Why The NFC South Was The Best—Despite Being The Absolute Worst

The 2014 NFC South has been one of the most bizarre spectacles in recent football history. In fact, many of the southern NFL teams have struggled this season.

It’s just that the terrible football in the NFC South was particularly disappointing. The reason is that regardless of how bad teams did in this particular division, one team was guaranteed a playoff spot.

As of Sunday evening, there are only two teams left standing in this wobbly corner of the NFL: The Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers.

The New Orleans Saints were bumped out of post-season contention following a loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers currently sit in last place in the NFC South with a 2-13 record. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers lead the division with a 6-8-1 record. I’ll leave you to do the math as to how recently the Bucs faded from contention for the division title.

The fact that a team with such a horrible record had even a glimmer of hope says so much about just how badly things have gone for the NFC South.

Many want to know why? Why did this division experience such a collective collapse? There are a few theories.

Often when teams fall apart so spectacularly, it’s because of bad infrastructure. Think the departure of outstanding players, coaches, and overall leadership.

However, with all the bad hashed and rehashed about the status of the NFC South, it’s important to remember a few positive things this division gave to football fans this year.

First, the gift of laughter.

Because if you are a fan of practically any team outside of the NFC South, it is pretty easy to point and laugh at their pitiable performances.

Unless, of course, your team has been eliminated from playoff contention despite having a superior record to any of the NFC South teams.

But even so, the NFC South managed to entertain in its own way.

Whereas other divisions in the NFL had fans caught up in a race to the top, the NFC South seemed to be hosting its own race to the bottom. Many asked how long would it be before losses actually started to matter? Which team would break away and stake some kind of claim?

In the end, the Saints left it too late and paid the price. The Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers will decide who will win the NFC South next Sunday when regular season football comes to an end.

That game promises to be full of the slippery ineptitude that has made the NFC South the slow-motion car crash you can’t look away from.

What have you enjoyed most about the strange situation surrounding the NFC South?

[Image Credit: Carolina Panthers Official Twitter]