Sir Psycho Sexy

While an NFC South team has won or advanced to the Super Bowl in three of the past eight seasons, success has been fleeting for the division's four clubs.
Since the league expanded to an eight-division format in 2002, every division but the NFC South has had at least one team finish on top in consecutive seasons. Every division but the NFC South and AFC North has had one team win its title for at least three seasons in a row during that span.
In the quick-to-shift NFC South, no one stays on top or at the bottom for long, and that revolving door may not stop spinning in 2010.
With the Buccaneers still in rebuilding mode and the Panthers weakened by the departure of DE Julius Peppers, it would appear the Falcons are the only legitimate threat to dethrone the Saints, although Carolina has surprised before and shouldn't be completely disregarded. Atlanta is clearly New Orleans' most likely challenger.
The final tally from voters in this year's PFW/Yahoo! Sports Preview 2010 magazine had the Falcons narrowly edging the Saints for an NFC South title, even though New Orleans has won seven of its last eight meetings with Atlanta.
It's not hard to imagine Atlanta winning it, and potentially going deep into the playoffs, but are we shortchanging the defending champions a bit? Are the musical chairs of the NFC South's past infecting our prognostications heading into the 2010 campaign?
Perhaps not.


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"May God have mercy on those who doubted his Saints."