The NFL Postseason is in full swing and the boys get into it. Quick recap of the Wild Card weekend then we spend some time dissecting the upcoming Divisional Round Matchups. 6 of the 8 NFL Coaching Vacancies have been filled. There was also a brief discussion of the National Championship blow out.
Remember to call us with your questions/comments/suggestions for the show #708-316-8822…
We got a hold of Matt Goudreau’s BingeCast Voicemail and it is Glorious. We also talk a lot of NFL Playoffs and give some end of Season awards. The upcoming NCAA Championship Game is also discussed.
Remember to call us with your questions/comments/suggestions for the show #708-316-8822…
Before I get to this weekend’s action in the NFL, I wanted to let you know how you did in the voting for the College Football Playoff National Championship this past Monday night between Oregon and Ohio State. In another exciting college football game that broke tons of records, the Buckeyes were victorious 42-20. In the final poll results, 42% of you voted for Ohio State to win. Admittedly, I was not one that voted that way. I didn’t think that they could keep up, but Urban Meyer had that team ready to play. Believe me, it pains me to say this as a Michigan fan, but that win was impressive. But as a fan of the game and of the Big 10, I couldn’t help but respect it. Congrats to the Ohio State Buckeyes. But still, GO BLUE!!!!
Now let’s get to the pro action.
We’re down to four teams left on the road to Arizona. After an exciting and controversial weekend of action (for some anyway), we’re left with a solid final four in the NFL. But before I go on, let me just get something out of the way. As a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, I’ve been asked all week on my thoughts on how the game ended on Sunday afternoon, obviously referring to the Dez Bryant play. And honestly, it doesn’t really matter what I think, does it? I absolutely love sports and I love the teams that I root for and I always will. But seriously, if you let the outcome of a football game ruin your day or ruin your week, then you’ve got problems. Look at what I wrote above. As someone who roots for Michigan, I just congratulated Ohio State. Does that make me a bad fan? Does it make me a bad fan that I haven’t put up fifty memes about the Dez Bryant catch? No, it just means that I can watch a game, be absolutely caught up in the emotions that sports can bring out, but when that final buzzer sounds, I can let it go. Maybe that’s not for everybody, but hey, it works for me. So with that being said, I can still say that I’m excited for some great football this weekend, even with my team being out of it. I’ve always tried to be fair and impartial as your Binge Sports guy, so let me take another crack at it. We’ll start with the early game in the NFC, but before that, take a look to see how you did in the divisional round.
New England-def. Baltimore 35-31 (81% voted correctly)
(2) GREEN BAY PACKERS (13-4, won NFC North)
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(1) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (13-4, won NFC West)
WHEN: Sunday, January 18th, 2015-3:05ET/2:05CT
TV: FOX
Current Line: Seahawks favored by 7
Why You Should Watch: Because this is the game that was expected to happen from the start of the year. Hopefully, we’ll get a better contest than the one we had to start the season. Also played in Seattle, the Seahawks bested the Packers by 20 in Week 1. But there’s been a lot of football between then and now.
Similar to last week, the question of the week will be the status of Aaron Rodgers’ calf injury. He battled through last week to defeat the Dallas Cowboys, but as good as they were, that defense isn’t that of the Seahawks, who’ve been on a tear as of late.
The home field advantage obviously helps Seattle on Sunday, who always rely on “The 12th Man” for that extra edge. Having Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch playing at the level they’ve been playing at doesn’t hurt either. It’s going to be hard to beat that Packers-Cowboys game last week, but if any two teams can do it, it’s these two. Expect a classic if Rodgers can go.
[yop_poll id=”168″]
(4) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (13-5, won AFC South)
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(1) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (13-4, won AFC East)
WHEN: Sunday, January 18th, 2015-6:40ET/5:40CT
TV: CBS
Current Line: Patriots favored by 7
Why You Should Watch: Because you either love or hate the Patriots. Like it or not, New England has become one of those franchises, pretty much the Yankees of the NFL. There’s guys like our very own Jack who live and breathe that team, and there’s those that will tune in to watch them lose. The question is whether or not Andrew Luck is ready to grab that brass ring.
