Here it is ladies and gentlemen, the exercise that nobody asked for.
Has there been a division with as little optimism surrounding it than the NFC South? The main storyline for the off-season surrounds a possibly bone-headed decision to sign an expensive free agent quarterback and then go and draft his replacement in the draft.
It's not fun, it's not sexy, but someone has to do it. So, here goes.
A full record prediction for all four teams in the NFC South:
Carolina Panthers
Record: 6-11 (2-4 NFC South)
Carolina | |
Week 1 | at New Orleans - L |
Week 2 | vs. Los Angeles Chargers - L |
Week 3 | at Las Vegas - W |
Week 4 | vs. Cincinnati - L |
Week 5 | at Chicago - W |
Week 6 | vs. Atlanta - L |
Week 7 | at Washington - W |
Week 8 | at Denver - L |
Week 9 | vs. New Orleans - W |
Week 10 | vs. New York Giants (Germany) - W |
Week 11 | Bye |
Week 12 | vs. Kansas City Chiefs - L |
Week 13 | vs. Tampa Bay - W |
Week 14 | at Philadelphia - L |
Week 15 | vs. Dallas - L |
Week 16 | vs. Arizona - L |
Week 17 | at Tampa Bay - L |
Week 18 | at Atlanta - L |
It can't get much worse in Carolina. Last year's dumpster fire led to a mid-season head coach firing, their owner firmly taking the title as the worst owner in the league by throwing a drink into an unsuspecting Jacksonville Jaguars fan's face and lingering questions over whether they chose the right quarterback with the first overall pick in the draft.
Luckily, in 2024, they make progress under new head coach Dave Canales, Starting 6-6 and being firmly in the NFC South race only for the bottom fall out at the end of the season because they're just not talented enough feels like a perfect projection for Canales and the Panthers.
On the bright side, Bryce Young probably looks better, and at the end of the day, that's all that matters, right?
New Orleans Saints
Record: 7-10 (2-4 NFC South)
New Orleans | |
Week 1 | vs. Carolina - W |
Week 2 | at Dallas - L |
Week 3 | vs. Philadelphia - L |
Week 4 | at Atlanta - L |
Week 5 | at Kansas City (MNF) - L |
Week 6 | vs. Tampa Bay - L |
Week 7 | vs. Denver (TNF) - W |
Week 8 | at Los Angeles Chargers - L |
Week 9 | at Carolina - L |
Week 10 | vs. Atlanta - L |
Week 11 | vs. Cleveland - W |
Week 12 | Bye |
Week 13 | vs. Los Angeles Rams - L |
Week 14 | at New York Giants - W |
Week 15 | vs. Washington - W |
Week 16 | at Green Bay (MNF) - L |
Week 17 | vs. Las Vegas - W |
Week 18 | at Tampa Bay - W |
The Saints have been flirting with disaster for years due to their treatment of the salary cap. There have been signs the end is near for this experiment they've been conducting, but it won't fizzle out this season.
The defense is still too good, and the offense isn't bad enough. With a favorable end to the schedule, after a couple of win-less droughts, the Saints come together and play for pride, winning four of their last five.
It's a promising start to the next off-season where they will dazzle the football world with another helping of their world-famous salary cap gymnastics.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record: 10-7 (4-2 NFC South)
Tampa Bay | |
Week 1 | vs. Washington - W |
Week 2 | at Detroit - L |
Week 3 | vs. Denver - W |
Week 4 | vs. Philadelphia - W |
Week 5 | at Atlanta (TNF) - L |
Week 6 | at New Orleans - W |
Week 7 | vs. Baltimore (MNF) - L |
Week 8 | vs. Atlanta - W |
Week 9 | at Kansas City - L (MNF) |
Week 10 | vs. San Francisco - L |
Week 11 | Bye |
Week 12 | at New York Giants - W |
Week 13 | at Carolina - W |
Week 14 | vs. Las Vegas - W |
Week 15 | at Los Angeles Chargers - W |
Week 16 | at Dallas (SNF) - L |
Week 17 | vs. Carolina - W |
Week 18 | vs. New Orleans - L |
The back-to-back-to-back NFC South champions do everything they can to retain their title. Tampa Bay comes out of the bye scorching, bringing in a four-game winning stretch into Sunday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys, but they couldn't get the job done.
If anyone is going to stop Atlanta from winning this division, it'll be Tampa and their commitment to get everything they can out of this talented roster. Even in this exercise, they are a week 18 Saints loss away from four straight NFC South titles.
Those ten wins are still enough to sneak in as a wild-card team, though.
Atlanta Falcons
Record: 10-7 (4-2 NFC South)
Atlanta | |
Week 1 | vs. Pittsburgh - W |
Week 2 | at Philadelphia (MNF) - L |
Week 3 | vs. Kansas City (SNF) - L |
Week 4 | vs. New Orleans - W |
Week 5 | vs. Tampa Bay (TNF) - W |
Week 6 | at Carolina - W |
Week 7 | vs. Seattle - L |
Week 8 | at Tampa Bay - L |
Week 9 | vs. Dallas - W |
Week 10 | at New Orleans - W |
Week 11 | at Denver - L |
Week 12 | Bye |
Week 13 | vs. Los Angeles Chargers - W |
Week 14 | at Minnesota - L |
Week 15 | at Las Vegas (MNF) - W |
Week 16 | vs. New York Giants - W |
Week 17 | at Washington - W |
Week 18 | vs. Carolina - L |
Atlanta looks to have done enough to overtake the Buccaneers as the champions of the NFC South. They've overhauled and essentially modernized the offense. They've brought in a quarterback that will get the most out of the talented weapons on the roster. They've done what they need to become a playoff team, and it comes to fruition for them this season.
The three-game win-streak before being upset by Carolina in week 18 was just enough to win the division for Atlanta and secure their first home playoff game since 2016.
