With the NFL schedules fully released and all game dates and bye weeks decided, it is time to take a look at the teams and see how they will shape out. For this third part we will take a look at the NFC South, make record predictions, and explain our thoughts related to each team.
Saints (9-8)
In this scenario, I view the Saints as the best of the worst. Despite all of the changes each team in the division has gone through, no team is really that "good". Pair that with their tough out of division schedule, and 9-8 should be good enough to win the NFC South. The Saints specifically have a sold veteran roster, with Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara heading the ship, and WR Chris Olave adding a good touch of youth. With the right contributions from role players and stout defense, New Orleans could find their way back into the playoffs for the first time in years.
Falcons (8-9)
Sure, they signed Kirk Cousins, but will that really make that big of a difference? In my opinion, they didn't exactly do enough to bolster the defense, and they still fall just short of the Saints. Cousins, coming off an injury, likely won't be as productive as we saw in his later seasons with the Vikings, and his production will be a key piece for the franchise's production. There is absolutely a world in which Atlanta dominates the division, but I just don't view them as a powerhouse like some do.
Buccaneers (7-10)
The Bucs accomplished their biggest goal of the offseason - signing Baker Mayfield to an extension - but I'm not sure that they did enough to keep up with the improvements of other teams. They essentially moved sideways, and the team was not good enough last year to warrant their limited moves. As I said with the Saints, they have a rough out of division schedule, so Tampa Bay fans shouldn't be getting their hopes up too high.
Panthers (3-14)
The Panthers have not built a good team. However, they are in the middle of a rebuild, so fans shouldn't be expecting much. Bryce Young, although I do still very much have hope in, is not good enough (at least yet) to carry a team with this bad of skill players. Adam Thielen had a good first season in Carolina, but is aging and likely won't be as productive this year. The bright side is that they drafted Xavier Legette at the tail end of the first round, who will likely be a key piece in this franchse moving forward, but I currently don't have enough faith in the team to record any major improvements in year 2 of the Bryce Young era.
Eli Knight
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