The NFC South is one of the most competitive divisions in the entire league from top to bottom, year after year. Even in a year where the New Orleans Saints clinched the division, the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers saw a storybook streak in the playoffs to eventually win the Superbowl. The struggling Atlanta Falcons are looking to revamp their defense and the Carolina Panthers are attempting to create a complete identity. As the NFL offseason comes to a close, each team has to evaluate their drafted personnel to see if they were winners or losers in drafting. We will look into this year's NFL Draft and see how each team graded out and ranked them from best to worst. 

Carolina Panthers: A+

The Carolina Panthers have absolutely dominated the 2021 draft. Despite getting a cornerback in the top 10, the Panthers tightened up their entire team with this pick. Jaycee Horn is the essential defensive piece they needed to add to a very good Panthers secondary. By handling the key defensive piece, the rest of the Panthers draft went to adding value in nearly every position group. Terrace Marshall Jr. is a good receiver with very good experience that can play day one. Chubba Hubbard’s explosiveness and physicality will help for developing quarterback Sam Darnold by adding an extra security blanket in the run game. With Christian Mccaffrey battling with injury, the team will be smart to lean more on Hubbard in the run game. The Panthers even added an OT to protect Darnold with LT Brady Christensen. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers biggest hurdle will be to avoid a Superbowl hangover. With one of the most complete rosters in the NFL, they looked to fill their minor voids in this draft. By drafting Kyle Trask, they are preparing for the future with Tom Brady as a great model. With Linebacker Joe Tryon, the Buccaneers will have a competitive linebacker that can vie for the starting job and add another presence to the already young and explosive Buccaneers defense.

New Orleans Saints: B-

The New Orleans Saints are at a crossroads in their organization with Drew Brees’ retirement.  Jameis Winston’s ability to not turn the ball over will be the biggest offensive concern. For the first time in 3 years, the Saints drafted a receiver with their final pick. Although it was not a superstar pick, adding receiver depth will be good for the offense to take some load off of Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara. Defensively, the top two picks for the Saints came on the defensive line and linebacking core. The 6’6’’ 270 pound DE Peyton Tucker from Houston is a force and sure to bring depth to the experienced rotation. Linebacker Pete Werner and Defensive Back Paulson Adebo from Stanford are standout players that will be able to play immediately and add to the physical Saints defense. 

Atlanta Falcons: C

The main point for this grade is that the Atlanta Falcons are NOT a tight end away from playoff contention. Although they addressed other positions in the draft their priority in drafting was a new offensive weapon, which does not heal their defensive woes. The Falcons defense ranked near the lowest in several major defensive categories including rushing defense. The defense allowed nearly 100 yards or more in 10 games during the 2020 season. This stat contributed to their 5 late-game collapses in which they could not hold on to their double-digit leads late in the game. Despite Kyle Pitts being the best available, the Atlanta Falcons desperately needed defensive star power and did not get it out of this draft. 

Writer

-By: LeMarkus D. Bailey

One way or another, history will be made on February 7th. The Chiefs have the potential to forge a dynasty, but they must first get past the dynasty himself. Of course, we’re referring to Tom Brady, the ageless wonder now attending his NFL record tenth Super Bowl. The best quarterback right now versus the best quarterback of all time… who’s complaining? Here are our predictions:

Prediction: Chiefs 34, Buccaneers 30

Micah Jimoh

I’m torn. While I do believe the Chiefs are the slightly better team, I’ve spent the better part of the last decade learning not to bet against Brady-led teams. They simply find ways to win. So why not just choose TB? Well, I’ve also spent the better part of the last two years learning not to bet against Mahomes-led teams. They also simply find ways to win. Even if you’re someone who believes the NFL is scripted, which storyline would benefit the league more? Are the Chiefs forging a dynasty or the G.O.A.T getting #7? My point here is that this game is simply dead even in every ridiculous way you can measure it. My gut says KC, but I’ve developed a second gut from watching Tom Brady ridicule me for ten years. I’ll go with my first one-- I think.

Prediction: Chiefs 41, Buccaneers 34

Kevin Rakas

This has the makings of a high-scoring affair, and that is what I am predicting. However, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if the winning score ended up being in the mid-to-upper-20s. While this should be a fairly even matchup between two potent offenses, I think the Chiefs will try even harder to prove a point on the scoreboard after offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy failed to land a head coaching position for the second straight year. Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes is trying to become just the third player in NFL history to win two straight Super Bowl MVP awards (Packers quarterback Bart Starr in Super Bowls I and II, and Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw in Super Bowls XIII and XIV), but I think if the Chiefs do win, the honor will go to either wide receiver Tyreek Hill or tight end Travis Kelce. 

