2007 NFC South

The NFC South is one of the deepest divisions in the NFL with gobs of talent and with any team capable of winning the title. Here is how we see this tough division shaping up in 2007.

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1st Place – New Orleans Saints – The Saints will repeat as NFC South champs and will make another run at an NFC championship in 2007. With Drew Brees under center, Duece McAllister and Reggie Bush in the backfield, and Maques Colston split out, the Saints have one of the most balanced and potent offensive attacks in the league. Defense remains New Orleans’ weakness and it will likely be what keeps them from a conference title this season. We expect improvement, but not enough to reach the Super Bowl yet.

2nd Place – Carolina Panthers – It looks like the Panthers have one more run in them. These boys were an absolute bust as the Super Bowl favorites last season and they will look to bounce back in 2007. QB Jake Delhomme and wide receiver Steve Smith remain one of the most deadly hook up combos in the NFL. The ground game must improve for this team to have a chance at finishing ahead of New Orleans. The defense is very good . Julius Peppers and company should be another top 10 unit and will continue to keep the Panthers in games when the offense is struggling like it did last season.

3rd Place – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Head coach Jon Gruden has led the Bucs to two division titles and a Super Bowl championship in his first five seasons with Tampa Bay. Yet, he is on the hot seat following his second last place finish in the last three seasons whether fair or not. I would be hard pressed to think anyone is going to produce the way Gruden has. It’s funny to think that if these boys won 10 games five straight seasons his job would seemingly be unquestioned. It’s obvious that the Tampa Bay management is not a big fan of roller coasters. Jeff Garcia comes in to take over the offense and to hopefully save Gruden’s job. Tampa Bay will be unquestioningly better, but a division title is unlikely.

4th Place – Atlanta Falcons – Michael Vick’s off-the-field circus is image-conscious owner Arthur Blank’s worse nightmare coming to life. Blank has brought in an offensive minded head coach, Louisville’s Bobby Petrino, to get more consistency out of his offensive unit. He has brought in Joe Horn to help bolster his sub par wide receiver corps as well. It’s apparent that Blank has a talented squad and has made the right moves, but Vick’s issues will likely give Blank’s declining product another major blow in 2007 and that’s why we have placed the Falcons in the cellar.

Check out all of Jeff Alexander’s NFL Divisional predictions to get the skinny on how he sees each division shaping up in 2007. Futures bettors get ready to break the bank!

By Jeff Alexander – 7/24/2007

• NFL Predictions
• NFC North
• NFC East
• NFC West
• 2007 NFL Predictions

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:

• 2008 NFC South Predictions
• 2007 TampaBay Bucs
• 2007 NFC North
• 2007 NFC East
• 2007 NewOrleans Saints

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