NFC South
Atlanta Falcons – A-
Many predicted the Falcons to win the NFC South and right now they’re in a battle with the Saints for the division. Their only real test so far came in week one against the Steelers and they failed that, but they’ve played solidly since then. Huge test coming up against the Ravens but for now, the Falcons look playoff bound and like a solid cohesive unit.
New Orleans Saints – B-
The defending Super Bowl champions have looked quite sloppy at times this season but at 6-3, they’ve done more right than wrong. Drew Brees looks like he’s settled back into a groove and this definitely isn’t a team you want to face with your season on the line.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – C-
You’d think that a team that’s 5-3 and already has two more wins than all of 2009 would get a better grade than a C-, but the Buccaneers have zero wins against teams of quality. Their losses have come at the hands of the Steelers, Saints and Falcons who all seem playoff bound and with the exception of the Falcons game, the losses were slaughters. This team is on the up and up, but not this year.
Carolina Panthers – F
The best that the Panthers could hope for this year is to fire John Fox. They’ve got a tough rebuilding process ahead of them with inexperience at most positions and don’t look like they’re going to scare anyone this year. No chance of the Panthers playing spoiler either, unless they suddenly learn how to play football.