FanPost

Falcons' Hope: Inside the Shambles of What Resembles the NFC South

NFC South W L T PCT PF PA STRK
Panthers 3 3 1 .500 158 195 L1
Saints 2 4 0 .333 155 165 L1
Falcons 2 5 0 .286 171 199 L4
Buccaneers 1 5 0 .167 120 204 L2

NFC South teams are aiming to shoot themselves in the foot every week and are doing a damn good job at it!

Above we have what many assumed would be a good division prior to the season, but good divisions don't stink on defense as bad as these teams have. Next week, the Saints play the Packers, yes the same Packers that decimated the Panthers. While it is in New Orleans, I don't think the Saints have the defensive prowess to break up the chemistry Rodgers has with his receivers. To make things less gloom for Atlanta, Carolina plays Seattle. While Seattle isn't the best road team, the Panthers' offensive line are allowing Cam Newton to get Ryan'd all day long. And I assure after a Suggs & Dummervil beating that is no feat. The Buccaneers play a bad Minnesota team, but they are still the Bucs. Atlanta on the other hand is having a faux-home against the Lions who just beat the Aints' by one point. While many of you wish to be down on the Falcons, just know that Stafford doesn't have the best offensive line to protect him either.

Why Atlanta can win vs Lions:

Against the Ravens, Mike Smith clearly wasn't happy,it's hard to be when your team can't be consistent on all levels for the sake of your job. Next they are playing a 23rd ranked Lions' offense, and number 1 ranked defense according to NFL.com (as of week 6). Against the Saints, that #1 Lions defense only generated one sack. That's one sack against what may be a worst OL than what Ryan is dealing with. The greatest part of it all is that their best player Suh isn't the Atlanta's offensive lines' kryptonite, i.e. he is no speed rushing OLB. He will have solid competition against some of Atlanta's best pass blockers, the guards. The Lions have a solid pass rush, but it is not on par with what the Ravens' D just put Ryan through. In fact the Ravens have arguably the best pass rushing unit in the NFL this season. Couple the survival of Ryan and that fact they managed a together and we should all be thankful he is alive. And next week, I think, no I know the offense will be back clicking next week and putting points on the board. It will not be easy, Ryan will get knocked around, but they will score 20+ points. The big deciding factor however will be the Falcons' inconsistent defense.

While the defense had somewhat of a big day, in spite giving up 29 points, they will have to step up once again. Although this time it should not be that big of a task, facing a Lions offense that has struggled with/without Calvin Johnson and his nagging injuries. Matthew Stafford is boasting a fine 9:6 TD:INT ratio, leading a Lions' team that has scored 20 points four times this season. Asking Stafford to get into a shootout without a healthy Calvin Johnson is a lot to ask. I expect Stafford to have passing woes with an offensive line that features former Falcons' guard Garrett Reynolds and an UDFA from 2013 at RT. It is likely how the struggling Saints' pass rush managed to get 3 sacks. This sets up what looks like another favorable match up for the Falcons OLBs.

After the Falcons' come away from London with a win, they head into a bye week that will rest Jake Matthews' ankle, and see the likely return of Harry Douglas. And what better way to come off a bye week knowing that the Saints likely beat the Panthers at TNF during week 9. Oh yeah to play the Bucs! Home or on the road, the Bucs are as awful or maybe more awful than they were last year. Not to mention Mike Smith and Matt Ryan have yet to lose the game after bye week since they lost it in 2008. Then in week 10 the Falcons have yet another road game (who makes these schedules) at Carolina. As of today I say Falcons will win that game, but the NFL is a mysterious place. I will also say the Saints' will lose in week 10 at the 49ers.

My Week 10 NFC South Standings Prediction: Falcons 5-5, Saints 3-6, Panthers 3-6-1, Buccaneers: Road Kill

<em>This FanPost was written by one of The Falcoholic's talented readers. It does not necessarily reflect the views of The Falcoholic.</em>