Since its inception in 2002, the NFC South has never seen a division champion repeat from the previous season. The Atlanta Falcons won this division in 2012, but will they be up for the challenge of defending their division crown in 2013?
X-Atlanta Falcons 10-6
In his five seasons as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, Mike Smith has changed the culture for the team. The Falcons have never had a losing season under Smith and they have made the playoffs in four of those seasons. The Falcons have had home-field advantage throughout the playoffs twice under Smith, but they have never been able to advance to the Super Bowl. In 2013, the sense of urgency has gone up for this team a little more.
After losing in last season’s NFC Championship Game to the San Francisco 49ers, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was able to talk tight end Tony Gonzalez into returning for another season. With wide receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones in the fold with Gonzalez, Ryan now has his top three receivers back from an offense that was 8th in the NFL in 2012. Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff also signed running back Steven Jackson in the off-season to boost Atlanta’s running game.
Defensively, Dimitroff made upgrades as well. The Falcons signed defensive end Osi Umenyiora to improve a defense that was 25th in the NFL last season in sacks with 28. Umenyiora was a two-time Super Bowl Champion as a member of the New York Giants and Smith and Dimitroff are hopeful that his experience will pay dividends in the Falcons locker room.
The Falcons will look to set the tone early in the season with a road game against the New Orleans Saints and a Week 4 showdown with the New England Patriots. Ryan and the Falcons are hopeful that they will have to bundle up for the cold of New Jersey in February and Super Bowl 48.
In his first season with the Buccaneers, wide receiver Vincent Jackson reached a career highs in receptions with 72 and receiving yards with 1,384 as he was a match-up nightmare for defensive backs in the NFC South.
In 2013, Tampa Bay will have one of the best secondary units in football. Bucs general manager Mark Dominik acquired cornerback Darrelle Revis in a trade with the New York Jets. Dominik also signed former San Francisco 49ers free safety Dashon Goldson to team with strong safety Mark Barron.
When the calender turns to January this team could be playing in some important football games.
The Saints first two games of the season are against NFC South foes in the Falcons and Buccaneers so it won’t take us that long to see if this team is back.
Carolina Panthers 7-9
The Carolina Panthers have not had a winning season since 2008 and the folks in Charlotte are optimistic for 2013. Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is in his third season in the NFL and the Panthers organization is hopeful that this is the season that the playoff drought ends.
In 2012, the Panthers had the 9th best rushing attack in the NFL, but Newton was the team’s leading rusher with 741 yards. The Panthers have two running backs in DeAngelo Williams and Johnathan Stewart who have the ability to gain 1,000 yards rushing, but Stewart is starting the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list which means that is time for Williams to shine.
As talented as Newton is, the Panthers organization has failed to supply him with a top-tier wide receiver. Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith is entering his 13th season in the NFL and Newton needs fresh legs at the receiver position.
Panthers head coach Ron Rivera has a star in the making in middle linebacker Luke Kuechly. Kuechly was the Panthers first round pick in 2012 as he earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year as he led the NFL in tackles with 164.
The Panthers open the schedule at home against the Seattle Seahawks before they travel to Western New York to take on the Buffalo Bills. The Panthers don’t get into division play until Week 8 when they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Panthers owner Jerry Richardson was extremely close to firing Rivera at the end of the 2012 season and another season without the playoffs will more than likely end Rivera’s tenure in Charlotte.
X-Clinched Division
Y-Clinched Wild Card
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