Let’s face it. The Patriots are going to do what they’ve always done. Brady and Belichick are in their ninth AFC Championship together and they’ll be ready to go. But Andrew Luck and the Colts just went to Denver and beat Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Granted, Manning was injured and doesn’t have the best playoff history in the world, but still impressive nonetheless. With Brady and Manning getting older, Luck has been on the fast track to being the elite quarterback in the AFC. A win in Foxboro on Sunday speeds that up even more. It should be fun to watch.
[yop_poll id=”169″]
And there you have it. We’re in for another great day of football. It’s high profile teams with high profile players. Who’d you pick? As always, you can comment below or follow and tweet @BingeSports and/or @THElukenorris. Binge Sports will return soon with a Pro Bowl preview. I’m completely kidding…nobody watches the Pro Bowl. But I’ll definitely be back before the Super Bowl. Enjoy.
Welcome back to Binge Sports and our continuing coverage of the NFL Playoffs. Outside of the Dallas/Detroit game, Wild Card Weekend wasn’t quite as exciting as I expected it to be, but hey, what are you gonna do? But look at the match-ups we’ve got this weekend. Iconic franchises and future Hall-of-Famers are everywhere on Saturday and Sunday. As I did last weekend, I’ll give you the teams, how they got here, when the game is, the betting line (at least as it is when I write this), and a quick breakdown. I’ll also show you how you did in the voting last week and of course, I’ll give you another chance to vote on this week’s winners. So let’s not waste any more time. Let’s make Jack happy and lead off with the first game on Saturday….
(6)BALTIMORE RAVENS (10-6, 3rd in AFC North)
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(1)NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (12-4, won AFC East)
When: Saturday, January 10th, 2015-4:35E/3:35C-NBC
WC Weekend: New England-bye, Baltimore-def. Pittsburgh 30-17 (9% voted correctly)
Current Line: New England favored by 7
Why You ShouldWatch: Because the Ravens can actually win this game. They went on the road and beat a Steelers team that had been a role and did it fairly easily. That gave the franchise ten road victories in the playoffs, tying them with Green Bay for the most in NFL history. What makes that even more impressive is that they’ve only been in existence since 1996. One of those wins happened in Foxboro only two years ago in the AFC Championship game. But the Patriots are well rested and one of the hottest teams in the league. They won ten of their last twelve, but that includes resting their starters in the season finale against Buffalo. Both teams know what it takes to win these big games and this is a nice start to the weekend.
[yop_poll id=”163″]
(4)CAROLINA PANTHERS (7-8-1, won NFC South)
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(1)SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (12-4, won NFC West)
When: Saturday, January 10th, 2015-8:15E/7:15C-FOX
Why You Should Watch: Because both of these teams have exciting, mobile quarterbacks, good defense, and both are on a hot streak. Carolina comes in having won five in a row and are only allowing about twelve points per game during that stretch. Not to be outdone, the Seahawks enter this game having won six in a row and have only allowed 6.5 points per game during their stretch. Seattle also has the advantage of playing at home. “The 12th Man” should be rocking on Saturday night. The defending champions have only lost two games at home over the past two years and come in as a pretty heavy favorite in this game.
[yop_poll id=”164″]
(3)DALLAS COWBOYS (12-4, won NFC East)
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(2)GREEN BAY PACKERS (12-4, won NFC North)
When: Sunday, January 11th, 2015-1:05E/12:05C-FOX
WC Weekend: Green Bay-bye, Dallas-def. Detroit 24-20 (78% voted correctly)
Current Line: Green Bay favored by 6.5
Why You ShouldWatch: Because it’s the Cowboys and the Packers. Two of the most iconic franchises in sports renew their rivalry in the opening game on Sunday afternoon. It won’t exactly be “The Ice Bowl”, but it’s going to be cold in Green Bay at game time, topping out in the high teens. But this is one hot match-up. The Packers had last week off and that should benefit Aaron Rodgers, who had some time to recover from the nagging calf injury. The Cowboys come in after a hell of a game against the Lions and will have to adjust to the weather. And in a situation we don’t see very often, the Packers are 8-0 at Lambeau this year, but Dallas was 8-0 on the road. Expect another classic.
