A conversation about the 2015-16 NFC South

Aisander Duda and I converse lightly and, at times, seriously about football in the NFC South. Divisions previously discussed include: AFC East, NFC East, AFC West, NFC West, AFC South.

In honor of Vick's heyday, this post treats football as an elusive topic.

Atlanta Falcons 

NFL Playoffs: Divisional Round Preview

The Divisional previews below were put together by Russ Morris, with Bryan Harvey (Teach) adding in his two cents after Russ did most of the work.

LCB Exclusive: Charles Woodson's Uppercut Training Video

During the offseason and the coinciding lockout, NFL players tried a variety of activities to stay in shape, to maintain focus, to simply pass the time, and Charles Woodson was no different. No, he didn't go on Dancing with the Stars, return to his college alma mater, or take on a job as a day laborer. No, Charles Woodson spent every day quickening his reflexes with the likes of Sub-Zero, Scorpion, and Liu Kang, and with our immense investigational resources, we accessed the following bit of exclusive training footage:

Vote: Marshawn Lynch or Tecmo Bowl

Because it happened in the Playoffs against the defending Super Bowl champs, you'd have to go back to the days of Earl Campbell to find a run that was not only this good but felt this good. The magnitude of the moment made this run feel like something that could only happen in a video game, especially when one considers that Marshawn Lynch's career has consisted of being a fantasy sleeper to tradable laughing stock and disappointment. Now, he's the stiff arm immortalized, in concrete, in plasma--he's a freak.



To get a better idea of what Marshawn Lynch did to the New Orleans defense on that play, here it is in slow mo:



And for good measure, some good old fashioned Earl Campbell. Appreciate:



Oh, and one last question, what is it about Matt Hasselbeck that he can run down field on a play like Marshawn Lynch's touchdown run blocking all the way, but if he so much as gets bumped by a defender, it always appears to be career ending? Strange are his super powers, strange indeed.

LCB NFL Picks: Super Bowl XLIV

New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts @ 6:25 on CBS:
Langston: With every Super Bowl comes various sub-plots used to fill the time between the Conference Championships and the big game, this year is no different. If you have watched more than a minute of ESPN, you'll have heard the following far too often: Dwight Freeney has a bum ankle and if he doesn't play the Indianapolis defense will morph into the Cleveland Browns, Reggie Bush and Kim Kardashian may or may not get married, Drew Brees rebuilt New Orleans with touchdowns, Peyton Manning needs to win a second Super Bowl to become a great, Peyton Manning grew up in New Orleans and his dad is one of the few greats in Saints history (aka Who will Archie root for? ), Gregg Williams should be more careful about what he says, and numerous others.

LCB NFL Picks: Week Eight

New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles @ 1:00 on FOX:
Langston: Like Drody, I could go either way on this game. The Eagles have the ability to score at any moment with Desean Jackson. The Giants have a well-balanced offense, with Brandon Jacobs pounding the ball and a whole host of young receivers ready to do damage. Both have capable defenses and both could really use this win. Taking that all into account, along with Westbrook being a game-time decision, I'm going with the Giants. I just can't see a team of this caliber losing three straight. Giants 42, Eagles 35.


Drody: Tough game to pick, this NFC east battle. The Giants have been pushed to the back burner, due to their loss to the undefeated Saints. The Eagles, also are trying to gain some momentum with back to back victories over division foes. I look for this to be a close game, but the Giants pull it out and pull ahead in the divisional race. Giants 24, Eagles 17

Denver Broncos vs. Baltimore Ravens @ 1:00 on CBS:
Langston: When I look at the Broncos and their remarkable start, I can't help but to think of last year's Cardinals. Orton plays the part of Kurt Warner, a QB who should be doing anything else but starting yet continues to surprise teams week after week. Brandon Marshall plays the part of Anquan Boldin, a disgruntled WR having a great year. And then there is me, who plays the part of me, doubting this team week in and out just waiting for them to show their true colors. I don't know if it will happen anytime soon or at all. But like last year I will continue to be skeptical of this team, despite having every reason not to. Ravens 34, Broncos 27.


Drody: The Broncs try to keep rolling, and the Ravens need to keep pace in the division. I think the Ravens win this one at home, and knock off the Broncos for the first time this week. The Ravens D will come out inspired and just destroy Kyle Orton. Sorry Neckbeard, I don't see you having a good game this week. The Ravens win this one soundly, Ravens 28, Broncos 10

Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers @ 4:15 on FOX:
Langston: I thought that I would be fairly indifferent when it came to the "Favre Bowl," but it would be disingenuous of me to claim that I haven't bought into the hype. I cannot wait for this game; for the first Packer defender to get a hit on Favre in Lambeau, to witness the angst of an entire stadium of fans, or for Aaron Rodgers to show Favre in person why they chose to move on. This game should be quite the production and I will be rooting for the Packers to exact a little bit of revenge. However I just don't see them overcoming their beleaguered offensive line and the Vikings rushing attack. Vikings 17, Packers 10.


