In 2007 the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the NFC South with a mediocre 9-7 record, the worst of all NFL divisional leaders. Had the Bucs been in the AFC they would not have even made the playoffs, their record was no better than the second NFC Wild Card Washington Redskins.

While the NFC South clearly has no playoff contenders, someone’s got to win the division. Obviously, it will not be the Atlanta Falcons.

While the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and the Bucs are all somewhat evenly matched, I’m going to side with the Saints this year.

In 2007 Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees broke an NFL record for most completions in a season, and I’m expecting him to comeback and put up some big figures once again. Looking at the Saints’ schedule, it looks like there are a few games they will easily “brees” by their opponents. The toughest game for New Orleans will be against the Chargers at Wembley Stadium in England.

The Bucs look like the same team as last year, with one exception, they took back Warrick Dunn from their divisional rival the Falcons. Dunn, however, is entering his 12th season in the league, and it doesn’t seem likely he’s going to make last years squad much better.

Panthers’ quarterback Jake Delhomme put up some impressive stats in the first three weeks of the 2007 season, but it’s difficult to predict if he will retain that same form coming off a Tommy John surgery that kept him out for the remainder of the 2007 season.

The Atlanta Falcons went 4-12 last season, and there’s no realistic way they are going to improve much off that poor effort. Expect similar results this season.

Projected NFC South standings:
New Orleans Saints 10-6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-8
Carolina Panthers 7-9
Atlanta Falcons 3-13

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