NFL NFC South Division
Tradition Says Jon Gruden and Tampa Bay Bucs Will Win Championship
If history has its annoying way, the Tampa Bay Bucs are a sure shot to win the National Football League’s 2007 NFC South division championship.
An unbroken tradition says the last shall be first in the NFC South. That’s the way it’s been since the division was formed in 2002. The team that finishes last one year is a sure shot to win the division the following year. Forget what the experts say about returning players, coaches, schedules, hotshot rookies, etc. Tradition says it’s going to be Tampa Bay in 2007.
And that's the way the season started. At the end of September, Tampa Bay was leading with a 3-1 record, followed by Carolina (2-2), Atlanta (1-3) and New Orleans (0-3)
The Bucs, coached by Jon Gruden, finished a solid last in 2006 with a 4-12 record, three games behind the next-to-last Atlanta Falcons. That’s the second worst record in the division’s history and enough to threaten a coach’s job.
But in the NFC South finishing last is almost a free ticket to the next year’s championship. It’s like getting the first choice in the player draft because you finished dead last in the NFL the previous season.
First to Almost Last
The division also has a very strong tradition that says the first shall be last, or next-to-last, the following season. It’s happened every year since 2002.
Therefore, lacking some heavenly intervention, 2007 does not look good for the New Orleans Saints, the 2006 Division champions. Some folks are predicting that Drew Brees, Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush are going to lead the 2006 Cinderella team to the Superbowl this year, but tradition says they’re heading toward the NFC South cellar.
The NFL formed the NFC South division in 2002, pulling Carolina, New Orleans and Atlanta out of the NFC West and adding Tampa Bay. That same year, the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks joined St Louis and San Francisco in the NFC West..
Winners Never Repeat
In its first five seasons, the NFC South has never had a repeat winner.
Look at the record.
2002 Tampa Bay wins. Finishes next-to-last in 2003.
2003 Carolina wins. Finishes next-to-last in 2004.
2004 Atlanta wins. Finishes next-to-last in 2005.
2005 Tampa Bay wins. Finishes last in 2006.
2006 New Orleans wins. Where will it finish in 2007.
Near Perfect Balance
If the NFL is looking for balance, it need not look any further than the NFC South.
In the division’s first five years, Tampa Bay has won two titles and Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans have won one each.
Saints Coach Sean Payton, like most coaches, says past records mean nothing. It’s what you "earn" this year that counts, he said.
But then there’s NFC South tradition....
