Buccaneers Could Lose NFC South to 'Much More Formidable' Falcons in 2023

Every year NFL teams hope to go from 'worst to first' in their respective divisions, and this year it's the Atlanta Falcons that the Buccaneers need to key an eye on.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won back-to-back NFC South Division titles for the first time ever with championships in 2021 and 2022. 

But 2023 looks to be a lot different for the Bucs and for their division rivals with many expecting the New Orleans Saints as the front-runner to take back the title they last won in 2020 and the three years prior to that.

According to NFL.com's Kevin Patra, however, it's not the Saints Tampa Bay should be watching out for, it's the Atlanta Falcons.

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"Falcons brass convinced Calais Campbell to join their last-place club by selling the 36-year-old six-time Pro Bowler on their ability to compete for a division crown," says Patra. " The logic behind a swift turnaround is easy to see in May. Atlanta bolstered a struggling defense, adding the likes of Campbell, Jessie Bates, David Onyemata, Bud Dupree, Kaden Elliss and others. On paper, it's a much more formidable group than the one that has been ripped to shreds for years."

The defensive improvements are indeed impressive, and we'd be lying if we said we weren't jealous of some of the additions including Bates the safety, and Onyemata the defensive lineman. 

But even those two players don't play the most important position on the field, and neither does Campbell.

Instead, that's going to be manned by quarterback Desmond Ridder in his second season since jumping to the NFL from the Cincinnati Bearcats program. 

"The key to ATL's turnaround will be second-year signal-caller Desmond Ridder, who started just four games last season," Patra said. "The Falcons plan to be a run-heavy club with first-round pick Bijan Robinson and 1,000-yard rusher Tyler Allgeier teaming up in the backfield. The question is whether Ridder can step up in the crucible of big moments. Playing in the winnable NFC South helps boost the Falcons' chances of a turnaround campaign."

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Robinson was a player coveted by some in the Buccaneers' fan base to come in and help second-year running back Rachaad White. 

Instead, he ended up landing with Atlanta and will be part of a duo that tests the front-seven run-stopping ability of Tampa Bay's defense that added defensive lineman Calijah Kancey in the first round. 

The key for the Bucs stopping the Falcons in their two matchups this year will likely be forcing the ball into Ridder's hands instead of allowing him to rely on his rushing attack. 

But even if the Buccaneers come away with wins themselves, it may not be enough to stop the rising Atlanta roster from challenging for their first division title since 2016.

Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82

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