Predicting the entire 2020 NFL season before training camp
![BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 12: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens drops back to pass against the defense of the New York Jets at M&T Bank Stadium on December 12, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 12: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens drops back to pass against the defense of the New York Jets at M&T Bank Stadium on December 12, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/55542db48e963c0eefb1d7dedc556054b123b61f668972826bb31ce035b4af67.jpg)
NFC South predictions for the 2020 NFL season
New Orleans Saints* – 13-3
Tampa Bay Buccaneers* – 13-3
Atlanta Falcons – 6-10
Carolina Panthers – 3-13
Tom Brady’s decision to move south and join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the NFC and, specifically, the NFC South the toughest place to play in the NFL. There are two legitimate Super Bowl contenders in this division now and it shouldn’t be a shock to anyone if the Bucs and New Orleans Saints are battling it out for the top seed in the NFC.
Tampa’s defense was better than you might think last season and now their litany of high-end offensive weapons led by Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have a quarterback who doesn’t throw 30 interceptions in a season. Meanwhile, New Orleans has continued to go about their business and a 13-3 team from last year should have a little more offensive juice with the addition of Emmanuel Sanders.
Look around the general NFL public and you’ll likely see some people gassing up the Falcons as a potential sleeper this season but I’m not buying it. Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are going to put up points but Todd Gurley is an overrated addition and there is very little about this defense that fans should feel confident in.
While the Panthers elected to not go fully into a rebuild with their offensive moves, they may not have a choice. The conference and division in which they play is just that much better than them on paper that, even if they’re slightly better than 3-13, Carolina winning more than five games would be a tremendous surprise.