Staff posted: " Atlanta Falcons by Ean Goldstein Photo is from https://www.espn.com/blog/atlanta-falcons/post/_/id/36294/in-a-new-role-as-mentor-falcons-duron-harmon-has-an-eager-pupil-in-richie-grant Key Additions: TE Kyle Pitts, S Duron Harmon, RB Mike Davis "
Key Additions: TE Kyle Pitts, S Duron Harmon, RB Mike Davis
Key Departures: WR Julio Jones, C Alex Mack, S Keanu Neal
The Falcons are likely beginning a rebuild in 2021. This past offseason saw the departures of one of the best WRs in the league, Julio Jones, and a mainstay on the offensive line, Alex Mack. This will not help Matt Ryan in his 14th season in Atlanta. The veteran QB will be without the protection of 40% of his offensive line from 2020, as James Carpenter left the team as well. Losing Julio Jones will hurt, but Ryan does have two good young receivers at his disposal in Calvin Ridley, Russell Gage, and TE Kyle Pitts. The Falcons did have a decent offense in 2020, and could in 2021 as well. Though the losses of some key players could limit their productivity, especially if the line can't protect Matt Ryan. Another big loss for Atlanta this offseason was that of Keanu Neal. They did sign Duron Harmon to replace Neal. That alone probably won't be enough for the defense to improve, after allowing the 4th-most yards in 2020. This included allowing the most yards passing in all of the NFL. In order to improve that number, the Falcons will need more production from their pass rushers, particularly Dante Fowler Jr. Without a good pass defense, it may be a long 2021 for the Falcons.
Key Departures: QB Teddy Bridgewater, RB Mike Davis
Head coach Matt Rhule's first year in the NFL was derailed quickly when Christian McCaffrey went down. But CMC is back, hopefully healthy, and this Carolina offense can start building. They will be building with a new QB, as Sam Darnold looks for the same type of resurgence Ryan Tannehill had after escaping Adam Gase. Carolina still has a lot of work to do, but they will finally have the mindset envisioned on offense. The Panthers' defense should be massively improved from last season. They went out and got arguably the best man-coverage corner in the draft in Jaycee Horn. Horn's physicality could be what drew Carolina to him over Patrick Surtain II, who went one pick later in the draft. Carolina upgraded the pass rush bringing in Haason Reddick and his 12.5 sacks from Arizona. Reddick's presence on the edge should help open up things on defense, in a division that has two imposing offenses.
The retirement of Drew Brees will hurt this Saints team. He is one of the best QBs of all time and was the leader of the Saints for a decade and a half. But there is still a lot to be excited about in New Orleans. They boast one of the best offensive lines in the league, led by Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramcyzk. And even though they might have been under the radar, they had a top 5 defense in 2020, when looking at both points and yards allowed. They did lose key pieces to that unit, such as Janoris Jenkins, Trey Hendrickson, and Alex Anzalone. They did well in replacing those guys with Brian Poole, Tanoh Kpassagnon, and Pete Werner respectively. The biggest question for this team is whether Jameis Winston can lead them to the playoffs. Winston won the starting job by looking great in the preseason after sitting behind Drew Brees and Tayson Hill last season. It remains to be seen whether he will continue that success into the regular season. Besides Alvin Kamara, the Saints have a fairly weak receiving core, with Michael Thomas getting ankle surgery and Emmanuel Sanders going to Buffalo. Taysom Hill will also no doubt still have a place in the offense, and if he, Kamara, and Winston can move the ball as Brees did in the past, the Saints should once again compete for the NFC South.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by Joshua Manes
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times
Key Additions:
Key Departures:
No, nothing is missing up there. The Super Bowl Champs brought back all 22 starters, a first in the salary cap era. Add Antonio Brown to that list of key players returning, and the Bucs are looking to run it back. The offense noticeably improved in the second half of last season. Whether it was a matter of Tom Brady getting more comfortable with the offense or the offense getting more comfortable with Brady doesn't matter. That comfort level is there now, and only increased, so this offense should be ready to start clicking much earlier this year. But let's not fool ourselves, it was the defense that won this team a title, and that defense could be even better. Linebacker Devin White could be ready to take a big step up in his third year, and cornerback Antoine Winfield Jr. gets the chance to build off his pick-six highlight where he threw up the deuces to Tyreek Hill. Tampa Bay wasn't overly impressive last year during the regular season. This year, though, they could be clicking from the start spelling trouble for the NFC South and the entire NFC.
Predictions
Ean:
The Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers will continue their winning ways, winning the NFC South. They feel like a team with no glaring weaknesses, and will once again threaten to go to the Super Bowl. Despite the loss of Drew Brees, the Saints will continue to compete for a playoff spot, as Jameis Winston will finally solidify himself as a starting QB in the NFL. The Falcons and Panthers are both rebuilding, though, will play better than expected. They will play spoiler to someone vying for the playoffs.
X-Factor: Jameis Winston. If Jameis Winston can play as well as he did in the preseason, the Saints will continue to be one of the best teams in the NFC, as they have very consistently for years. If not, the Saints could finish below .500 for the first time since 2016, and it may be time for a rebuild.
Josh:
The champs are here, and they aren't going anywhere. That Tampa Bay offense is going to be sailing early on this season, and they'll put the pressure on the rest of the division. But there's only one real challenger this season in the Saints. But while Jameis Winston will improve the New Orleans passing attack from last season with his ability to go downfield where Drew Brees no longer could, it won't be enough. This Bucs team made history as the only team to win it at home, and now they want to be one of the few to defend the crown.
X-Factor:Father time. He's undefeated, and Brady's getting into the championship rounds with him now. Is this the year Brady finally falls off? I wouldn't bet on it, but that's the only way the Bucs don't take the division.
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