NFL Crystal Balls: Buccaneers rise as Panthers fall down South

Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Will the Panthers fall from first to worst? Can both Atlanta and Tampa Bay rebound to victory? Our NFL Crystal Balls get blurry down South. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in part two of this week’s TD Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream and debate the NFL and sports.

[Part one – Saints reclaim the South]

TODD:

It’s not unthinkable in the NFL for a team to flip-flop in the standings, especially in the NFC South division. It happens more routinely than people think in fact. I see the Carolina Panthers going from first to worst and dropping to last place in this division.

Their offense should be a hell hole this season. If they aren’t able to run the ball at will, they won’t score any points. Unless Cam Newton turns into Randall Cunningham 2.0 and Kelvin Benjamin plays like Randy Moss, this team will struggle. Combined with an almost certain regression from the defense (Greg Hardy “distraction” partially to blame), a large drop in the standings seems evident.

That’s not to say Carolina will be awful. I like the South overall this year. That’s because I see sizable leaps from both Atlanta and Tampa Bay. The Falcons will be better by default. While their record will improve though, their place in the standings won’t rise higher than third. The Buccaneers will be the team from the South vying for playoff contention and breathing down New Orleans’ neck all year.

I like Mike Glennon at quarterback, but even if they decide to go with the newly acquired Josh McCown, the weapons on this team are impressive. It also seems plausible that this team’s defense could make a jump similar to what Carolina was able to pull together last year. No one thought the Panthers would be anything special before the season. And Tampa has playmakers at every level of its defense.

Of course, good defense no longer beats good offense in the NFL. Only great defenses (or in Seattle’s case last year, historically elite) have a chance of slowing down great playcalling and great offensive execution. Because of that, the New Orleans Saints will regain their crown atop the South. Drew Brees, even with the departure of Darren Sproles, has as many weapons as ever at his disposal. I don’t know quite what you meant to accomplish with your phrasing, but New Orleans will indeed be Party City, both on and off the field.