Key Takeaways:
– Despite being three-time defending NFC South Division champions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers are predicted to lose their status to the Atlanta Falcons in the forthcoming 2024 NFL season.
– The Ringer’s Sheil Kapadia believes that the Falcons will overthrow the Buccaneers following the addition of free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins.
– Kapadia’s predictions for the playoffs include the Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago Bears, New York Jets, and Seattle Seahawks.
– He also suggests that Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams, and Dallas Cowboys won’t make the playoffs in 2024.
– Kirk Cousins’s addition to the Falcons and a robust offensive line are central to the predictions against the Buccaneers.
New Scenario in NFC South Division
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, despite their status as the reigning NFC South Division champions, are facing doubts about their supremacy in the division. The Buccaneers, who were able to maintain almost all their key players from 2023, and made impressive selection in the 2024 NFL draft, are predicted to experience a shift in fortune according to The Ringer’s Sheil Kapadia’s predictions.
Kapadia, in the latest May 7 episode of the Extra Point Taken podcast, laid out predictions that favored the Atlanta Falcons disparity in the NFC South Division. The catalyst behind his confident assertion is the recent acquisition of the free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins by the Falcons. Coupled with the team’s enhanced line-up, the Falcons have a decisive competitive edge.
Riding the Wave of Change
Kapadia’s foresight is rooted in his analysis of recent league progressions. Since 2020, when the NFL adopted the 14-team playoff format, there have been at least six new playoff teams every season. With this pattern in mind, Kapadia has predicted that Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago Bears, New York Jets, and Seattle Seahawks will make the 2024 playoffs.
In contrast, he believes that the Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams, and Dallas Cowboys are unlikely to secure a playoff spot in 2024, having made it in 2023.
Atlanta Falcons: A Force to Reckon With
Backing up Kapadia’s insights, Extra Point Taken co-host Ben Solak expressed his conviction in the Falcons’ 2024 playoff prospects. The Falcons, according to Solak, should not only participate in but also clearly win the NFC South. Solak asserted that the Falcons now possess the best quarterback in the division, a credible offensive line, and potent weapons like Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson.
Kirk Cousins, who recently joined the Falcons with a 4-year $180 million contract after a stint with the Minnesota Vikings, is central to the team’s enhanced potential. Cousins’ entry adds substantial heft to the Falcons and could serve as a spoiler for other NFC South Division quarterbacks’ like Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield.
Betting Odds Mirror Predictions
The predictions by Kapadia and Solak seem to be in sync with current oddsmaker sentiments. FanDuel has set the Falcons as the likely division champions with a projected over/under 9.5 wins in 2024. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints, both with a 9-8 record in 2023, have their over/under total pegged at merely 7.5 wins.
The 2024 NFL season is set to be an exciting one with the anticipated rise of the Atlanta Falcons and possible dethroning of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South Division. Changes are on the horizon, and the NFL fans worldwide are eager to see if these predictions will reflect on the field.