NFC South will be a fight to the finish
The NFC South sent three teams to the playoffs a season ago, and it’s not likely to happen in 2018. Not because the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints or Carolina Panthers are expected to come crashing back to earth, but because the rest of the NFC is a virtual gauntlet.
With that in mind, the race for the division title will be frantic and wildly entertaining, making fans of those teams bite off their nails by Halloween.
After the offseason’s free agency blitz, the Panthers, Falcons and Saints don’t look much different. New Orleans didn’t lose anybody of note with the potential change of Kenny Vaccaro, who remains on the market. Vaccaro was a key part of a very young secondary, and considering the signing of Kurt Coleman, it’s probable that he ends up in another uniform come training camp.
Atlanta watched the defensive line lose some pieces, namely Dontari Poe and Adrian Clayborn. Blocking tight end Levine Toilolo also left for the Detroit Lions, but all of those players can be replaced in the draft should general manager Thomas Dimitroff make some wise choices.
In Carolina, the biggest issue was the loss of outside linebacker Thomas Davis, who was suspended earlier the month for four games due to a violation of the league’s performance enhancing drug policy. The Panthers were able to sign Poe to a three-year deal, replacing the departed Star rotulelei, who went to the Buffalo Bills on a five-year pact.
Looking ahead, one of the looming questions is whether the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can join the fracas. Tampa Bay was supposed to be a playoff contender last year, but ended the campaign with a miserable 5-11 record. Head coach Dirk Koetter enters his third season while Jameis Winston charges at this challenge for the fourth time. If the Buccaneers play to their potential, they could be participating in meaningful games in December. Then again, if Winston doesn’t stop producing needless turnovers, the Buccaneers will be cleaning house in short order.
While there will be ample races as there always are in the NFL season, none will have more drama than this one. The Saints and Falcons are legitimate Super Bowl contenders, and if Carolina can shore up the secondary and find a bit more from the receivers, it could also get to that level. Tampa Bay may not be in that conversation, but it is easily the most talented team of the projected fourth-place finishers.
The NFL Draft is still ahead of us, and plenty can change. But for now, the NFC South should be fantastic theatre in 2018.