Drody: Favre bowl, I still hate both these teams. Side note: Doesn't the Favre media attention remind you about the Sarah Palin coverage last election? I mean, the media says they give the people what they want, but who wants to hear about Favre anymore? I don't know anyone who isn't sick of him. Packers win in front of the home crowd. Packers 28, Vikings 14

Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints @ 8:30 on ESPN MNF:
Langston: If the Broncos are the 2009 Arizona Cardinals reincarnated, the Saints are the '99 Rams. They look unbeatable, they score a ton, and the defense makes opposing teams pay for their mistakes. I like them to keep it rolling on Monday Night, in their effort to give New Orleans hope for the fourth year in a row.

Drody: I forsee the Saints continuing their dominance of the NFL in this game. They just seem unstoppable right now. I think the Saints O just keeps roling, and their defense to play well enough to win. I'm also not that high on the Falcons right now. The Saints lengthen their division lead with a win on Monday night. Saints 35, Falcons 17

2009 NFC South Division Preview

In the past, we broke down every team in detail before the start of the season, but this year we decided to view each division as a dysfunctional American family and base our predictions off their family trees.

Family Portrait:

Place of Residence:

This family traditionally resides on the set of My Name is Earl, except it's not a television studio lot--it's real life. Only one member of the family has ever made it out of the trailer park, and that was Uncle Jon Gruden, who purchased the winning MegaBucks Lotto ticket with money he stole out of the church offering plate. Uncle Jon's reign as a Florida millionaire didn't last long; he blew all of his money on jet skis and popcorn machines.

The rest of the family has tried just about everything to get out of their double-wide, but nothing has worked. Several family members, from Billy White Shoes Johnson to Deion Sanders to Jamal Anderson, have tried to strip their way to success, but money earned on the pole tends to get spent quickly. Jerry Richardson thought he'd found the solution to all his problems, but his first husband wound up with an abusive drinking problem, which is why Jerry now settles for anything. While cousin Tommy Benson has tried everything from voodoo to deals with the devil in an effort to crawl out of the bayou swamps and marry the former Homecoming Queen, who would still have Benson involved with black magic, crossroads, and reading the innards of dead farm animals. The trailer stinks of raw animal innards.

Vacation Spot:

The family goes to Myrtle Beach for Memorial Day and the Gulf Coast for Labor Day, just like life was a John Mellencamp song. Celebrating Cinco de Mayo on every 5th of the month, not just in May, isn't that bad either.

Favorite Pastime:

What does this family not do? They lift up their shirts even when it's not Mardi Gras, they rev their engines at the Taco Bell drag strip, and they even run dog fighting rings.

Teach's Prediction:

The Atlanta Falcons will win the NFC South. They have the most balanced offense, featuring Matt Ryan, Rowdy Roddy White, and Michael Turner, along with newcomer Tony Gonzalez. Also, the defense is respectable, holding opponents to 18 points a game last year.

If the Panthers feed DeAngelo Williams the ball with any regularity, then I see them finishing second. In two of their four losses last year, Williams twice only carried the ball about 10 times for 27 yards, which is also what happened against the Cardinals in the playoffs. The Saints could up end either Atlanta or Carolina, if their defense does anything at all. Tampa has four quarterbacks no one else seems to want. How is Leftwich still not an NFL starter?

Langston's Prediction:
The Buccaneers have lost all remnants of their 2003 Super Bowl winning team, and that includes winning consistently. On the bright side, one of their players has the best name in the league, so they got that going for them.

The Panthers have talent at almost every position on the field. That includes one of the best running back combos in the league. If they want to win, both backs should be touching the ball early and often. If not, expect more videos like this from their fans. The Saints have the best passing attack in the league, led by fantasy football portent Drew Brees. His talent is enough to make this team a division contender, year-in and year-out. However, they neglected to substantially upgrade their defensive backs. The same problem that plagued the team last year will come back to haunt them this year.

Like Teach, I like the Falcons to win the division. Matty Ice and the offense will be good, but they will take the division because they did what the Saints did not. They improved their 24th ranked defense. With the additions of Peria Jerry, Lawrence Sidbury, Chris Owens, and William Middleton, the Falcons should have enough defensive depth to rise above the rest of the division.

Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints

The game isn't even over, but I can see where it's going. The Packers went into a gunfight and got shot pointblank by Drew Brees and the Saints. I don't even want to talk about it, so here's the Boss to tell the story.

Monday Night Football: Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints

Something's gotta give.  The Hole in the Wall Gang leads the League with 16 interceptions.  The Saints have the League's top rated passing offense, but no Reggie Bush tonight.  My Granpappy always said, "don't bring a knife to a gun fight."  Drew Brees, Green Bay's got a posse, and they're all packin' heat.  It's time to start sayin' your "Hail Mary's" if you wanna get to heaven cause no saint ever shot nobody (yeah, that's a double negative, but so is a double-barreled shotgun).  

*Picture: (from left to right) Charles Woodson, Boone Helm, Al Harris, Doc Holliday, Nick Collins, "Clubfoot" George Lane, and Atari Bigby