Why You Should Watch: The storyline is pretty easy here. It’s Peyton Manning playing his old team and their new golden boy, Andrew Luck. And Luck looked very good once again in their defeat of the Bengals last weekend. There’s been a lot of football played in between this match-up and the Week 1 encounter between these two teams, which Denver won 31-24 after a late surge by Indianapolis. Is this Peyton Manning’s last ride? Is this the day that the torch is truly passed? We’ll find out in the last game of the weekend.
[yop_poll id=”166″]
There you have it. Eight teams are left on the road to the Super Bowl, with seven of them being division winners. Who’d you pick? Comment below (we already know Jack will) or follow and tweet @BingeSports and/or @THElukenorris. And don’t forget that this isn’t the only playoff going on right now. Check back soon for my preview of the upcoming national title game between Ohio State and Oregon.
Happy New Year! And what better way to kick off 2015 than with tons and tons of football. After some great college bowl games over the past few days, it’s time for the big boys to take their turn. It’s time for the NFL Playoffs and you know what that means. Welcome to Binge Sports and our wall to wall coverage of the road to the Super Bowl. It’s Wild Card weekend and eight teams are set to do battle. I’m going to keep the breakdowns light as there’s not much we don’t already know about these teams. But I’ll give you a reason or two to watch each game and of course give you a chance to vote for the winners. But before we get to the games, let’s see how you did in picking the division winners.
AFC East: New England Patriots-88%
AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers-75%
AFC South: Indianapolis Colts-50%
AFC West: Denver Broncos-100%
NFC East: Dallas Cowboys-33%
NFC North: Green Bay Packers-67%
NFC South: Carolina Panthers-0%
NFC West: Seattle Seahawks-50%
Overall, you picked 58% correctly. The lack of faith in the Dallas Cowboys, the chaos of the dreadful NFC South, and the surprisingly low percentage for the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks dragged your total down, but not bad. You’ll have a chance in a few moments to make up for it, so let’s get to this weekend’s games, which will be listed in the order they’ll be played, starting on Saturday afternoon in the NFC.
ARIZONA CARDINALS (11-5, 2nd in NFC West)
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CAROLINA PANTHERS (7-8-1, won NFC South)
When: Saturday, January 3rd, 2015-4:35E/3:35C-ESPN
Current Line: Panthers favored by 6.5
Why You Should Watch: Well, the big reason to watch here is simply because it’s the first game. I do find it funny that a team that’s under .500 is favored in a playoff game. But the Panthers domination of the Falcons last week showed that they can be an exciting team to watch. The Cardinals are just running on fumes these days. After an amazing start to the season, injuries at the quarterback position have really hindered this team. They’re going to have to rely on their defense to win this game.
[yop_poll id=”159″]
BALTIMORE RAVENS (10-6, 3rd in AFC North)
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PITTSBURGH STEELERS (11-5, won AFC North)
When: Saturday, January 3rd, 2015-8:15E/7:15C-NBC
Current Line: Steelers favored by 3
Why You Should Watch: Because it’s the Ravens and the Steelers. I really shouldn’t have to say much more than that. This rivalry has been one of the best in football for years and this should be another good game. Pittsburgh has been playing very well lately, but I’m sure they won’t be underestimating the Ravens. And it’s always nice to watch two Super Bowl winning quarterbacks have at it.
[yop_poll id=”160″]
CINCINNATI BENGALS (10-5-1, 2nd in AFC North)
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INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (11-5, won AFC South)
When: Sunday, January 4, 2015-1:05E/12:05C-CBS
Current Line: Colts favored by 3
Why You Should Watch: Because watching Andrew Luck work is fun. Hopefully, we’ll get a better game than we did in week 7 when the Colts dominated the Bengals 27-0. The Bengals are going to need to have a better offensive game than they have the last three postseasons to have any kind of chance here.
