Nobody cares if it’s Raheem Morris’ first year in Atlanta; the Falcons have absolutely no excuse not to win the worst division in football.
The NFC South, by ESPN’s FPI ratings, is the worst division in the NFL, and I think the vast majority of fans and analysts would agree. The Falcons have the best roster and quarterback, which is why they’re overwhelming betting favorites to take the division crown.
The two most recent acquisitions have put the defensive concerns to bed, with Matthew Judon bolstering the pass rush and Justin Simmons solidifying the back end. Judon, Simmons, Jessie Bates III, A.J. Terrell, Kaden Elliss, Grady Jarrett, and David Onyemata is a good enough core to give the Falcons a respectable defense for the first time in quite a while.
The offense, led by Kirk Cousins, should also be much improved from a year ago. With the help of a highly regarded offensive line, the veteran signal caller should help maximize the potential of Atlanta’s three top 10 picks in Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson.
More than anything, the Falcons will have to get a lot of new pieces to gel quickly. Zac Robinson, Jimmy Lake, and Raheem Morris will take on the brunt of that task. Meanwhile, the entire division is in disarray.
The Saints could end up being a team picking in the top 10 and looking for a new head coach. Derek Carr is a good quarterback when he has time to throw, but the offensive line is a mess. The defense will once again be the strength of New Orleans, but Dennis Allen is on the hottest of hot seats. I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s fired before December.
The Panthers are actually the only other club in the NFC South that I believe will improve from their 2023 record. Carolina hired Dave Canales away from the Bucs and signed a couple of offensive linemen to go along with Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette in the receiving core. Canales is highly regarded around the league, credited with turning around Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith’s careers. I expect Carolina to be much better, especially Bryce Young, under Canales. Even still, they’re no threat in the division.
In that same breath, I expect the Buccaneers to regress. Despite winning the division three years in a row, they’re returning basically the same team that went 9-8 last year and barely beat a Desmond Ridder-led Falcons team for the NFC South. What I think hurts Tampa is the loss of Canales. The defense will be solid, but the offense is where I have concerns without Canales.
The Falcons have no excuse not to win this division.
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