Prediction: Chiefs 38, Buccaneers 28 

Ben Schwartz

If you are a “the NFL is rigged” type of person, then the matchup this Sunday is most likely what you were expecting. Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback of all time, is looking to move past the final obstacle on his road to championship #7. Patrick Mahomes, the brightest star in the game, looks to propel his team to become the first back-to-back Super Bowl Champions since Brady’s ‘03 and ‘04 Patriots. It’s old versus new, and I think new will win out. It is very difficult for me to imagine a scenario where the Chiefs are not able to expose the young Buccaneers secondary and throw the ball all over the field throughout the entire game. This Bucs defense made Taylor Heinicke look like a seasoned veteran and Aaron Rodgers had a very successful game as well, despite the loss. Just like their regular-season matchup in Week 12, I see the Chiefs jumping out to an early lead, but this time they don’t let up and ride a 350-yard, 4-touchdown night from Mahomes to their second straight title. 

Prediction: Chiefs 31, Buccaneers 21

TJ Mathewson

In my opinion, Sunday’s big game is going to be the passing of the torch from the current GOAT to the future GOAT. That’s just how good Patrick Mahomes has been in his first three years as a starter, and I’m predicting he’ll add to that on Super Bowl Sunday. The Bucs have surprised me with their performance this postseason, mostly because the defense has played out of its mind. Yeah, Tom Brady this Tom Brady, but Brady has been far from the reason the Bucs have been winning in the playoffs. He won’t get away with completing less than 56 percent of his passes (Hasn’t done that in any game) and throwing three picks against Mahomes, or Andy Reid putting his tail between his legs on a fourth and goal (LaFleur, seriously??). The Bucs feasted off of a strong pass rush and capitalized on turnovers.  The Chiefs sleep-walked through the regular season then blew through both the Browns and the Bills when the bright lights turned on and Mahomes was on the field. They blew through the Bucs in three-quarters of their regular-season matchup before letting off the gas and Tampa making the score respectable (27-24). Sorry, Tom, there won’t be a Belichick defensive game plan to bail you out of this Super Bowl. Chiefs repeat.

Prediction: Buccaneers 31, Chiefs 28.

Jacob Keppen

I will be going against the consensus at Inside The Hashes for one reason: It’s Tom Brady. Even if all logic tells me to, I just cannot bet against the greatest football player of all time. He simply finds ways to win it in the big game, even when everyone doubts him. I believe the Buccaneers offense will be firing on all cylinders, backed by their home crowd. They will run the ball, looking to keep the ball out of Patrick Mahomes’ hands. Brady will be surgical and smart when he has to pass. If Antonio Brown is on the field, he will have a big play for a touchdown. This ultimately will be a close game that goes down to the wire. The Chiefs will put up points when they have the ball, I believe Travis Kelce will have a massive game. Kelce might break Gronkowski’s record for receiving yards by a tight end right in front of him. Ultimately I believe Kansas City’s line will lead to their downfall. Without a true run game, especially against a stout Tampa Bay run defense, Mahomes will be forced to drop back… a lot. That line will not hold up all game long. The Bucs will be able to get to Mahomes, and I’m expecting Shaq Barrett to have a big game. I’m predicting that it’s back and forth all game, the Bucs force a big turnover late, and Tom Brady does what he does best: win.

Prediction: Buccaneers 27, Chiefs 21

Richie Dordas

Are the Chiefs favored? Yes. Are they the better team? Yes. Should they win? Yes. After all that, I am still taking the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the Super Bowl because of the man running the show, QB Tom Brady. If his six Super Bowls have not told you already, Brady just knows how to win the game. Despite this, I feel that Tampa Bay has a good system in place to attack the Chiefs defense and keep QB Patrick Mahomes off the field. If they can run the ball with RB’s Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette, they can force the Chiefs to play from behind and make Mahomes throw. This would be an opportunity to get pressure in his face, which is the perfect way to beat a great quarterback. The key to the Bucs victory will be getting to Mahomes, as well as stopping the Chiefs from getting to Brady. Everything is telling you to take the Chiefs and rightfully so, but Tom Brady has shown time and time again that he has that extra gear that just gets it done in the Super Bowl.

Prediction: Chiefs 37 Bucs 31

Sam Kirk

One would think betting against Brady in his tenth Super Bowl would make zero sense. If Brady and his new team were hosting any other team in the NFL in Super Bowl LV they would most likely be favored but Bruce Arian’s squad will have the best offense in the league to go up against. Tampa Bay’s defense has been everything any Bucs fan could ask for. But, before this team's Week 13 bye they were only sitting at troubling 7-5. They lost an ugly game in Chicago on a Thursday Night at the beginning of the year as well as barely holding on against a Giants team on a last-second two-point conversion attempt. This Tampa Bay team is loaded on all sides of the football when you are looking at the roster on paper, but Brady has yet to play a Super Bowl without Bill Belichick and the Patriots staff the combination of that and the injuries so far during the week of linebacker Lavonte David, wide-receiver Antonio Brown, and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. not practicing should set up for some Mahomes magic on Sunday. That Buccaneers secondary has had it coming to them for weeks now consistently on social media talking up a storm, and from my perspective, Mahomes will put them in their place by Sunday Night. I know Brady’s fourth super bowl loss is hard to believe but has he ever went up against a Quarterback who we all knew was as good if not better than the six-time champion? 