[yop_poll id=”161″]
DETROIT LIONS (11-5, 2nd in NFC North)
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DALLAS COWBOYS (12-4, won NFC East)
When: Sunday, January 4, 2015-4:40E/3:40C-FOX
Current Line: Cowboys favored by 6.5
Why You Should Watch: Because this is probably the best matchup of the weekend. Watching Detroit’s defense against a very potent Cowboys offense should be amazing, especially now that Ndamukong Suh has won his appeal and will play on Sunday. Can Tony Romo keep rolling after having one of the best Decembers in NFL history? We’ll find out in the weekend’s final game.
[yop_poll id=”162″]
And there you have it. We’ve got some great match-ups here and we should get a hell of a weekend. If you feel the need to justify your picks, you can do so below or hit me up @BingeSports and/or @THElukenorris. We’ll be back soon with continuing coverage of the NFL Playoffs as well as the upcoming national championship game in college football. Enjoy.
The bye weeks are over and it’s crunch time in the NFL. Welcome to Binge Sports NFL coverage. Over the next couple of days, I’m going to break down every team in the NFL as we enter Week 13 of the regular season and in the weeks to come, I’ll bring you updates as we inch closer to the playoffs.
With five games to go, and so many teams still in the playoff picture, I’ll break down where your team is, who they’ve got left to play, and make my own predictions on how this plays out. And I’m very excited to announce the return of the fan vote. After each division, make your pick on who you think will win each division. I’ve only included teams that have an actual chance. Sorry Raider Nation. We’ll start today with the AFC.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
CURRENT STANDING: 9-2, 1st in AFC East
REMAINING SCHEDULE: @GB, @SD, MIA, @NYJ, BUF
BREAKDOWN: Well, here we are again. Much to Jack’s delight, the Pats are atop the AFC East, the AFC overall, and may be the best team in the NFL to this point. After a disappointing start, New England is hitting on all cylinders and are basically a lock to win this division and are on the fast track to home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. This week’s matchup against the Packers may be a Super Bowl preview.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
CURRENT STANDING: 6-5, T-2nd in AFC East
REMAINING SCHEDULE: @NYJ, BAL, @NE, MIN, NYJ
BREAKDOWN: The Dolphins will be in a battle for a wildcard slot, but outside of the Patriots game in two weeks, their schedule looks pretty good, especially with two matchups with the lowly Jets.
BUFFALO BILLS
CURRENT STANDING: 6-5, T-2nd in AFC East
REMAINING SCHEDULE: CLE, @DEN, GB, @OAK, @NE
BREAKDOWN: The Bills are one of the best stories in football this year. However, a tough schedule looms ahead. This week’s matchup against the another feelgood team, the Browns, will be a tough test, and it doesn’t get any easier with games left against the Broncos, Packers, and Patriots. But at least they still get to play the Raiders.
NEW YORK JETS
CURRENT STANDING: 2-9, last in AFC East
REMAINING SCHEDULE: MIA, @MIN, @TEN, NE, @MIA
BREAKDOWN: J-E-T-S, J-E-T-S, J-E-T-S, Jets are awful! Okay, maybe that’s now how it goes but it’s true. The Jets certainly aren’t fighting for a playoff spot, but are in a heated battle with the Jags, Raiders, and Bucs for that number one pick.
[yop_poll id=”148″]
CINCINNATI BENGALS
CURRENT STANDING: 7-3-1, 1st in AFC North
REMAINING SCHEDULE: @TB, PIT, @CLE, DEN, @PIT
BREAKDOWN: For the moment, the Bengals sit atop the most competitive division in football this season, and it’s actually due to a tie they had with Carolina. This is anybody’s division right now and every game is crucial. This week’s game against the Bucs should be a breeze, but they finish with three division games and a Week 16 matchup with the Broncos who will probably still be fighting for home field advantage.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
CURRENT STANDING: 7-4, T-2nd in AFC North
REMAINING SCHEDULE: NO, @CIN, @ATL, KC, CIN
BREAKDOWN: I think the Steelers have one more easy game than the Bengals do right now. With two games left against the dreadful NFC South, the Steelers may have a slight advantage, but it will obviously be the two games against the Bengals that will make or break the season.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
CURRENT STANDING: 7-4, T-2nd in AFC North
REMAINING SCHEDULE: SD, @MIA, JAC, @HOU, CLE
BREAKDOWN: The Ravens only have one game left in the division and play three of their last five at home, including a game against 1-10 Jacksonville and finish the season against the Browns, which could be a game to see who moves on and who goes home.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
CURRENT STANDING: 7-4, T-2nd in AFC North
REMAINING SCHEDULE: @BUF, IND, CIN, @CAR, @BAL
BREAKDOWN: The Browns may be the biggest surprise in the AFC this year. They just find a way to keep on winning games. They’ve got a tough three weeks ahead with a game this weekend in Buffalo, but get to stay at home for matchups with the Colts and the division-leading Bengals. They’re punished for that with two games on the road to finish up, but at least one is against a 3-win Panthers team. Somebody is going to be left out in the cold from this division. Will Cleveland get burned once again?
