4. Carolina Panthers
2013 Record = 12-4, NFC South Champions, Lost NFC
Divisional Game2014 Schedule = @ Buccaneers, Lions, Steelers, @ Ravens, Bears, @ Bengals, @ Packers, Seahawks, Saints, @ Eagles, Falcons, BYE, @ Vikings, @ Saints, Buccaneers, Browns, @ Falcons
Blue Chippers = None
High Quality Players = FB Mike Tolbert, DE Greg
Hardy, MLB Luke Kuechly, OLB Thomas DavisSolid Contributors = QB Cam Newton, WR Jerricho Cotchery, TE Greg Olsen, C Ryan Kalil, DE Charles Johnson, DT Star Lotulelei, DT Kawann Short
Impact Rookies = DE Kony Ealy (2-60, Missouri)
Good News = Carolina has the strongest front seven in
the league.
Bad News = Who is Cam Newton going to
throw too again?
Outlook = No team took as many hits too it’s overall
talent level than Carolina during the off-season. They lost a solid left
tackle, their entire wide receiver core, and didn’t retain any member of their
starting secondary. Cam Newton is probably the only quarterback in the league
that could be successful with a receiving core this bad, but it’s a tall order.
Most of Carolina’s offensive hopes hinge on rookie Kelvin Benjamin. He has the
size, but is a raw talent who doesn’t project as a go-to receiver right out of
the gate. Tight end Greg Olsen is the most reliable receiver Newton has. If
you’re looking for a dark horse candidate to lead the league in receptions,
he’s a good one. Carolina’s receiver problems are compounded by a weakened
offensive line, which will hinder their running game.
Carolina’s
front seven is sensational that needs to play at peak level every week to cover
for a weak secondary. Greg Hardy’s status is up in the air after off the field
issues, but there’s enough depth for the Panthers to get by without him. Luke
Kuechly was the Defensive Player of the Year last season, and will need to
replicate that for Carolina to have any chance to return to the playoffs. Roman
Harper is washed up, and hopefully for the Panthers sake will not have to make
too many plays in deep coverage.Prediction = We love Cam Newton, but there’s too many obstacles here for him to overcome. Only when the Panthers are out of salary cap Hell will they return to playoff contention. 6-10
3. Atlanta Falcons
2013 Record = 4-12, Third in NFC South, Missed
Playoffs2014 Schedule = Saints, @ Bengals, Buccaneers, @ Vikings, @ Giants, Bears, @ Ravens, Lions, BYE, @ Buccaneers, @ Panthers, Browns, Cardinals, @ Packers, Steelers, @ Saints, Panthers
Blue Chippers = None
High Quality Players = QB Matt Ryan, WR Julio JonesSolid Contributors = WR Roddy White, RG Jon Asamoah, DT Paul Soliai, OLB Sean Witherspoon, CB Desmond Trufant
Impact Rookies = RT Jake Matthews (1-6, Texas A&M), DE Ra’Shede Hageman (2-37, Minnesota)
Good News = Matt Ryan is coming off his most
inspiring campaign playing behind a battered offensive line in 2013.
Bad News = The offensive line is still ill equipped
to deal with the defenses in the AFC South.
Outlook = After averaging 12 wins a year
between 2010 and 2012, Atlanta posted a third of that total in 2013. Injuries
to star wide outs Julio Jones and Roddy White contributed to their issues, but
the real issue was losing the war in the trenches. Atlanta was thirty-first
against the run, and Matt Ryan was assaulted by opposing defenses. The Falcons
bolstered the right side of the line by drafting Jake Matthews and signing Jon
Asamoah, but Sam Baker is probably the worst starting left tackle in the
league. He was just carted of the field tonight, and while we don’t root for
injuries, long term it wouldn’t be bad for the Falcons to try someone else on Matt
Ryan’s blindside. An awful runningback core further hinders Ryan. Stevan
Jackson is washed up, and Jacquizz Rodgers only managed 3.5 yards per carry.
Atlanta
didn’t make any major moves to upgrade a defense that was porous against the
run, and not much better against the pass. The Falcons have been in desperate
need of an elite pass rusher since John Abraham’s best years. Their secondary
would look a lot better if the front seven could get to the quarterback, as
they were asked to hold up for long periods of times in coverage. Prediction = Better targets for Ryan will add a few wins, but an unforeseen improvement on the defensive side of the ball will be needed to get Atlanta back into playoff contention. 7-9
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2013 Record = 4-12, Last in NFC South, Missed
Playoffs2014 Schedule = Panthers, Rams, @ Falcons, @ Steelers, @ Saints, Ravens, BYE, Vikings, @ Browns, Falcons, @ Redskins, @ Bears, Bengals, @ Lions, @ Panthers, Packers, Saints
Blue Chippers = DT Gerald McCoy, OLB Lavonte David
High Quality Players = WR Vincent JacksonSolid Contributors = HB Doug Martin, LT Anthony Collins, RT Demar Dotson, DE Michael Johnson, CB Alterraun Verner
Impact Rookies = WR Mike Evans (1-7, Texas A&M), TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (2-38, Washington
Good News = Lovie Smith is restoring many of the core
principles that were put in place when Tony Dungy was in Tampa.
