The perilous NFC South

Two teams in the division are rebuilding on the fly, with Brady looking to maximize his talent at receiver (through Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, an ascendant player entering a contract year) and tight end (where retiree Rob Gronkowski will be pushing O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate for snaps) in the twilight of his career. Bridgewater is also hoping to lock down his status as a franchise quarterback and discourage the Panthers from looking too hard for his replacement.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons are trying to figure out how they locked themselves in the cellar. They invested heavily in a couple of L.A. Rams washouts in Todd Gurley and Dante Fowler, but otherwise return a similar team to those the Saints have beaten before. Still, playing the Falcons twice in three weeks (on Nov. 22 and Dec. 6) isn’t a challenge the Saints should take lightly.

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