NFC South: NFL 2025 Season Outlook Atlanta Falcons & more
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a fringe playoff team. The Atlanta Falcons are one of the more compelling teams to keep an eye on. The quarterback drama is real- can Michael Penix Jr. stay healthy all season and keep the $40 million backup Kirk Cousins on the sidelines. If not for performance, I really do expect to see Cousins out there at some point this year. Maybe it’ll be on another team. The Falcons have fringe playoff talent in a weak division, but with expectations a little higher than normal.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay has been a quiet offensive powerhouse since the Tom Brady era, and it’s still humming. Baker Mayfield was in our MVP Watch almost all of last season. Adding back a healthy Mike Evans and Chris Godwin should help. The wrench? Former OC Liam Cohen is now the head coach in Jacksonville, so it’s unclear how the offense will evolve. I still expect the Bucs to win the division and return to the playoffs for the fifth straight year
New Orleans Saints
The Saints are quietly one of the more intriguing teams in the NFC that is not a contender this season. The quarterback situation is more fluid that it appears on paper off the mic of first year head coach Kellen Moore. Spencer Rattler was named the starter over rookie Tyler Shough, but I am not convinced that will hold up all season long. Rattler has some experience and composure, and the team isn’t rushing the rooking into the fire. I still expect Shough to take over by midseason, especially if the offense is terrible or they find themselves with a losing record through seven games or so. Wise move by the rookie coach to go with Rattler and possibly pivot to Shough later.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers seem to be in a holding pattern. The only real storyline I’m watching is the development of Bryce Young. Can he build on that solid second half of last season? Expectations are low and the roster doesn’t inspire much excitement.