Bad News = Journeyman Josh McCown doesn’t inspire
confidence for a surprising playoff run.
Outlook = Offensive line issues and
inconsistent quarterback play were the undoing of the 2013 Buccaneers, and
we’re still projecting those areas to be trouble spots this year. Even after
Mike Glennon showed some promise behind a shoddy offensive line, Tampa made the
curious choice of bringing in Josh McCown. McCown put up massive numbers in
relief of an injured Jay Cutler for Chicago, and he does have a similar set of
receivers to work with that he had last year with the Bears. We expect him to
have a short leash if Tampa Bay starts off slow. Doug Martin was also hampered
by the offensive line last season, and then was lost for the year in late
October. Mike Evans profiles as a red zone monster, and the perfect compliment
to Vincent Jackson.
Even
without Darrelle Revis, the Buccaneers should boast one of the top defenses in
THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. Lovie Smith is bringing the famed “Tampa 2”
defense back home, and the Bucs have the talent to execute it. Pro Bowler
Alterraun Verner was brought in from Tennessee to replace Revis. Safeties Mark Barron
and Dashon Goldson under whelmed last year, but have the potential to form an
elite safety duo. Gerald McCoy is a monster in the middle of the defensive line
who dominates against the run and the pass. Michael Johnson was brought in to
ease some pressure off McCoy. Lavonte David at times looks like a Derrick
Brooks clone, and should thrive in Smith’s system. Prediction = They will be competitive, and at times a total pain in the ass to play, but inconsistent offensive line play will mire the Buccaneers in mediocrity. 8-8
1. New Orleans Saints
2013 Record = 11-5, Second in NFC South, Lost NFC
Divisional Game2014 Schedule = @ Falcons, @ Browns, Vikings, @ Cowboys, Buccaneers, BYE, @ Lions, Packers, @ Panthers, 49ers, Bengals, Ravens, @ Steelers, Panthers, @ Bears, Falcons, @ Buccaneers
Blue Chippers = QB Drew Brees, TE Jimmy
Graham, FS Jairus Byrd
High Quality Players = HB Pierre Thomas,
WR Marques Colston, RT Zach Strief, DE Cameron Jordan, CB Keenan LewisSolid Contributors = LG Jahri Evans, RG Ben Grubbs, DE Akiem Hicks, DT Brodrick Bunkley, OLB Junior Galette, CB Champ Bailey, SS Kenny Vaccaro
Impact Rookies = WR Brandin Cooks (1-20, Oregon State), CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste (2-58, Nebraska)
Good News = Carolina is the only team New Orleans
will face in a road game that finished last season above .500.
Bad News = This is the most unproven receiving core
Drew Brees has ever had with the Saints.
Outlook = A historic defensive turnaround
spearheaded New Orleans’ postseason return, and is still the reason the Saints
have the best chance of unseating the Seahawks and 49ers for a Super Bowl
berth. A perfect storm of young talent clicking in Rob Ryan’s system and the
arrival of Keenan Lewis led to the Saints finishing fourth in total defense.
Lewis was the key player, as after solid years with Pittsburgh he suddenly
morphed into a shutdown corner. Jairus Byrd was arguably the most important
free agent acquisition by any team during the off-season, and he will fit
perfectly with second year safety Kenny Vaccaro. Cameron Jordan and Junior
Galette thrived in Ryan’s attacking defense, and should at least replicate
their sack totals from a year ago.
For
the first time in many years, there are actually more questions about the
Saints offense. The offensive line was shaky at times during the early part of
the season, but came around once Terron Armstead was installed at left tackle.
A full off-season prepping for the position should raise his play another
level. Chain moving machine Lance Moore is gone, as well as Darren Sproles, who
has been the elite receiving back of the past decade. Pierre Thomas actually
posted more receptions than Sproles did last year, so they should fill in for
him just fine. Rookie Brandin Cooks is also being counted on to fill some of
the Sproles void on bubble screens. Along with Cooks, Kenny Stills also needs
to make a consistent impact. He only caught 32 passes last year, but averaged
an eye popping 20 yards per catch. The uncertainty at receiver is not as
worrisome with the presence of Jimmy Graham, who is the elite receiving tight
end in THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. Fortunately for New Orleans his contract
situation was resolved before training camp.
Prediction = With an extremely favorable schedule, New Orleans has a great chance of earning the top seed in the NFC. Their home date with the 49ers in Week 10 could end up determining who has home field throughout the playoffs. 12-4
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Click here to read about the AFC South
Click here to read about the AFC North
Click here to read about the NFC North
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