Three playoff teams emerged from this division in 2017. Down in New Orleans, the Saints enter 2018 boasting both last year’s Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year. In two of the last three years the South has represented the NFC in the Super Bowl and while also having the league MVP in their ranks, highlighting the strength of the division. The division is one of the best in the NFL and no team will want to chance making the playoffs while finishing third in the division.
New Orleans Saints (11-5)
Sean Payton is aiming to guide New Orleans back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2010 (photo credit: New Orleans Saints).
Draft class: Marcus Davenport (defensive end), Tre-Quan Smith (wide receiver), Rick Leonard (offensive tackle), Natrell Jamerson (safety), Kamrin Moore (cornerback), Will Clapp (center).
General Manager Mickey Loomis made a bold move in the draft trading their 2018 and 2019 first-round selections to the Green Bay Packers to move up from number 27 to pick Davenport. Last year Cameron Jordan represented the bulk of the Saints’ pass rush, trading up for the UTSA product should give them more juice up front.
Drew Brees is still playing at an elite level, but he had help last time out as a usually pass-heavy offense became more balanced. Mark Ingram and reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Alvin Kamara put up historical numbers from a running back tandem. The pair terrified defenses giving Brees more favourable matchups when dropping back to pass. However, will the dynamic running game be able to replicate their success?
Cornerback Marshon Lattimore tightened up was what a leaky secondary as he locked down number one receivers throughout the season. The second-year defensive back will have his hands full again as his schedule features Julio Jones, Odell Beckham, Antonio Brown, Mike Evans and Keenan Allen. There are fresh faces in the backend as safety Kurt Coleman and corner Super Bowl LII champion Patrick Robinson were brought in. New Orleans finished third in the league in interceptions as they picked off 20 balls. That feat will be hard to replicate but they are going to give it their best.
The Saints were on the verge of their first NFC Championship appearance since they won the Lombardi Trophy in 2010. Then the ‘Minnesota Miracle’ happened and their hopes were dashed. The team is more than capable of making it back, they must take care of their own division first, though.
Carolina Panthers (11-5)
2015 MVP Cam Newton will have a new offensive coordinator in 2018 (photo credit: Carolina Panthers).
Draft class: D.J. Moore (wide receiver), Donte Jackson (defensive back), Rashaan Gaulden (safety), Ian Thomas (tight end), Marquis Haynes (defensive end), Jermaine Carter Jr. (linebacker), Andre Smith (linebacker), Kendrick Norton (defensive lineman).
Carolina are just two years removed from a Super Bowl appearance and still have most of their stars playing at their optimum. There are six playoff teams on the Panthers’ schedule making their path to their first Lombardi tumultuous. Their first-round draft choice Moore will be expected to contribute immediately as the wide receiver corps is thin. Free agent signing Dontari Poe will help the defensive line – he can also fill in as a full-back in goal-line situations as he showed in Kansas City.
The offense still goes as their MVP QB Cam Newton goes. However, with new offensive coordinator Norv Turner calling the plays nobody knows what the 2018 version of Carolina’s offense will look like, if it anything like the Minnesota Viking’s offense then Panthers fans have a lot to be excited about. Stewart was let go and C.J. Anderson was signed to replace the powerful back. Second year runner Christian McCaffrey had an outstanding year catching the football but struggled to run between the tackles. Reports from training camp are that the man out of Stanford has bulked up in the offseason in a bid to be a more effective runner.
Defensively they still have one of the best linebackers in Luke Kuechly but will lose Thomas Davis to retirement after this season. James Bradbury took an encouraging step in his development at cornerback, the secondary is young but talented. The onus will be on Head Coach Ron Rivera, defensive coordinator Eric Washington and defensive backs coach Richard Rodgers to quickly coach up their fledging unit.
Atlanta Falcons (10-6)
Matt Ryan won the league’s MVP in 2016. Can he repeat the feat two years on? (photo credit: Atlanta Falcons).
Draft class: Calvin Ridley (wide receiver), Isaiah Oliver (cornerback), Deadrin Senat (defensive tackle), Ito Smith (running back), Russell Gage (wide receiver), Foyesade Oluokun (linebacker).
Atlanta’s season was filled with ups and downs. The offense was sticky at time and Julio Jones must see more red zone targets in 2018. There is hope for Steve Sarkisian entering his second year as offensive coordinator in that it took his predecessor, Kyle Shanahan, two seasons to have his system fully integrated. The Defense is talented and starting to come of age, they’ll be hoping fourth-year pass rusher Vic Beasley returns to his 2016 form where he led the league in sacks with 15.5.
Atlanta drafted wide receiver Calvin Ridley with their first-round pick adding another weapon to Matt Ryan’s arsenal. With Jones and Mohamed Sanu the established number one and two receivers respectively, Ridley could feast as the third pass catcher. The running game remains as dynamic as ever and creates matchup problems for every defense they face and there are high hopes for third-year tight end Austin Hooper.
The Falcons were 4-2 against teams who made the playoffs last season, while that was enough to earn them a wildcard spot they may have to better their ten-win 2017. The NFC is stacked and teams who missed the playoffs last time – the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks – will be eager to return.
Before their bye in week eight Dan Quinn’s men will face off against four playoff teams in their first seven weeks. Should they enter their bye with a losing record then they will face an uphill battle to punch their ticket to postseason football.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11)
Tampa will be without former first overall pick Jameis Winston for the first three games of the season (photo credit: Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
Draft class: Vita Vea (defensive tackle), Ronald Jones II (running back), M.J. Stewart (cornerback), Carlton Davis (cornerback), Alex Cappa (offensive guard), Jordan Whitehead (safety), Justin Watson (wide receiver), Jack Cichy (linebacker).
Tampa fell apart last year. Quarterback Jameis Winston has not developed as expected as he still makes the same mental errors which have plagued his short career. The Bucs will be without their former first overall pick for the first three games of the 2018 campaign after he was suspended following a violation of the NFL’s personal-conduct policy. The defense was inept with no sign of a pass rush, however General Manager Jason Licht has moved aggressively to rectify that with the trade for defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and the addition of Super Bowl LII winner Vinny Curry via free agency.
Ryan Fitzpatrick will be under center while Winston is away, and Head Coach Dirk Koetter faces a gauntlet without his starting QB. New Orleans, the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers are their first three game before squaring off against an improving Chicago Bears team. It is very conceivable that Tampa could head into their week five bye at 0-4. The heat will be turned up on Koetter if that is the case as the front office were none too impressed with their 5-11 2017.
The team still has stars. Gerald McCoy is an All-Pro defensive tackle and behind him Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David form one of the most underrated linebacker duos in the NFL. On offense Mike Evans is their go-to guy with a healthy supporting case of DeSean Jackson, Chris Godwin and tight end duo Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard. This wasn’t enough to avoid a losing record last term, however, and it may not be this time.
