late bye week in Week 10. Another first for the Saints will be when they play on Thanksgiving in Dallas, the team that ended the Saints 13-game winning streak to open 2009. December will be challenging for New Orleans as they travel to Cincinnati and Baltimore. The Monday Night season finale is Saints at Falcons which could determine who wins the NFC South.
What is it that John Madden says about defending Super Bowl champions? “They are the champions until someone knocks them off.”
Even though some of the prognosticators do not have the Saints as top favorites to win the Super Bowl, a repeat is not out of the question.
ATLANTA: READY TO TAKE FLIGHT
For the first time in Falcons history, the team has posted back-to-back above .500 seasons. Can they make it three in a row?
The Falcons have been able to put the Michael Vick fiasco behind with Matt Ryan under center.
Running back Michael Turner is looking to rebound from a disappointing 2009 season where he only rushed for 871 yards. Expect Turner to rebound back to where he was in 2008.
The Falcons’ receiving corps is one of the most potent receiving units in the league. Injuries among the receivers and Matt Ryan took their toll on the team. That was part of the team’s regression from 2008 to 2009. The other reason was the number of close games in mid-season the Falcons lost that cost them a playoff spot last season.
The addition of Tony Gonzalez at tight end has given Matt Ryan another weapon to work with. Gonzalez was second on the team in receptions, yards, and touchdown passes.
It might be difficult for the Falcons to improve as the fifth worst passing defense in the NFL, especially when you play the Saints twice a year.
A fast start will be important to the Falcons season. They open the season at Pittsburgh which can be an intimidating place to play at. In Week 3, it could be a battle of unbeatens as the Falcons travel to New Orleans to see where they stack up against the defending NFC South Champions NFC Champions Super Bowl Champions. Each secondary will be tested when the Bengals dynamic duo of Owens and Ochocinco visit Atlanta in Week 7.
On November 11, it is the much anticipated Flacco vs. Ryan matchup, the top quarterbacks from the 2008 draft. In Week 12, the Packers come to town in another high profile quarterback match. The Falcons play three consecutive road games from Week 13-15; games that could determine the Falcons playoff fate. They return home for a Monday Nighter in Week 16 against the Saints in a contest that could determine the NFC South. The Falcons end the 2010 regular season at home against the Panthers.
In 2010, I expect the Falcons to swoop into the playoffs.
CAROLINA: AT LEAST THEY DON’T PLAY LIKE SEX PANTHER
Over the past five seasons Carolina has been a puzzler. You never know which team was going to show up. In 2003, the Panthers won several close games to finish 11-5 and end up in their first Super Bowl. The next season injuries took their toll on the team and resulted in a 1-7 start, but the Panthers were able to rebound to get back into playoff contention before finishing 7-9. In 2005, the Panthers shocked the football world by shutting out the Giants and upsetting the Bears in the NFC playoffs en route to their third NFC championship game. It is possible that John Fox extended his time in Charlotte by winning the NFC South in 2008.
Going into 2010, the Panthers are in a transition period.
The quarterback position has become an uncertainty since the Panthers released Jake Delhomme in the off-season. For now Matt Moore, who posted an 8-6 record as a starter over the last three seasons, is the starting quarterback for Carolina. However, the Panthers drafted Jimmy Clausen from Notre Dame in the second round.
Carolina’s strength lies in their rushing attack. The Panthers featured TWO 1,000-yard rushers in Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams. Their efforts were good enough to rank the Panthers third in the NFL in rushing yards and number ten in rushing touchdowns. In last season’s upset of the Vikings, Johnathan Stewart was the only running back to rush for over 100 yards against them. The Panthers are going to have to rely strongly on their running game if they are going to get above .500.
Steve Smith enters his tenth season as a Carolina Panther. An injury late last season caused Smith to miss out on his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season. If Smith gains 925 yards this season, he will become the Panthers franchise leader in receiving yards. Expect him to catch a touchdown pass in Week 1: that will make him the Panthers franchise leader in touchdown passes. Consistency at quarterback will
Carolina enters 2010 as the fourth ranked passing defense in the NFL. Expect that number to drop due to the free agent defection of Julius Peppers to Chicago.
Carolina opens the season as the sacrificial lamb as a guest in the Giants new home. Their first home game is against the Buccaneers followed by a visit by the Bengals in Week 3. Julius Peppers and the Bears visit Charlotte in Week 5 before the Panthers off week.
After the bye week, the 49ers come east to play the Panthers. Games against the Saints are in Weeks 4 and 9. In Week 11, the Ravens come to town. Carolina’s final four are against teams that finished 2009 better than .500 including facing the Falcons twice in that span.
A repeat of last season’s .500 record is possible, but this division is dominated by the Saints and Falcons.
TAMPA BAY: (TBD)
They used to play like this.
Now… they play like this.
Josh Freeman in his rookie season completed 54.5% of his passes for 1,855 yards and 10 TDs vs. 18 INTs. The Buccaneers running game has been embarrassing in part due to injuries sustained by Carnell “Cadillac” Williams. Last season, Williams rushed for 823 yards on 211 carries, caught 28 passes for 217 yards, and had a total of 7 touchdowns.
The strength of the Buccaneers greatness of the late 90s to early 00s was the defense. As shown in the clip, cornerback Aqib Talib picked off 5 passes last season to place him in a 6-way tie for 8th in the NFC. With the third pick in the draft, the Buccaneers drafted defensive tackle Gerald McCoy from Oklahoma. With those picks, the Buccaneers are getting back to the “Bucc Ball” days.
A 2-1 start is probable with games against the Browns, a road contest in Charlotte, and home against the quarterbackless Steelers.
Then after the bye week is the meat of the schedule as they play at Cincinnati and host the defending champion Saints. Another stretch where their secondary could be tested will be back-to-back road games against the Cardinals and Falcons. In Weeks 11-14: three out four games are on the road against the 49ers, Ravens, and the Redskins who could finally be in a grove with McNabb. Their lone home game in that stretch is a rematch against the Falcons in Week 13 in which they will wear those AWFUL uniforms their uniforms from 1976-96. Their final two games at home are against the Lions and Seahawks. They close out the season in New Orleans.
It will be a while before the Buccaneers return to the days of Pewter Power. For now, they are back to the Cream Cicles.
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