The NFL is back, and Sportsnet is breaking down everything you need to know about each of the 32 teams in the lead-up to kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 9.
Today, we look at the NFC South. (Teams are listed in the order in which we believe they’ll finish in the 2021 standings.)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
2020 record: 11-5, finished second in NFC South; eliminated Washington, New Orleans and Green Bay before beating Chiefs 31-9 to win Super Bowl LV
Roster additions: RB Giovani Bernard, QB Kyle Trask (drafted 64th overall), OT/G Robert Hainsey (95th)
Roster subtractions: Nothing of significance.
The good news: All 22 starters are back, which is something that hasn’t happened with a Super Bowl championship roster since the Raiders of the late 1970s. The entire coaching staff, led by Bruce Arians, also remains intact and that’s terrible news for the rest of the NFC. It took more than half the 2020 season for the new-look Bucs to iron out all the kinks. They were 7-5 coming off back-to-back losses to the Rams and Chiefs before a much-needed bye week. They were a perfect 8-0 after the bye. The team is healthy entering the 2021 campaign and if Brady gets solid protection from his line again there’s no reason to think the Bucs will be anything other than a dominant football team once again.
The bad news: The old adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” doesn’t lead to year-over-year success in a league like the NFL where roster turnover is so prevalent. They are literally fielding the exact same team, and just because it worked in 2020 doesn’t mean it’ll work again in 2021.
2021 prediction: 13-4, win the NFC South; a bona fide Super Bowl contender yet again
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
2020 record: 12-4, won NFC South; beat Bears in wild-card game, lost to Buccaneers in Divisional Round
Roster additions: DE Payton Turner (drafted 28th overall), CB Bradley Roby, DT Tanoh Kpassagnon, TE Nick Vannett, CB Brian Poole, LB Pete Werner (60th), CB Paulson Adebo (76th), QB Ian Book (133rd)
Roster subtractions: QB Drew Brees, WR Emmanuel Sanders, TE Jared Cook, DE Trey Hendrickson, DT Sheldon Rankins, FB Michael Burton, DT Malcom Brown, LB Alex Anzalone, CB Janoris Jenkins, P Thomas Morstead
The good news: This team is excellent at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. The offensive line is pillared by Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk, the defensive front by Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport. Even though an aging Drew Brees had been steadily regressing, the Sean Payton-led team has won four straight division titles so the question marks at quarterback may not be as dire as they would be in another city. We could finally see a more poised Jameis Winston play to his full potential under Payton.
The bad news: This team is facing a bit of an identity crisis in its first year without Brees. When Winston’s under centre they have a QB with a great arm who could thrive in Payton’s system. However, with stud WR Michael Thomas expected to miss roughly the first third of the season there isn’t much perimeter talent to target – Alvin Kamara will be a busy man. The Saints can also turn to Taysom Hill if they choose to grind teams down with a run-heavy game plan. Neither is an ideal situation. The defensive secondary could also become a concern, especially in a division that has so many talented deep threats, although Wednesday’s acquisition of Bradley Roby should have a positive impact.
2021 prediction: 10-7, will contend for a playoff spot but won’t make a deep run if they qualify
CAROLINA PANTHERS
2020 record: 5-11, third in NFC South; missed playoffs for third consecutive season
Roster additions: QB Sam Darnold, CB Jaycee Horn (drafted 8th overall), WR Terrace Marshall (59th), TE Dan Arnold, OT Cameron Erving, G Pat Elflein, DT DaQuan Jones, DT Morgan Fox, LB Haason Reddick, CB A.J. Bouye, OT Brady Christiansen (70th), TE Tommy Tremble (83rd), RB Chuba Hubbard (126th)
Roster subtractions: QB Teddy Bridgewater, RB Mike Davis, OT Russell Okung, WR Curtis Samuel, DT Kawann Short, LB Tahir Whitehead, FB Alex Armah, TE Chris Manhertz, G Chris Reed, G Michael Schofield, C Tyler Larsen, DE Stephen Weatherly, CB Rasul Douglas, S Tre Boston
The good news: The best news is star running back Christian McCaffrey is healthy and ready for Week 1 after only playing three games in 2020. New starter Sam Darnold should be able to stretch the field more aggressively and effectively than Teddy Bridgewater did last season and the hope is a revamped offensive line, plus an influx of young talent, is enough to get the Panthers back above the .500 mark for just the second time since 2015.
The bad news: The Panthers had too many poor offensive line performances in 2020 and there isn’t much evidence to suggest the front office made the necessary improvements. Having McCaffrey back from injury will do wonders to mask some of those blemishes but this team may be vulnerable to the pass rush and in third-and-long situations. It’s not that there’s a dearth of individual defensive talent, it’s just that it’s not yet a cohesive unit. Between the underwhelming o-line and defensive core, it would be a surprise to see this team make the playoffs this season.
2021 prediction: 8-9, no playoffs but team shows confidence in Darnold as the starter
ATLANTA FALCONS
2020 record: 4-12, last in NFC South; missed playoffs for third consecutive season
Roster additions: Head coach Arthur Smith, TE Kyle Pitts (drafted 4th overall), RB Mike Davis, CB Fabian Moreau, S Duron Harmon, S Erik Harris, TE Lee Smith, KR/RB Cordarrelle Patterson, RB Wayne Gallman, QB A.J. McCarron, OT/G Jalen Mayfield (68th), C/LG Drew Dalman (114th)
Roster subtractions: WR Julio Jones, C Alex Mack, S Keanu Neal, S Damontae Kazee, S Ricardo Allen, RB Todd Gurley, RB Ito Smith
The good news: Arthur Smith had consistent success the past couple years as the Titans’ offensive coordinator and Atlanta, when healthy, should be able to put points on the board. Smith often utilizes zone blocking schemes while relying heavily on tight ends, a powerful running game and play-action passes that stretch the field. The Falcons added the highest-drafted tight end prospect in NFL history when they took Kyle Pitts with the No. 4 pick in April. They also added Christian McCaffrey’s old backup, Mike Davis, who should provide a solid punch from the backfield. Matt Ryan’s arm strength and accuracy remain in the upper tier of starting QBs, so if the run game can develop and the o-line provides reliable protection then the 2016 MVP will be able to effectively spread the ball around to his playmakers.
The bad news: If you were going to forgo drafting Ryan’s replacement and try instead to extend his career by loading up on offence and adding a talent like Pitts, then why trade your team’s most impactful player in Julio Jones – to your new coach’s former team, no less? Pitts is now essentially a replacement for Jones instead of an addition to Jones’s presence on the field. Smith’s potential as coach is encouraging, but it won’t be a seamless transition and if injuries begin to mount it could start to get ugly. The Falcons don’t have a deep roster and outside of Grady Jarrett, the defensive personnel (on paper at least) leaves much to be desired. Without Jones, the offence doesn’t appear strong enough to make up for a weak defence.
2021 prediction: 7-10, miss playoffs again as long-term QB questions loom
