All right, NFC South. There are your odds for the no surprise.
Buccaneers overwhelming favorite than the Saints,
then the Panthers and the Falcons are just trying to.
They're trying to stay on the radar screen. They are a soft
blip at the far Edge but who knows who knows who would have
said the same thing about the Bengals last year
as a potential Super Bowl participants. So let's get into
it Chris and if she Southwind totals, they play the teams of
the NFC West and the teams of the AFC North
Earth AKA good luck
teams of the NFC South
start with the Panthers
six-and-a-half over under win. Total
coach on the hot seat and Matt rule
quarterback in Baker Mayfield. They just added low viscous
chennault via trade with the Jaguars not that's going to
make a tremendous difference all due respect
but what do we think? They were five and twelve last year
Matt rule I'm surprised his back for year 3. I think
the buyouts saved him,
do they get Above six-and-a-half wins this year.
I want to say I'm going to say yes,
the schedule is tough but I think that's the thing that,
you know, bothers me more than anything because I kind of
believe in the team.
I did a little last year, you know, that
eyes and I look at it and go away, the team got better. And
of course, it's a young football team that got a year
older,
and I think they got
the best quarterback. They've had in a while since Cam Newton
playing. So that's where I go, huh? You know, they aren't
a tough division. We know
To. So I mean you look at their schedule and you go well,
I could see them. Maybe starting out doing though. I could maybe
see that for sure.
But man, they got some stretches there where you just go. Whoa,
that could be pretty brutal. There,
the Saints, the Cardinals. The Niners are rams, the Bucks.
Oh, you gotta break with the Falcons and,
you know, you got the Bangles back on, and then you start to
go to the Ravens. And so I'm gonna go over here again. It is
there one of those teams that
I think, if there's a team and that I
in the NFC that goes, I didn't make the playoffs last year
but could be in it this year and kind of comes out of
nowhere. I'm for the second year in a row. Gonna go with
the Panthers. Oh, line was their
biggest issue last year. I think they've improved that go
ahead. Sorry you're a firm believer in that defense I am
the defense can't do its thing if the offense can't do
anything and the big mystery in all of this
is Christian McCaffrey
If he can stay healthy and it's not on him, I don't say that in
a pejorative way. He plays a position we said this time and
again
the risk of injury is ever-present and
there are very few Emmitt Smith's out there that
are constructed in a way that they,
they can continue to keep going. No matter what it is,
that may be broken sprained or fractured on them. So if they
can get more out of McAfee and they have the last two years
they should be able to
to get over. And a half wins. I don't know that. I'm ready to
say that there are playoff Contender
but I could see them finishing second in the division behind
the box. I can see them overcoming the Saints. I could
see it falling a certain way. So I'll go ahead. I thought
I was going to disagree with you on that one but
you convinced me
and and again if we can just keep the team healthy, this
should be a team that sales over six and a half wins,
I think. So there's definitely I mean, super star receiver,
and DJ more, we know about Robbie Anderson, you know, you
said it McCaffrey Tight ends aren't bad
front seven on defenses up there with anybody in the game
and you know the secondary add that to it and go. Well they
got a lot of good cover Guys across the board and
you know, didn't even have their top ten pick last year in
JC horn plays. So he's back. So I just look at that and go
Josh. And then the, the the fact that it is kind of a lame
duck, you're here for rule. Where? Yeah, your butts on
the hot seat, for sure.
I'm going to say they go over. I don't know. I'm not sitting
here thinking I was going to be 11 and 6 or 10 and 7, but
I think they get over six and a half wins. They can get over
six and a half wins and it still may not be enough to
save. Matt rule by the time, it's
all said and done.
When they were linked to Sean, Payton earlier, this year,
for next year, they didn't exactly mobilize to to spray
cold water all over that possibility.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers over under of eleven-and-a-half wins and
for good reason 13. And for a year ago, petered out in
the divisional round this year Tommy's back. He's
To go, they've upgraded. They've got some great players
on both sides of the ball there. One of the true few
contenders in the NFC that we just
look at and say, yeah, they're in.
