​The Atlanta Falcons are determined to push for a postseason berth in 2026, aiming to end the league’s second-longest playoff drought which has stretched since the 2017 season. The most direct path to achieving that goal appears to be winning the NFC South, a division that promises to be fiercely competitive and tight from top to bottom. As the Falcons prepare for training camp, this week’s Falcons Roundtable gathers the staff’s early takes on the other teams within the division, offering a snapshot of expectations and potential outcomes as the season approaches.
Michael Brauner kicks things off by noting that the NFC South is a rare division where every team has a realistic shot to contend. He points out that last year’s 8-9 record could plausibly be enough to snag the division again, and he even suggests that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might still enter the season as the favorite, albeit with a razor-thin margin separating the contenders. Brauner’s assessment emphasizes parity within the division and the possibility that any team could emerge on top with the rightMomentum.
Christian Rauh adds a cautious perspective about the Buccaneers, highlighting their potential regression due to aging pieces and a notable change at quarterback with Baker Mayfield at the helm. The absence of Mike Evans, a dependable target since 2014, further complicates Tampa Bay’s outlook. Rauh concedes that the Bucs could still compete, but he wouldn’t be surprised if they finished last, underscoring the division’s unpredictability and the tenuous nature of any team’s standing entering the year.
Zac Blackerby shifts the focus to the Saints, who seem confident in their quarterback of the future and have augmented their passing game with a solid draft pick. New Orleans still faces several questions, yet Blackerby suggests that if Tyler Shough can translate last year’s momentum into a full breakout season, the Saints could pose a significant challenge. MB echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that the Saints’ success hinges on Shough’s development. If he strides forward and takes the reins as a franchise quarterback this year, New Orleans could become a real threat and deepen the division’s competitiveness.
MB expands on the Saints’ potential, noting that while they are positioned to take a step forward, the crucial variable is whether Shough can build on last year’s performance. If he can, the Saints could become trouble for the rest of the league and, depending on how the rest of the division unfolds, potentially claim a division title that typically embodies the NFL’s highest parity.
CR considers the Saints to be the division’s wildcard entering the season. He believes that if New Orleans can replicate the positive elements from 2025, a 9- or 10-win season is within reach and might be sufficient to claim the NFC South. This perspective aligns with the broader view that the division often showcases a high degree of balance, where various teams have a plausible route to the top.
Zac Blackerby then turns his attention to the Carolina Panthers, arguing that Carolina should be viewed as the favorite to win the NFC South. The team’s trajectory under new leadership and a developing young core positions them as a formidable challenger in the division. MB expresses stronger confidence in Tyler Shough’s potential than in Bryce Young’s at this stage, describing Carolina as an exciting, youthful squad that could pose a persistent problem for rivals. While he recognizes the lack of a single, obvious favorite in the division, he still leans toward the Panthers due to their promising growth.
CR concurs, suggesting that the Panthers appear close to unlocking their full potential and deserving of being considered the division’s frontrunner as the season starts. He highlights the anticipated second-year progress for Bryce Young and Tetairoa McMillan as a focal point of Carolina’s ascent, expecting their development to shape the Panthers’ competitiveness and intrigue. The staff consensus hints that the NFC South is shaping up as a tightly contested race, with no team comfortably ahead, and with each squad capable of delivering both exciting highs and challenging lows.
In summary, the NFC South is framed as an unusually competitive division where any team could plausibly emerge as the division’s top team given the right circumstances. The Falcons, seeking to snap their playoff drought, are counting on strong overall performance and division success, while the Saints, Panthers, and Buccaneers each have unique pathways to contention. With Tyler Shough’s development for New Orleans and Bryce Young’s growth for Carolina as pivotal factors, the division’s narrative ahead of training camp is poised to be one of the most compelling storylines in the league, setting the stage for a season defined by parity, competition, and the shake-up of likely contenders.