Photo by Atlanta Falcons, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsBehind the Panthers. The Panthers.
CBS put the Falcons dead last in the NFC South — behind a Panthers team whose QB got benched eighteen months ago. That's supposed to be analysis.
Behind the Panthers.
I need to say that again so it registers. CBS Sports — Pete Prisco specifically — looked at a roster with the NFL's best running back, a franchise-record 57-sack defense, and a complete organizational overhaul, and said: fourth. Dead last. Behind Carolina.
The Carolina Panthers. Who won the division at 8-9. Whose quarterback was benched for Andy Dalton eighteen months ago. That's the team CBS thinks is better.
Look — I'm on record. I'm 65% sure neither of our QBs finishes the season. I've said the QB room is built from medical records. I'm not pretending that part is fine.
But Bryce Young is your argument for why the Panthers are better? The same Bryce Young who needed three seasons and a benching to crack 3,000 yards? That's the stable foundation CBS sees?
I'm 58% sure the Falcons are NOT the worst team in this division. Not high conviction — the QB room earns the doubt. But being ranked behind a team that won a division with a losing record while you have Bijan Robinson and a pass rush that went from second-to-last to second overall in one year?
That's not analysis. That's lazy.
Bookmark this. Come back in December.
The Tilt
The Falcons finish ahead of Carolina and it won't be particularly close.
— Dex Ponce
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