The off season saw some dramatic changes for the New Orleans Saints. Godfather Roger Goodell laid the hammer to the Saints for the bounties placed on opposing players. Coach Sean Payton is suspended for this season. While I think initially this will hurt the offensive playcalling, I think this gives the Saints the chance to have a chip on their shoulder and set out to win despite everything. Then again a couple of defeats like the playoff loss to the Niners and this team may fold faster than a cheap lawn chair, 11-5.

The Atlanta Falcons are a solid regular season team. The playoffs seem to befuddle this team worse than a finger puzzle. Two years of embarrassing defeats do not sit well with this team. This team has enough talent to win the division and perhaps the NFC, but they have to do so before the window starts to close, 10-6.

Tampa Bay has been up and down over the last few seasons. Raheem Morris was shown the door and Greg Schiano was brought in to lead the team. With Doug Martin and LeGarrette Blount the running game could keep the Bucs in games. This team could cause some problems for others, but really this is not going to be their season, 7-9.

It pains me to put Carolina here. I think Cam Newton is going to be a good qb. The running game has names, but lacks consistency. The defense was missing a lot of players with injuries, but I just do not see this team putting it together this season, 7-9.