Prediction: Buccaneers 35 Chiefs 31

Juan Pablo Guarín-Camargo

There are titillating matchups on nearly every level of this game; the trenches, the secondary, even the coaching staff!! But ultimately, it’s the QB matchup that’s going to be dominating every sports television debate, newspaper op-ed, and open-bar discussion. Tom Brady, the all-but-accepted GOAT of the sport, going up against a young buck, the answer to who the “next Tom Brady” is in Patrick Mahomes. One looking to cement his legacy as the greatest to ever have done it. The other, trying to overtake his predecessor and begin a new dynasty in this league. Ultimately, these are two guys built for clutch, high-scoring situations; Brady using his tactician-like mind to analyze an opposing defense and adjust his game plan accordingly, while Mahomes is just “sling it and praying” to his top-tier targets in Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, which is the minimum effort that offense needs to do in order to go up early. It’ll be a high scoring affair down at Raymond James, but it’ll come down to which defense can ultimately make a stop against these two historic arm-talents. And with that being said, I have much more faith in Todd Bowles’ unit holding up than I do in Stephen Spagnuolo’s.

It has been a long, exhausting year for the NFL, but after the NFC and AFC championship games concluded, there is only one game left, the Super Bowl. Before we jump ahead to that, let us recap the two championship games and point out the keys to their success.

Brady Beats Rodgers to get to his 10th Super Bowl

Before this game was even played, there was a ton of talk regarding the quarterback matchup with two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time: Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Brady, who is now with the Buccaneers, outlasted Rodgers and the Packers by a score of 31-26. In the game, Brady was shaky with three interceptions, but was still able to score three times in the victory. RB Leonard Fournette led the rushing attack with 55 yards and a touchdown, while RB Ronald Jones got minimal yardage on 10 attempts. Through the air, WR Chris Godwin led the Bucs with 110 yards while being helped by Mike Evans and Scotty Miller, who combined for a line of 5/87/2.

This game was won by the Tampa Bay defense, who held the top offense in the league to just 26 points. The Bucs were able to force two turnovers on a fumble by RB Aaron Jones and an interception by QB Aaron Rodgers. Both turnovers led to touchdowns and ended up being the difference in the game. LB Devin White had 15 tackles in the victory. For the sack category, the Bucs got to Rodgers five times, two by LB Jason Pierre-Paul and three by LB Shaq Barrett. CB Sean Murph-Bunting recorded yet another pick, making that three in three weeks.

For Green Bay, the score did not truly show how they played. The Packers had opportunity after opportunity to score off turnovers, but just did not do enough to win the game. QB Aaron Rodgers had a good game in the loss, going 33/48 with 346 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling had a big day as well, going 4/115/1 with a 50-yard touchdown. On the defensive side, CB Jaire Alexander had two interceptions, while Adrian Amos recorded an interception in the loss.

Chiefs Earn Second Straight Super Bowl Bid with Win Over Buffalo

The world is waiting for the Chiefs to slip up and they have not budged. Kansas City, playing in their third straight AFC championship game, got the best of the Buffalo Bills, beating them 38-24. This game was won by a full team effort with all aspects of the game playing well. QB Patrick Mahomes continued his dominance with 325 yards and 3 touchdowns. Two of those touchdowns went to TE Travis Kelce while the other went to WR Mecole Hardman. Once again, the dynamic duo of Kelce and Hill dominated, totaling for a whopping line of 22/290/2. Kansas City played balanced football as well, rushing for 114 yards and two touchdowns on the day.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Chiefs did a great job of neutralizing the Bills offense by putting them behind the chains. CB Rashad Fenton had the lone interception in the game, while CB L’Jarius Sneed, Frank Clark (2), and Tanoh Kpassagnon recorded sacks in the victory. The KC defense also held the Chiefs to 5-14 on third down and won the time of possession game by three minutes.

Even in the loss, the Bills should be holding their heads high for making huge improvements this season. QB Josh Allen had a so-so game, going 28/48 with 287 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. He also led the ground game with 88 yards on seven carries. Besides Allen, the Bills did little on the ground, rushing for just 41 yards outside of Allen. Through the air, the Bills had six receivers with two or more catches, led by WR Cole Beasley. Playing on a broken fibula, Beasley had seven catches for 88 yards in a gritty performance. WR Dawson Knox and WR Isaiah McKenzie found the endzone in the loss. 

In two weeks, the stage is now set. Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be taking on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs for the gold. Will the “GOAT” win his seventh, or will the kid win his second super bowl in his first three seasons?

Info from profootballreference.com

Writer

-By: Richie Dordas