[yop_poll id=”149″]
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
CURRENT STANDING: 7-4, 1st in AFC South
REMAINING SCHEDULE: WAS, @CLE, HOU, @DAL, @TEN
BREAKDOWN: With a two game lead with five to go, I’d say the Colts are a safe bet to win this division. I don’t see them having too many problems this weekend at home against Washington, but three of the last five are on the road. Stranger things have happened, I suppose.
HOUSTON TEXANS
CURRENT STANDING: 5-6, 2nd in AFC South
REMAINING SCHEDULE: TEN, @JAC, @IND, BAL, JAC
BREAKDOWN: It’s hard to make up two games in five weeks, especially chasing a team like Indy, but with two games left against Jacksonville and a huge game against the Colts in three weeks, don’t count out potential MVP J.J.Watt and the Texans just yet.
TENNESSEE TITANS
CURRENT STANDING: 2-9, 3rd in AFC South
REMAINING SCHEDULE: @HOU, NYG, NYJ, @JAC, IND
BREAKDOWN: Tennessee just has nothing going right now. I guess I forgot to mention them in the fight for the number one pick earlier. Sorry.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
CURRENT STANDING: 1-10, last in AFC South
REMAINING SCHEDULE: NYG, HOU, @BAL, TEN, @HOU
BREAKDOWN: This record actually surprises me a little bit. I certainly didn’t think they would be a playoff team just yet, but at least Denard Robinson is entertaining.
[yop_poll id=”150″]
DENVER BRONCOS
CURRENT STANDING: 8-3, 1st in AFC West
REMAINING SCHEDULE: @KC, BUF, @SD, @CIN, OAK
BREAKDOWN: For a while there, the Broncos looked like they were the best team in the NFL. It’s not that they’re not a good team, but they’re in a dogfight in this division. This week’s game at Arrowhead, along with a game in San Diego in three weeks, will give us a good idea about where this division may be headed.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
CURRENT STANDING: 7-4, T-2nd in AFC West
REMAINING SCHEDULE: DEN, @ARI, OAK, @PIT, SD
BREAKDOWN: As you saw above, the Chiefs have a big test this week as the Broncos come to town. It’s nice to have a game against Oakland left, but as we just saw, beating the Raiders isn’t a given for this team. Arizona is fighting for home field advantage and the Steelers and Chargers will be battling for playoff berths as well. Not an easy road for KC.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
CURRENT STANDING: 7-4, T-2nd in AFC West
REMAINING SCHEDULE: @BAL, NE, DEN, @SF, @KC
BREAKDOWN: It’s a tough schedule for San Diego coming home. Every single game they have left are against playoff-caliber opponents and three of them are on the road. At least they get Tom Brady and Peyton Manning at home, if that’s really any consolation.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
CURRENT STANDING: 1-10, last in AFC West
REMAININGSCHEDULE: @STL, SF, @KC, BUF, @DEN
BREAKDOWN: Oh, Raider nation…you poor bastards.
[yop_poll id=”151″]
Is your team getting in? Can they win it all? I know what Jack is going to say, but how about the rest of you? Justify your votes below or follow and tweet @BingeSports and/or @THElukenorris. I’ll be back tomorrow with the breakdown of the NFC.