Do they get over eleven and a half wins though?
Yeah, this one's a. Again I
I expect them to win the NFC South I do.
I look at it and go, it's is still one of the better rosters
and all of football. There's no doubt about that. Their
schedules, Real Deal this year, it's real deal,
the last few years. It's kind of fell the right way.
You know, we saw the year, they won the Super Bowl, they put
a bunch of cupcakes down the stretch to where they got to
get in a run and gain some confidence last year.
In six, weren't they? Yes, that's it. In the, you know,
they got to play some, you know, teams that they were 75
something like that. Right. Right around that range.
You know, again I look at, you know, this year and go. Whoa.
It's a little different last year that the schedule was not
daunting
this year. I look at it and go.
I think that the Saints are going to be damn good. We just
said Carolina.
Going to be better, I think.
And then, when you talk about the NFC West and the AFC North,
plus the crossover,
we gotta play the number one team,
you know, in the other division. So
we got the Packers on the schedule
and then the 17th game is the Chiefs.
That's their crossover 17th.
I just go, I still think going to be one of the better teams
in football, but I'm going to take the under here. I can see
11 and 6 or 10 and 7
and l-man. We stubbed our feet and a few games and lost some
And you know that we didn't think we were going to lose.
I don't know. And then with the offensive line issues,
I just go with that and Brady
I think it could be a little
less uncomfortable than it's been the last two years. So
that's where I'll just go slightly under on this one
or more uncomfortable less comfortable or more on come up
more yet more uncomfortable. I guess that's the way I should
say. Let's come to home or uncomfortable. Yes, your back
on your back on the devil's lettuce. Okay,
thank you that. Give me some We're Not Gonna We're Not Gonna
Hollow, we're not going to give you the high bar that we had
become a Into
they were, by the way, seven and five going into the last
four games of the 2020 season, ran the table and then 14 more
obviously to cap the season.
I was leaning over.
and then, as I listen to you, you
You,
you pulled me to your way of thinking. I'm still going to
say over on this one. And I know, I just, I
because I currently believe, this is Tom Brady's, last
hurrah, I think that's going to be a factor. I think he will,
cause those around him to elevate. He will shout it into
existence,
that whoever is playing left guard Center, and Right Guard
will play well enough to allow him to get rid of the football.
Todd Bowles will do enough.
He may not be Bruce Arians, but he'll do enough. Have Aryans
there to help him out and Aryans has been involved. I am
going to go over on this. Okay. I think that
even though the schedule is not kind. Yeah,
I think because
this is Tom Brady's last year
barring a surprise, although he's been full of them lately.
I think that's enough to pull everybody together and you
know, may not be enough to get to the Super Bowl. But I think
it's enough to get to get north of 11 and a half. I
am very nervous about that are right on the cusp of their, you
know, I got it. I think so. So you look at a team that's, you
know, been at the top of the mountain for two years,
a little bit and you go, oh, the could there be a letdown?
And, and in the, like I said, I think,
you know, we I would like to
I could talk about like I just think that's the schedule is
spelled their fall in the right way for them. The last few
years, a little bit to where even down the stretch last
year, it was
the Panthers twice and the Jets and,
you know, it to me, you know, again with this the way it
looks and then I go offense of line
and you got to play all these teams with these
Great defensive lines this year.
I just there's a
few more stretches of games there. I look at and go,
there's no guarantee as good as the Bucks are. There's no
guarantee they're gonna, they're gonna beat the Saints
of the Packers are the Chiefs, right? And, you know,
the Ravens and the Rams and teams that we talked about that go,
what Mike? Have a little creativity on the defensive
side of the ball and have some dudes up front that go,
we can get in Brady's face and cause some issues. So that's
where I lean but I do Don't feel confident about it just
like, you don't feel may be totally confident about
the over there. It's a tough one.
