1. New Orleans Saints: For the fourth consecutive season, they claimed the NFC South. Injuries however were a consistent theme for the Saints in 2020. Michael Thomas missed much of last season with a lingering ankle injury. With Thomas out, the offense was built around Alvin Kamara who put together the best season of his career. Entering 2021, it’s a different era for the Saints. For the first time since 2005, another quarterback not named Drew will be under center. Drew Brees announced his retirement in March during the off-season. Sean Payton has a decision to make. Start Taysom Hill or roll with Jameis Winston? I expect to see more of the running game and the defense step it up to complement whoever starts at quarterback.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Eyes were on them all year in 2020. That’s bound to happen with any team that Tom Brady is on. I can admit that it was a rough stretch for them at one time. The turning point of their season came in that regular-season loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. After that game, they didn’t miss a beat the rest of the way. For the second time in franchise history, they are Super Bowl champions. During the off-season, they were able to resign every starter from 2020. Something that hasn’t happened since 1979. This is going to be a fun team to watch in 2021. It’s another year of the Brady/Arians chapter in Tampa Bay.
3. Carolina Panthers: They made things interesting for a bit. If you look back at their schedule last year, eight of their 11 losses were under ten points. The Panthers were a tough out for many teams, but they just couldn’t finish. This will be year two under Matt Rhule. In the off-season, the Panthers made a splash by acquiring Sam Darnold from the New York Jets. In 2020, you saw Carolina with a quarterback by committee thing week in and out. Sam gives them a consistent starter under center and already, he has more around him than he did in with the Jets. If Christian McCaffrey can stay healthy, he gives the offense a spark and Sam will team up again with Robby Anderson who he played with in East Rutherford. In the draft, the Panthers selected Jaycee Horn with their first pick.
4. Atlanta Falcons: Things truly haven’t been the same since that Super Bowl appearance. They’ve made the playoffs only once since then. Dan Quinn was fired during the season last year and it took long enough to be honest. He wasn’t the answer for them moving forward. Arthur Smith was hired as the Falcons’ new head coach. After wanting out of Atlanta, Julio Jones was traded to the Tennessee Titans. Their offense will look slightly different. Matt Ryan is back for another year and Kyle Pitts was selected fourth overall by the team in the draft. The offense will do all they can to keep them in games. It’s the defense that needs to improve across the board.
2021 Predictions
1. Buccaneers (13-4)
2. Saints (10-7)
3. Panthers (8-9)
4. Falcons (6-11)
This is Tampa’s division for the taking. I like the Bucs to win the NFC South for the first time since 2007. Everybody from last season is back and I see them picking up where they left off in 2020. The defense will hold its end of the bargain, especially if Devin White is healthy. They will have a bullseye on their backs this year. That’s just what comes with being the defending champs. I expect Brady to look more comfortable early on than he did last season when everything started back up.