Welcome back to Binge Media Sports as I continue my look at the upcoming 2014 NFL season. We’ve gotten halfway through with previews of teams from the East (click HERE) and teams from the North (click HERE). Today, we head to the South so let’s get to it.
HOUSTON TEXANS
LAST SEASON: 2-14, FINISHED 4TH IN THE AFC SOUTH, MISSED PLAYOFFS
2014 PREVIEW: The offensive talent is there. Arian Foster still has the potential to contend for the rushing title, but he also might catch a few more passes this season out of the backfield as Bill O’ Brien has changed up the offense. Houston also has one of the top receivers in the league in Andre Johnson. The question is who is going to get him the football. Ryan Fitzpatrick has been named the starter, but if he struggles, will the newly acquired Ryan Mallett get his chance. After years of backing up Tom Brady, you figure he had to learn something, right?
On the defensive side, the Texans have the best player in the league in defensive end J.J. Watt, who if you haven’t heard, just got a $100 million dollar extension. The hope is that he doesn’t turn into Albert Haynesworth and let the money go to his head. He’ll be joined by the overall number one pick, linebacker Jadeveon Clowney. There’s always an adjustment from college to the pros, but Clowney has the tools. I don’t see the Texans winning this division, but I’m quite certain that they’ll get more than the two wins they got last year.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
LAST SEASON: 11-5, WON THE AFC SOUTH, LOST IN DIVISIONAL ROUND TO THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
2014 PREVIEW: Remember when the loss of Peyton Manning was supposed to set the Colts back by about six or seven years? Well, nobody told Andrew Luck. He’s got this team poised to make a deep playoff run in 2014. After an injury-plagued 2013, Reggie Wayne is still one of the smartest receivers in the league and should be healthy come Week 1. Hakeem Nicks will be looking to make a statement after being cut loose by the Giants, and T.Y. Hilton makes for a hell of a third option. Trent Richardson has to have a better season than he did last year, but he’ll be splitting time with Ahmad Bradshaw. Andrew Luck has options now, and that may lead to an MVP, maybe even a Super Bowl run.
The defense will have to pick it up, especially the first four games as Robert Mathis will be out to a failed PED test. But the addition of former Raven Arthur Jones brings more power to the front line. The secondary isn’t the strongest in the league, but even if they’re average, the offense may just pick up the slack anyway. The Colts are the clear favorite in this division.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
LAST SEASON: 4-12, FINISHED 3RD IN THE AFC SOUTH, MISSED PLAYOFFS
2014 PREVIEW: The Jags have added some offensive weapons at receiver in Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson to help out Cecil Shorts. For the time being, Chad Henne will be throwing them the ball, but he’s really just warming up the seat for the number three overall pick, Blake Bortles. The highly touted pick is still making his case to be the starter. They’ve got some interesting running options in Toby Gerhart and the versatile Denard Robinson. I’m not sure if this offense could be really good or really bad, but it will certainly be interesting to watch the progression.
Things are picking up on defense. They signed defensive end Red Bryant away from the Seahawks and he creates a ton of problems for the running game and also stole Chris Clemons, who can really attack the quarterback. The problem is that the rest of the team, while talented, is very young and are still a few years away from being dominant. The Jags are doing all the right things for the future, but it’s not in the cards for them to compete in 2014.
TENNESSEE TITANS
LAST SEASON: 7-9, FINISHED 2ND IN THE AFC SOUTH, MISSED PLAYOFFS
2014 PREVIEW: The quarterback situation is an interesting one in Tennessee. Jake Locker will be your Opening Day starter, but can he make it through an entire season? In three seasons, he’s started a total of 18 games. That kind of inconsistency will knock you out of the league pretty fast, so he needs a good year. Charlie Whitehurst is considered the backup for now, but sixth-round pick Zach Mettenberger out of LSU looked pretty good in the preseason. Whoever it may be, they’ll have decent, but not spectacular options to get the ball to in Justin Hunter, Nate Washington, and Kendall Wright.
Switching to a 3-4 this season, the defense will still struggle. There’s really no other way to say it. Outside of Jason McCourty on the outside, and Jurrell Casey on the inside, there’s really nothing to be overly hopeful about this year. The Titans were able to win seven games last year, but I don’t even know if they can reach that in 2014.
