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Dan Pompei
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* Archived columns An early look at the NFC South


This could be the year that Michael Vick and the Falcons take over this division. They were close last year in Vick's first season as a starter. The Super Bowl champion Bucs will be contenders again despite a tough schedule.

The predicted order of finish:

1. Falcons (10-6). This team has a lot of good, young players, and if the Falcons can figure out how to get past the Bucs, they can win this division.

2. Buccaneers (9-7). The only two things that can prevent the Bucs from improvement are a Super Bowl hangover and injuries. One or the other -- or both -- seems likely to occur.

3. Saints (7-9). Their defense remains suspect, and that's the biggest problem. They also have to show they can avoid a late-season collapse.

4. Panthers (6-10). Not including the expansion Texans, the Panthers had the worst offense in the NFL last season. They've made some improvements, but not enough.

Senior writer Dan Pompei covers the NFL for Sporting News. Email him at pompei@sportingnews.com.