NFC South
1 . ATLANTA FALCONS
Michael Turner
| September |
| 13 MIAMI (W) |
| 20 CAROLINA (W) |
| 27 at New England |
| October |
| 4 bye |
| 11 at San Francisco |
| 18 CHICAGO |
| 25 at Dallas |
| November |
| 2 at New Orleans |
| 8 WASHINGTON |
| 15 at Carolina |
| 22 at NY Giants |
| 29 TAMPA BAY |
| December |
| 6 PHILADELPHIA |
| 13 NEW ORLEANS |
| 20 at NY Jets |
| 27 BUFFALO |
| January |
| 3 at Tampa Bay |
Future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez has come over from Kansas City and will be an inviting target for rapidly rising quarterback Matt Ryan, last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, when he’s not handing off to Michael Turner. But the real question for Atlanta are the holes left by the departure of some key veterans on defense like: Grady Jackson, Lawyer Milloy, Keith Brooking and Michael Boley among others as well as an inexperienced defensive backfield.
2 .NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Drew Brees
| September |
| 13 DETROIT (W) |
| 20 at Philadelphia (W) |
| 27 at Buffalo |
| October |
| 4 NY JETS |
| 11 bye |
| 18 NY GIANTS |
| 25 at Miami |
| November |
| 2 ATLANTA |
| 8 CAROLINA |
| 15 at St. Louis |
| 22 at Tampa Bay |
| 30 NEW ENGLAND |
| December |
| 6 at Washington |
| 13 at Atlanta |
| 19 DALLAS |
| 27 TAMPA BAY |
| January |
| 3 at Carolina |
The New Orleans Saints are picking up right where they left off posting huge numbers offensively. They’ll need it as they have a difficult schedule and a poor defense that will hopefully be rejuvenated under new coordinator Gregg Williams from Jacksonville.
3. CAROLINA PANTHERS
| September |
| 13 PHILADELPHIA (L) |
| 20 at Atlanta (L) |
| 28 at Dallas |
| October |
| 4 bye |
| 11 WASHINGTON |
| 18 at Tampa Bay |
| 25 BUFFALO |
| November |
| 1 at Arizona |
| 8 at New Orleans |
| 15 ATLANTA |
| 19 MIAMI |
| 29 at NY Jest |
| December |
| 6 TAMPA BAY |
| 13 at New England |
| 20 MINNESOTA |
| 27 at NY Giants |
| January |
| 3 NEW ORLEANS |
The Panthers have not opened well being winless in their first two, but a difficult schedule along with a half-dozen new coaches, a questionable defense – it all adds up to what looks like a familiar pattern of Carolina not able to produce consecutive winning seasons.
4 . TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
new coach Raheem Morris
| September |
| 13 DALLAS (L) |
| 20 at Buffalo (L) |
| 27 NY GIANTS |
| October |
| 4 at Washington |
| 11 at Philadelphia |
| 18 CAROLINA |
| 25 New England (in London) |
| November |
| 1 bye |
| 8 GREEN BAY |
| 15 at Miami |
| 22 NEW ORLEANS |
| 29 at Atlanta |
| December |
| 6 at Carolina |
| 13 NY JETS |
| 20 at Seattle |
| 27 at New Orleans |
| January |
| 3 ATLANTA |
With a new coach (Raheem Morris- the NFL’s youngest at 32) and new GM (Mark Dominik), Tampa Bay is looking for a fresh start and regaining their defensive swagger.
The young team is helped on offense with the additions of tight end Kellen Winslow and running back Derrick Ward. Byron Leftwich will call the signals until rookie Josh Freeman can adjust to the NFL.
