As I write this, the current leader of the NFC South is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
They are 6-7 and only lead the division by virtue of a narrow tiebreaker over the rival Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. Only New Orleans possesses a positive point differential among the trio. We are nearly in mid-December, and a division leader doesn’t even have a winning record, nor are we clear on who the favorite should be. It’s almost fair to wonder whether we are watching one of the worst squads of teams (you were not forgotten or spared, Carolina Panthers) in any NFL regular season ever.
What the heck happened here? And which unfortunate non-division-winning playoff team will be the biggest victim of the NFC South champion’s automatic playoff spot? Ugh, that hurts to read.
And people want to get rid of the NFC South pic.twitter.com/xhYVaPQIXM
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) December 10, 2023
For one, even when we include the Panthers (especially?), there is zero starting-caliber quarterback play in the entire division.
Bryce Young looks like an unmitigated bust who is the clear victim of an unfortunate first-year mix of chaos. The next time Desmond Ridder avoids a backbreaking red-zone turnover might be the first. Baker Mayfield is a glorified caretaker with a definitive ceiling of “OK, sure.” Derek Carr is Schrodinger’s Quarterback — a player who seemingly has the talent to be a superstar but is almost always curiously lost. What do any of these guys do well? What can they hang their hat on? Someone, please enlighten me if you have any ideas.
None of these South teams have much stability at head coach, either. Frank Reich was relieved of his duties midseason. It took Arthur Smith over two months to realize it’s wise to give more touches to your three top-10 draft picks on offense. Dennis Allen is a defensive guru in over his head with a team that struggles to score points. And Todd Bowles, bless his heart, has a definitive ceiling on his coaching, just like Mayfield. If you really think about it, they’re a match made in heaven.
There are more extenuating factors, of course.
None of these four teams are exceptionally talented or rife with young difference-makers. They are all mediocre underachievers who are woefully underprepared for the rigors of 2023 NFL football. But when we boil this down, the entire NFC South has the worst mix of quarterback and coaching with each participating team of anyone in the league. Bar none. That is the reason why this division will push forward a squad almost certainly not worthy of the playoffs in January. That is the reason why the football this group provides is usually of an atrocious, unwatchable quality that puts people to sleep.
It’s a shame, to be sure. Because when we have this sort of “dud” division, it makes you wonder whether anyone even wants to win the NFC South. Though, I guess that’s likened more to confirmation bias after watching any of the Buccaneers, Falcons, Saints, or Panthers attempt to play football.
Elsewhere in this week’s NFL Awards at For The Win, the Jets, Texans, Vikings, and Raiders all seemed deadset on setting back offensive football in their own unique ways. Meanwhile, a Ravens’ punt returner provided one of the best, most dramatic moments of the entire season. Let’s hop in, dearest readers.