Domination is the only way to describe how the Carolina Panthers not only rolled through the NFC South last season, but the entire NFC. The entire conference should be better this season all the way down, but will it do any good when Cam Newton is still quarterbacking the Panthers?
Spoiler alert: No.
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Here’s your code key for this year’s 2016-17 GMS NFL Football Preview : Z = Clinches home field advantage, Y = Clinches division, X = Clinches wild card spot
Z – Carolina Panthers: 13-3
It seems almost insulting to knock the Panthers down a couple of wins from what they were able to do last year, but back-to-back 15-1 seasons just seem too hard to pull off. Their division has improved too, so you couldn’t be surprised to see Carolina drop a contest each to the Falcons and Saints, even though the oddsmakers are sure to have them favored in every game.
Cam Newton is the best individual, all-around player in the NFL and there’s not much argument there. The offense should be improved with the return of Kelvin Benjamin at wideout. The defense is going to miss Josh Norman at cornerback, but not as much as Norman will miss the Panthers. This roster is loaded, top to bottom, so much so that they cut draft picks on the final cut-down day. The Panthers are the class of the NFC and probably the league.
Last year: 15-1, lost Super Bowl 50 to the Denver Broncos
X – Atlanta Falcons: 10-6
Atlanta opened the season on fire, going 5-0 right out of the gate before falling hard back to earth. They lost six consecutive games in the middle part of the season, but four of their losses were by three points or less. This is a team on the cusp of something good. If the Falcons kick two more field goals last year, they’re in the playoffs.
Head coach Dan Quinn continues his defense rebuild, adding key players across the front four and in the back, including safety Keanu Neal, who looked like a home run before he injured his knee in the preseason. Neal will be back and by December, this Falcons team should be playing well on both sides of the ball.
Last year: 8-8, did not make the playoffs
New Orleans Saints: 9-7
The Saints are playing for a lot this season, not the least of which is to avoid being on the 2017 version of HBO’s Hard Knocks. The Los Angeles Rams, by virtue of their move from St. Louis, ensured the Saints would miss out this season. They won’t be so lucky next year if they don’t make the playoffs again.
As long as Drew Brees is healthy the Saints will be in every game. He has some solid weapons at wideout with Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead, along with Mark Ingram in the backfield. The problem with New Orleans is its defense, which was historically bad last season. They fired some people, drafted guys, brought in free agents and have done everything they can to make a manageable unit. In the NFC South, it just might not be enough.
Last year, 7-9, did not make the playoffs
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-8
With possibly the exception of firing their head coach, the Buccaneers have done everything right this offseason. Through they hedged their bets on that one by promoting offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. Quarterback Jameis Winston has made it his mission to improve both his play on the field and his physical body. They added depth all over through the draft and free agency and kept their own key players, like running back Doug Martin, from escaping town.
The Bucs problem is they find themselves in one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL, facing three of the best offenses in the league. As good as Tampa Bay could be this year, especially on offense, no one realistically sees them catching the Panthers. A few lucky breaks, though, and this could be a playoff breaks. Well, maybe more than a “few.”
