Archive for the ‘NFC South Report’ Category

The Falcons will be face to face with the NFL's best team Monday night.

Is there anything the Falcons can do to stop the celebrating in New Orleans?

It’s time again for a peek behind enemy lines in the NFC South. The Saints are threatening to make the division title an afterthought by November.

But first: a story. Twenty-six years ago — yes, I am that old — I was working in Los Angeles covering the Rams, this before Georgia Frontiere ran them into the ground with the intent on moving them to St. Louis. I’d like to think Eric Dickerson and I broke into the NFL the same year: 1983. That season, Dickerson ran crazy and I actually did several stories with O.J. Simpson, who liked Dickerson, lived in L.A., was a great quote and, as a bonus, never threatened to kill me.

Anyway, the Rams had a huge season-ending game that season at New Orleans. Both teams were 8-7. The winner likely would get an NFC wildcard berth. The Saints had never been to the playoffs so it was kind of a big …

Continue reading NFC South Report: Can Falcons end party in New Orleans? »

Tony Dungy would be a big help in any capacity in Tampa Bay.

It has been a few off weeks since my last weekly NFC South Report, which probably means I should stop referring to it as a weekly NFC South Report. Oops. But there’s a couple of interesting items floating around, starting in . . .

TAMPA: Is Tony Dungy returning to save the day?

I don’t know how much credence there is to this because it originated with a report from Chris Myers on FOX Sports Radio, and the last time I checked Myers is not a regular news-breaker. But he dropped Dungy’s name as a possible savior for the 0-5 Buccaneers. Dungy got his first head coaching job with Tampa Bay (he was hired and fired by then-general manager Rich McKay, although ownership pressure might’ve played a part in the second decision). Then he went to Indianapolis and won a Super Bowl.

Myers: “I did want to mention Tony Dungy’s name, and I don’t even know if Tony has been approached, has surfaced in Tampa as a possibility. The team is …

Continue reading NFC South Report: Dungy coming back to Bucs? »

Matt Ryan completed 13 straight passes at one point against Carolina Sunday. (Curtis Compton/AJC)

The most remarkable thing about the Falcons starting 2-0 for only the seventh time in franchise history is that they failed to make the playoffs in four of the previous six seasons it happened. (The most recent tumble: Jim Mora’s exit season of 7-9 in 2006.)

But given the way things are shaping up in the NFC South, chances of the team taking a significant dive seem minimal. Tampa Bay has dropped off the face of the earth. Carolina is close behind. New Orleans? Not going anywhere.

Onto this week’ check behind enemy lines in the NFC South.

New Orleans (2-0)

Drew Brees should just start his own league. He has nine touchdown passes in two games. (AP photo)

The Falcons’ secondary has six weeks before they have to face the Saints. Might as well rest up now.

While it’s true New Orleans’ two wins have come over a 0-16 team from last season (Detroit) and another that was missing its …

Continue reading NFC South report: Hey, where did everybody go? »

Here's Arizona's Antonio Smith, not treating Jake Delhomme very nicely. (AP photo)

This will be the first in a series of blogs during the NFL season checking on the Falcons’ competition in the NFC South, and not a minute too soon because they won their season opener and I think their magic number for clinching the division is down to 16 . . .

♦ New Orleans Saints: They’re pretty good. We’ll get back to them in a minute.

♦ Carolina Panthers: Not so good. Most figured the Panthers, who come to Atlanta Sunday, would contend for the division title. But after Jake Delhomme went 7-for-17 with four interceptions and a fumble, and Carolina was pounded at home by Philadelphia, 38-10 — the worst opening day loss in franchise history –  the

So I'm assuming Tony Romo is laughing at Tampa's defense and not telling a Jessica Simpson joke. (AP photo.)

Panthers’ home now is that they can just stay ahead of Tampa Bay. The enterprising Charles Chandler of the Charlotte Observer figured out that …

Continue reading NFC South Report: Falcons up, others in pieces »