I'm probably given Brady more credit than I should but but
that's fine because he deserves. Yeah, he does credit
he gets when it when it comes down to hook, the impact he can
have
day in and day out on a locker room as you go through,
there's no 17-game grind. I think that ends up being
even more important than what Todd Bowles does is
the replacement for Bruce Arians. And and also if last year if
Anything to the rumors, the reports, the idea that there
was some friction last year if they can, eliminate that,
friction between head coach. And the offensive structure,
this is just Byron Leftwich and Tom Brady
doing it all this year with no interference.
Well,
assuming Bruce Arians doesn't try to interfere because he's
still there. But assuming that things are more harmonious this
year, maybe that sets the stage for
at least 12 wins
in 2022,
Saints.
Eight and a half is their number last year. They were
nine and eight and they had a lot of things conspire to
make it harder for them to be as good. And I know that Bill
Parcells says, you are, what your record says you are. They
were better than nine and eight last year,
will they be better than eight and a half wins this year?
Yeah. It's this is a tough one because I mean you didn't you
do lose Sean Payton and it's just like, wow,
gosh, you lost Sean Payton that's just not easy to replace
but I do think Sean Payton left the team in a pretty good spot.
For where they are right now. I don't know how much longer
I can last because they got some guys, you know, that are aging
veterans that I worry about a little bit but
I just I'm going to go over here. I am I don't think it's
going to be by a lot.
You know, I can see them going nine and eight here
but I just look at them and go.
Man, defense is pretty top-notch and Dennis Allen
being over there that hasn't changed
and I know they're losing Sean, Payton. I don't expect
the office to be as creative but wow. Wow, it's still
an overpowering offense of line and they got legit three
receivers this year
and the add that to Alvin Kamara. And the way they can
kind of run the ball and I know the offense even though it
might not be as good, it's still going to be solid and
good.
It's not good, like it's gonna, I don't think it's gonna fall
off Earth with a guy. That's been underneath Sean, Payton
for this long. So I'm gonna go over here,
I don't, you know, I'm just going to go over but the Saints
at times I have heavily defended Jameis Winston
Talk about the 2019 season? Yes he threw an interception on
the last play of the Year intercepted and returned for
a touchdown
to give him 30. We forget about the fact that he had over 5,000
passing yards.
There just I feel like
he is who he is at this point in his career. This is your
number eight for him.
He is who he is. And I don't think that's enough
to get the Saints to where they want to be. We've had the foot
injury this year. He had the ACL tear last year
without Sean, Payton there to work his brand of magic.
I just, I need to see it to believe it. Yeah. Okay. Look,
I think I think Dennis Allen was the right guy for the job.
I think the continuity makes a lot of sense. I couldn't
understand why. Dennis Allen wasn't getting looks from other
teams to go in and be their head coach. But but I
I just think when we get to the week in and week out grind,
they're going to find out the hard way, what it means to not
have Sean Payton there and they're going to go under
You're going to go under.
Yeah. All right. It's, it's it's a tough one and I hear
your point. It's not easy to replace Sean. Payton,
the motivator, the guy who can kind of stick the hot poker, you
know, on everybody to
get them going when they're when they're, you know, maybe
down in the dumps a little bit or just, you know, middle of
the Season monotony. And then, of course, as we both know, his
ability to game plan and call plays at the right time steel
plays
and vent plays. I mean, that's it's Second To None, he's one
of the greatest of all. Time of that department. So it's not
easy room, easily replaced so I hear your questions there.
I guess I'm just going to rely on the roster a little bit
and I guess I have just a hair more faith than Jameis Winston,
I guess than you do
last and most definitely least in the NFC South sorry. But
it's true. They know Falcons. They, they, they they they may
be heading somewhere good. But for now they, this is where
they are over under a four-and-a-half. Wins last
year,
surprisingly 7 and 10, but that was with, Matt Ryan. Now we go
from Matt Ryan to Marcus Mariota, And maybe at some
point Desmond Ritter do they get to at least five wins man
this is a tough one. Here I that's where I kind of see them
as
that like five and twelve type of Team, maybe 6 and 11
I mean maybe 4 and 13 I guess
where I want to say under
but I have a little faith in Arthur Smith. I do like the way
he coaches football games on the offensive side and they
have an offensive line that's got a little toughness to them,
you know? But
yeah you know you got it, you're relying on.