ATLANTA FALCONS
LAST SEASON: 4-12, FINISHED TIED FOR LAST IN THE NFC SOUTH, MISSED PLAYOFFS
2014 PREVIEW: Last year certainly wasn’t what the Falcons had in mind. Injuries hindered Atlanta last year as Julio Jones went down after a few weeks, Roddy White was never at full strength, Steven Jackson missed quite a few games, and the list goes on and on. With all those pieces back and healthy for 2014, quarterback Matt Ryan looks to move the Falcons back in the right direction. Expect a little more potency on the offensive side of the ball.
The defense has the talent to be good, but it’s another case of youth. Cornerback Desmond Trufant is quietly becoming one of the most dangerous in the league, but he’s only in his second year, as is Robert Alford on the other side. And with underrated defensive end Jonathan Babineaux leading the front line, the Falcons should be improved. They’re in a very tough division, but should at least double their win total from a year ago.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
LAST SEASON: 12-4, WON THE NFC SOUTH, LOST DIVISIONAL ROUND TO THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
2014 PREVIEW: With the Falcons moving forward, the Panthers may take a step back this season. They surprised everyone with twelve wins last year as they won this tough division. But with the loss of many key players, including locker room leader Steve Smith, Cam Newton will really have to step up and take control of this team. He’s still a huge threat to run the ball, but at some point that will go away. Jonathan Stewart’s health may still be an issue and the receiving core is not what it was a year ago.
The Carolina defense, however, is very strong. At defensive end, you have Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy, who alone had 15 sacks last year. And if you don’t watch a lot of Panthers football, do yourself a favor and tune in just to watch middle linebacker Luke Kuechly. In only his third year, he’s become the model for what a middle linebacker should be. The secondary may be a little weaker, which doesn’t help in this division. Overall, the Panthers are going to have to work very hard to repeat what they did last year.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
LAST SEASON: 11-5, FINISHED 2ND IN THE NFC SOUTH, LOST DIV. ROUND TO THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
2014 PREVIEW: The Saints are ready to go. Sure, they lost Darren Sproles to Philly, but Drew Brees still has plenty of weapons to work with, the first being his experience. He knows how to win in this league. Couple that with the amazing talent of tight end Jimmy Graham, target receiver Marques Colston, and Pierre Thomas out of the backfield, and you’ve got a recipe for putting up big yardage and big point totals.
Rob Ryan’s boys are starting to take a ton of pressure off of the offense. They don’t have a lot of household names on that side of the ball. Akiem Hicks is developing quite nicely, and they’ve got some speed on the inside, but the great thing about this defense is that they all work together in the schemes that Ryan gives them. The Saints will once again look to win this division.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
LAST SEASON: 4-12, FINISHED TIED FOR LAST IN THE NFC SOUTH, MISSED PLAYOFFS
2014 PREVIEW: When Jay Cutler went down in Chicago, 35-year-old Josh McCown stepped in and played extremely well in his absence. He played so well that Tampa and new head coach Lovie Smith named him the new starter after he signed a two-year deal. He’ll certainly have to use his knowledge and experience to work with the young guys he has alongside him. Doug Martin is hoping to bounce back from injury and get back to his rookie year form, where he ran for nearly 1,500 yards. Rookie receiver Mike Evans will look to learn from Vincent Jackson, but will be another threat in this offense.
Lovie Smith has always been a defensive-minded coach. He’s got some decent talent to work with in Adrian Clayborn and Clinton McDonald, and let’s be honest. The Bucs have nowhere to go but up. If they can stay healthy, there’s a chance that they could go from worst to first. But with all the talent in this division, they’re really going to have to play to their best each and every week.
Almost home kids. Check back next time for previews of the AFC and NFC West, which includes the two participants from the Super Bowl, the Seahawks and the Broncos. I’ll also be looking at the 49ers, Cardinals, Rams, Chiefs, Chargers, and Raiders. Who do you have in the South divisions?. Let us know below or follow me and tweet @THElukenorris.