If going from last to first in the NFC South Division works (and it has the last five years in a row) then make room for the Atlanta Falcons.  Not so fast, you say?  Didn’t you know Michael Vick is in Leavenworth and Bobby Petrino is doing time (for the moment) in Arkansas? 

While it appears the Falcons may be up against it while trying to stretch the ‘streak’ to six years in a row, the fact of the matter is there is no team inside the NFC South that has a lock on anything.

Here is the take of teams in the NFC SOUTH DIVISION for 2008 from Marc Lawrence of Playbook. Coming up next: the NFC WEST DIVISION.  Enjoy…

NFC SOUTH

ATLANTA
Team Theme – PLOP, PLOP, FIZZ, FIZZ
If NFL teams were like NASCAR and had corporate sponsors, Atlanta would have looked properly adorned in uniforms by Alka Seltzer this year.  A stomach-turning season in 2007 started with the demise of QB-turned-prisoner Michael Vick and concluded with the parachute jump of gutless coach Bobby Petrino.  Hey, if this team were like so many other Americans and facing foreclosure these days, at least owner Arthur Blank would know where to go to get supplies to board up the operation.  Instead, he’s opting to rebuild from the ground up behind new head coach Mike ‘Speedy’ Smith and the 3rd pick of the NFL draft, QB Matt Ryan.  Ryan’s main target will be WR Roddy White who, along with prize free agent RB Micheal Turner (Chargers), are the top skill players. The bad news is Speedy can only do so much so soon. 
PLAY AGAINST: as HF vs Carolina (11/23) - *KEY off win

CAROLINA
Team Theme – GO FETCH, JAKE
It seems that even the best of dogs can bite your hand when they are starving.  Such was the case last season when Panther boss John Fox, the top underdog coach in the NFL at 25-10-1 ATS in his career prior to 2007, finished just 5-5 taking points last year. A lot had to do with clusters of injuries, the most important of which was to QB Jake Delhommme, who started the first three games before closing shop with a bum elbow. Carolina wasn’t the same without Delhommme, finishing the year 7-9, after they were forced to rely on ancient Vinny Testaverde who was 2-4 SU and ATS in relief. A healthy Delhomme and Carolina's ability to rebound with vengeance (the Panthers went 14-5 and 13-6 following their last two 7-9 seasons) should see Jake coming back with a playoff bone.
PLAY ON: as dog at New Orleans (12/28)

NEW ORLEANS
Team Theme – HOLY SAINTS
The Saints stepped into a 0-4 hole to start the season last year and were out-of-step the rest of the year. No team in the history of our database (since 1980) has ever made the playoffs after starting a season in similar fashion and try as it did, New Orleans also failed.  The Saints immediately went to work beefing up the defense with the free agent acquisitions of CB Aaron Glenn and LB Jonathon Vilma to go with No.1 draft choice DT Sedrick Ellis.  That should plug the hole that resulted in the Saints sliding 36 YPG defensively last season.  Offensively, New Orleans will need better production from RB’s Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister.  The run game regressed 21 RYPG and needs to be effective if QB Drew Brees is to operate at his best.  There is lot of potential here if enough holes are plugged.
PLAY ON: vs. Chicago (12/11)

TAMPA BAY
Team Theme – HARD LEMONADE
Jon Gruden’s hard stance in last year’s NFL draft paid immediate rewards when the ten players selected helped improve the Bucs’ lot.  The real key to their success, though, was the insightful signing of QB Jeff Garcia.  His veteran leadership and experience combined to vault Tampa back to the playoffs after a dismal 4-12 effort in 2006.  Garcia has been playing hardball with management since, remaining a holdout at press time and leaving the passing game with question marks.  A soft schedule (only four games against teams that were playoff participants last season) helps.  With only one game in their first six against a winning team from last year, Gruden realizes his team will need to at least duplicate last season’s sweet 4-2 start if it wishes to return to the post-season in 2008.  Otherwise it could end up like a tart lemon.      
PLAY ON: vs. New Orleans (11/30)