The Land of Misfit Teams (2026 NFC South Preview)

Something told me that the NFC South wouldn't disappoint in 2025, and it definitely didn't. The division continued to be the trainwreck it had been or about three years now, but 2025 gave us a new champion in the division. The NFC South's creation corrected the conference's longtime geographical problem. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, despite being in Florida, spent 25 years in the NFC Central with four cold-weather Midwest teams. The Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints were in the NFC West with teams from California, and the Carolina Panthers became part of the division when they joined the league in 1995. Granted, the Rams had moved to St. Louis by then, but still.

The four teams were placed together to form the NFC South in 2002, and it's all correct, all four teams are located in the Southeastern part of the country. That same year actually saw the Bucs win the Super Bowl for the first time; with the Saints winning in 2009 and the Bucs winning again in 2020. The division, right now, currently serves as the NFL's "trainwreck" division; full of bad records and nine wins will get you first place. Those divisions are fun; yes, the teams suck, but it's a makeshift do-or-die situation. You can either win the division, or get a decent draft pick.

So let's take a deep dive in to is mess of a division.

New Orleans Saints (6-11)

I've been hearing a lot of good things about the Saints' chances this year. "Watch out for them!" "They could win the division." The second one is a possibility because the division's a mess. At 6-11, the Saints finished just two games out of first place. The offseason saw them snag running back Travis Etienne, Jr. from the Jacksonville Jaguars, and they have quite a star receiver in Chris Olave as well. With the way the division has been acting lately, a Saints division title is highly possible, but we will see how the season goes. A lot of crazy things can happen in that division.

Atlanta Falcons (8-9)

This season marks a pretty bad milestone for the Falcons. It will mark 10 years since the Falcons last made the Super Bowl. It will also mark 10 years since, well, you know. "28-3" has been haunting the Falcons for way too long, the jokes never end, and the luck is getting worse for them. The Falcons have only made the playoffs once since that choke job in Super Bowl LI, and that was during the following season in 2017. It's been hell for them ever since. They've changed coaches. They've definitely changed QBs. They thought Kirk Cousins was the answer. Now they think Tua Tagovailoa may be the answer. Oh boy.

The Falcons are reaching. They've been reaching ever since they took that 28-3 lead and suddenly stopped scoring. They were close last year, they were on the lowest end of a three-way tie in the division. Maybe they get over the hump this year. Again, the division is a mess.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)

It still surprises me that the Buccaneers took such a nosedive last season. Not that this team is anything resembling a powerhouse. They've been the moderate-to-big fish in a small pond. The Bucs started 6-2, and an argument could be made that it could have been 7-1. After that, a terrible collapse. They went on what I call the "reverse Jeri Ryan" stretch: lost Seven of Nine. Even worse was who they lost to. Three straight division losses, including back-to-back home losses to the Saints and Falcons. They lost to a dead Dolphins team prior to their division title clash against the Panthers. Now the Bucs won that game, but because the Falcons won their finale, that created a three-way 8-9 tie that the Bucs lost out on.

After four straight division titles, TB missed the playoffs for the first time in six years, but Todd Bowles remains their head coach, for now. Also, Mike Evans, their longtime top WR, isn't there anymore. Granted, Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka are both formidable, but I have a feeling the Bucs will feel the impact of losing Evans.

Carolina Panthers (8-9)

I found myself pulling for this to happen on the final week, and it did. In 2023, the Panthers only won two games. Two years later, on the final week of the season, the Panthers faced the Bucs for the division title. The Panthers lost the game, but it wasn't over, as a meaningless game between the Falcons and Saints would determine the division crown. The Falcons won, creating a three-way tie at 8-9, and due to the combined head-to-head record, the Panthers--two years after 2-15--ended 2025 as champions of the NFC South. It was ugly, it was messy, and it was gritty, but Carolina did it! They finished on top!

Seriously, how was Dave Canales not named Coach of the Year?! A six game turnaround in two years. Going from league worst to division first in two years. That's Coach of the Year material. Also, the rumors of Bryce Young being a bust are now greatly exaggerated. The Panthers turned heads with their surprise playoff appearance, and how they nearly defeated the Rams in the Wild Card. I'll just go out on a limb and say it: expect the Panthers to repeat as division champs in 2026.

The NFC South won't disappoint in 2026. It never disappoints. I expect some fun, chaos, and messiness in all 12 division games this year, especially Falcons/Saints, it's always crazy during those meetings. Also, Panthers/Bucs will be amazing, because the Bucs will try to regain that division crown that they lost last year. How many wins will the division champion have this year? Ten? Nine? Eight again? Who knows? I know this: the NFC South will be full of so much chaos and insanity and I can't wait to see it all unfold, especially if it comes down to Week 18 again!