NFC South Full of Potential and Even More Questions

By Dan Salem

Posted on June 18, 2025

Share

Share

Share

Share

Email

Comments

The potential in the NFC South is undeniable, but its still the Buccaneers and then everyone else. Does anyone else have the QB to compete?

Prepare for the intense sports debate that only sibling rivalry can conjure. Seesaw Sports, where Dan Salem and Todd Salem throw down on the NFL, MLB, NBA and more. Only on BuzzChomp. Two brothers from New York yell, scream and debate sports.

 

Most NFL divisions are balanced, with a good team, a bad team and two competitive up and comers. Some are top heavy, while others are chock full of dump at the bottom. Where does your favorite division fall in 2025? We answer the most interesting questions about each division heading into the new season.

More BuzzChomp: Alone Horror Movie Unleashes New Villain Black Boots

Which team(s) has quarterback issues? What coach is on the hot seat, or is there more than one? Who’s the division favorite? How about a dark horse to take the title? Who will be in last place? Finally, the real question and the only one that matters. How many Super Bowl contenders does your division have? We enter the NFC South, which has many unanswered questions and one sure thing.

NFC Division Previews: NFC East, NFC North, NFC South, NFC West
AFC Division Previews: AFC East, AFC North, AFC South, AFC West

 

NFC South 2025 Preview

 

 

Quarterback Battles:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – None
Atlanta Falcons – Not Nothing (Todd) ; Probably Something (Dan)

Todd Salem: Michael Penix is the Atlanta starter. There is not really any quarterback battle here to speak of. But what if Penix isn’t good? The sample size is small and still worrying in some respects. If he struggles mightily, and the Falcons have a veteran wasting away behind him, doesn’t the battle creep back up rather quickly? Trading Kirk Cousins is the only thing that will silence it for real. Either that, or Penix being amazing.

Dan Salem: Penix is currently decent and certainly holds the job right now, but Kirk Cousins. He was the starter before bridging the job to Penix. Cousins will also be a sought after commodity by other QB needy teams, so either the Falcons trade him or they hold onto him because they don’t trust Penix just yet. There’s something here.

Carolina Panthers – Cannot be Ruled out (Todd) ; Complete Unknown (Dan)

Todd Salem: Bryce Young looked like a lost cause before turning his young career around. There is not a QB battle here to speak of. But, like Atlanta, what if things start off poorly in Carolina, and Young looks more like his first year and beginning of second than in his small sample of end of the second year? With a capable veteran stewing on the bench, it will be hard to keep trotting a flailing Young out there. The battle will commence.

Dan Salem: I’d love to see Young continue to play at an above average level and keep his job, but history is cruel and we simply cannot know if he will or will not succeed. The Panthers have a lot of talent, much like Atlanta, and will not wait around for him to figure things out a second time.

Also on BuzzChomp: All NEW Breece Hall on the New York Jets in 2025

New Orleans Saints – Hot and Heavy (Todd) ; Ugly Mess (Dan)

Todd Salem: After the retirement of Derek Carr, this QB room is anyone’s guess. Spencer Rattler struggled as a rookie, but has a small experience edge over incoming rookie Tyler Shough. Jake Haener has the most experience of them all, with little success to buttress it though. Shough is the early favorite, but it’s simple enough to make an argument against him. After all, how many day two rookies become viable quarterbacks, let alone immediate starters?

Dan Salem: One player will emerge as the obvious best option to run this offense, but New Orleans barely knows who that will be any more than we do right now. I would guess that two or three guys all start at some point this season, but the job will have a winner by Halloween.

Hot Seat Coach:

Tampa Bay/Atlanta/Carolina/New Orleans – None

Todd Salem: Too many new coaches here for anyone to be feeling the heat yet.

Dan Salem: There is no one on the hot seat to start the season, but that likely changes by October. This caveat applies to most every team, but especially these four. All of Tampa Bay, Atlanta and Carolina have expectations of success. They view themselves as improving quickly and playoff worthy. If and when one of them falls on their face and starts the season 1-5, we have a hot seat coach. It’s that simple.

Division Favorite:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Todd & Dan)

Todd Salem: The Buccaneers return all of what was a potent offense; even adding to it with first-round receiver Emeka Egbuka. The defense is more of a question, as it’s getting old at a few key positions. But there is likely still enough here in totality to win a weak division.

Dan Salem: The two sweetest words in the English language, De Fault. The Bucs are favorites by default, because their offense is still solid and they have proven they can easily over achieve year after year under coach Todd Bowles. I don’t love them, but it would be a huge upset for them to fall short of ten wins and a division title.

 

 

Dark Horse:

Carolina Panthers (Todd Salem) – The Panthers are hiding in plain site in the NFC South. It has taken them years and years, but they may finally be building a competitive roster. Obviously, most everything hinges on Young at quarterback. If he continues to build off of his tremendous turnaround last year, this team can go places. They have pieces at receiver, depth at running back, offensive line talent, and have brought in a bunch of defensive players to try to turn the tide. I would still be surprised if the Panthers are good in 2025, but that’s what being a dark horse is all about!

Also on BuzzChomp: ‘The Surfer’ Is Pure Madness, Nicolas Cage Style

Atlanta Falcons (Dan Salem) – I like the Falcons for the same reasons you like Carolina. They keep coming up short, so now we simply don’t expect them to be anything more than average. A dark horse can come from nowhere, or they can come from a team that FINALLY gets over the hump after several seasons of disappointing everyone. Either Penix is great, or Cousins takes over, but either way if the Falcons actually impress, they will do so unexpectedly.

Last Place Team:

New Orleans Saints (Todd Salem) – New Orleans is kind of just a blah team and has been for some time. The roster isn’t horrible; there are quality veterans sprinkled about. The difference is, in ’25, they likely have one of the worst QB rooms in the sport. A mid team with a mid QB goes softly into the night. A mid team with a horrible QB crashes and burns in spectacular fashion.

More BuzzChomp: Final Destination Bloodlines Is INSANE

Saints or Panthers (Dan Salem) – I think this is finally the season that New Orleans truly stinks, because last year they managed to be slightly better than I expected and ended tied with the Panthers for last place. BUT what if one of their QBs actually clicks? Do they win six games? What if the Panthers struggle, even with Young playing well? This could be a battle for last place once again.

Number of Super Bowl Contenders:

Zero – (Todd & Dan)

Todd Salem: Tampa is solid; Atlanta could be as well if some of their big swings connect. I don’t see any teams from this division vying for a league title though. There are too many holes.

Dan Salem: I can see the Bucs making noise in the playoffs, but they are certainly a step or two behind the NFC elite. Only a fluke would get them to the Super Bowl. Not a true contender.

 

 

Meet our Sports Writers:

Dan Salem is Lead Editor and Co-owner of BuzzChomp. He’s an award winning Actor, Director and Producer. Visit M Square Productions for his film work, or get lost in his old-school comedy on Pillow Talk TV. You can follow him on X, TikTok and Instagram. His latest film ‘Alone’ is now on Amazon.

Todd Salem is a Staff Writer and Contributing Editor at BuzzChomp. He’s also a champion of fantasy football and fantasy baseball, dominating leagues for over two decades. Comment below on his unfiltered opinions.

NFC South Preview – This Is The End

Photo Credits: profootballnetwork.com and panthers.com; fox10phoenix.com via Getty Images

BuzzChomp is an affiliate for products and services recommended herein. Please read our Full Disclaimer for further information on affiliate programs and opportunities.

NFC South Full of Potential and Even More Questions