In recent years the NFC South has become a division with teams that have had sporadic breakout seasons and no less is to be expected for the upcoming NFL season. All of the teams in the NFC South have made it to and won a conference championship game within the past ten years, with the Saints being the only team to actually win a Super Bowl within that time frame. There’s no doubt that this division can be and is a powerful one, but it just seems as though when half of the division is at the top of their game it simply just isn’t the other half’s time to experience that equal amount of success. Let's get straight to it.

1.   Atlanta Falcons (12-4)

The Falcons are clearly the front-runners in the division with most of their team still intact from last season’s Super Bowl run. They have brought on a few, key additions that will make all the difference when it comes to gaining equal production and a high level of play from all areas of the team. The franchise took their offensive potential to new heights with the signing of free agent, Steven Jackson, to a three-year, $12 million deal. Jackson joins the already formidable Falcon’s offense with key players such as quarterback Matt Ryan, prime time wide receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White, and the seasoned, returning tight end Tony Gonzalez to add to it all. The team also signed veteran, free agent Osi Umenyiora, formerly of the New York Giants, to boost their defensive play. These Atlanta Falcons are ready to pursue another Super Bowl in the 2013 NFL season.

2.       New Orleans Saints (10-6)

The New Orleans Saints franchise is focusing on one thing this year and that is improving their defense. The team is coming off of a season where their defense shattered the 31-year-old record of 6,793 yards allowed by the Baltimore Colts and set a new record of 7,042 yards allowed. Despite the title of 'the worst defense in history' looming in their subconsciousness, the expectations for the New Orleans Saints in the 2013 NFL season are on the rise. Head coach, Sean Payton, has returned after a one-year suspension, former Cowboys defensive coordinator, Rob Ryan, has assumed the role of play calling for the defense, and Drew Brees and the Saints' offense are expected to perform splendidly as usual.

3.    Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)

It's been some time since the Buccaneers have been the number one team in the NFC South, six years to be exact, but their recent string of successfully productive and improving seasons has them poised to be considered more of a threat than they have been in the past. Entering the 2013 season with the acquisition of cornerback Darrelle Revis and safety Dashon Goldson should bring immediate improvement to the defense. The signing of wide receiver Kevin Ogletree will add even greater depth to the team's strong receiving corps. This season will be a defining year for the Buccaneers franchise as they have been channeling a large amount of funds into acquiring new players to help improve the team over the past several years. Tampa Bay's mindset maybe win or bust, but they realistically won't achieve that goal this season.

4.   Carolina Panthers (7-9)

Improvements are expected from the young Carolina Panthers team, just not in the win-loss column this season with such a tough schedule ahead. Without any "big-name" additions to the roster this offseason the Panthers are heading into the regular season to basically prove themselves against some of the best teams that the NFL has to offer. Leader and quarterback Cam Newton can possibly be the very gauge of success for the Panthers this season, or in other words he holds a large part of the responsibility for the team's success or lack thereof with his major contributions to the running and passing game. It is up to every player who takes the field for the Panthers this season to play to their highest individual potential and ability to achieve success as a team.