Rookie receiver and Kenya Andre are
Drake, the wreck London
during London. Thank you Kenyan Drake London. Yeah, right.
Drake London from u.s. seems deal with a knee issue. You
know, we know pits is a superstar the defense
there's not a lot of household names there for sure. I mean
Grady Jared and Terrell, AJ Tyrell are there two guys on
the defensive side of the ball.
So
gosh I'll go.
I want to I want to go over here to I want to go Over. But
I don't want to go over by much. I'm going to say over by
like five I'm going to say five wins. I don't know. I feel like
they'll squeak one out but I don't feel comfortable about
that. I think we're right in the range
of what I expect the Falcons to be.
I'm looking at their schedule now, it's
pretty brutal, right? Yeah, I'm looking for the double use.
Yeah, I do have they do have a panther sandwich week 8 and 10
the meat and that sandwiches the Chargers and they got
a short week coming out of that Chargers game.
I just don't know.
Where are the victories? Where do you look at it? I'm way I'm
gonna go under till I'm going under. I'm going under I'm
going to y'all for your with you. I hear you. You're right,
there's no stretch there, the Bears. Okay. Maybe.
I don't know but you're right. There's just the to your point.
I think you're saying it, right. Mike? What game are they
going to step on the field and go, we actually got the better
players.
And actually as I sit there and look at it more thoroughly,
here, I go. I don't know if there's one that I'm going to
sit here and go. Well, I'd rather have their roster than
this roster. The Bears might be the only one.
My look at other than that.
Yeah, I think you're right, it's big trouble. So I'm going
under there, you changed my mind,
the stretch that will set the tone for the Falcons week 3,
and week 4.
Because now, look, they can beat the Saints week one. They
could, they could. And that would create a very different
vibe for the Falcons if they can pull that off. But let's
say they would lose to the Saints in the Rams
at the Seahawks with Gino Smith or maybe by then Drew lock, who
knows? And then the Browns who won't have DeShaun Watson. Then
come out of that stretch to, and to then, then then I'll
revisit my position but even then even when you take the
first four games out of the mix Chris, where are the winds?
That's a long way to go before you get to the Bears in week.
11, that yeah bucks. 49ers Bengals. Good Luck. Good Luck.
Good Luck there. And then you got the Panthers twice in 17
days with the Chargers in between I've ever fir I'm
sticking with the under, and if they prove me wrong, I'll be
the first to admit. But I was wrong because I agree with you.
I believe in Arthur Smith. I just don't think they have
the Personnel yet. And
this hope this whole Matt Ryan thing. I mean,
They wanted Matt Ryan to be there. They had negotiated
a restructured contract that was going to allow him to stay.
And it wasn't until DeShaun Watson expressed interest in
them. They came to the table
that blew up the
Matt Ryan relationship. And now,
you know, Marcus Mariota was available for a reason.
Good quarterbacks just aren't available for you to go out and
grab and he's got potential but he doesn't have consistency and
he doesn't have durability and I think they're going to
Some point. They're going to they're going to see what they
have in Desmond Ritter and if they don't have anything good
and Desmond Ritter, they're going to be a position next
year.
With a very high pick in the draft to get a franchise guy if
they want to try to do it. So I'm going under. Yeah, I'm with
you there. I think you kind of laid it out the right way.
That's the questions I have. And I've gotten the sense to
and even the preseason
and I noticed this just from the
Jets game last week that we saw on Monday Night Football,
you know, again, anybody you talk to
the Jets seemed like they had their way with
Them in the scrimmage is leading up to the game
and the game, I felt like a lana gameplay and a little bit
for the Jets, I feel like they've gained planned a little
in every game to kind of build a false sense of confidence.
Like you're talking about to a jury at least more than
the other teams. I've
watched that have been generic
so
and that's that's I think they've maybe giving us a false
look a little bit too so I'm with you. I'm going to go under
as well, they're just not enough Big Time Players on both
sides of the ball to
make me think they can do more than that.
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