ESPN NFL

Let’s take a run through the evening headlines from around the NFC South.

— According to this unique formula, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the least home-field advantage in the NFL from 2009 through 2011. On the flip side, the New Orleans Saints ranked behind only the New England Patriots when playing at home during that same span. The Falcons were No. 5 in the Georgia Dome and the Panthers No. 20 at Bank of America Stadium.

— Former Atlanta quarterback Steve Bartkowski was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday. He’s not the only player in the Class of 2012 with NFC South ties. Linebacker Mark Simoneau, who started his NFL career with the Falcons and had a later stint with the Saints, also was elected.

— It’s been a turbulent offseason for the Saints, but Wednesday night should provide a respite. The third annual Heath Evans Softball Classic will be held at Zephyr Field, which is adjacent to the Saints’ practice facility. More than 30 members of the Saints are expected to take part in the charity event.

— Mike Triplett writes that the Saints seem convinced their offense is in good hands with coordinator Pete Carmichael running the show while coach Sean Payton is suspended for the 2012 season. There’s good reason for that. Carmichael took over the play-calling duties last season when Payton suffered knee and leg injuries in a sideline collision and the offense didn’t miss a beat.

— Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano said he was pleased with his team’s effort, but not its execution, in Tuesday’s organized team activity. Take this as another sign that Schiano is a stickler for detail. I was out there for the practice and the Bucs didn’t look all that bad, considering they have a new coaching staff and are just getting started with their on-field work.

— Tampa Bay running back LeGarrette Blount is saying all the right things after the Bucs used a first-round pick on running back Doug Martin. Blount said he views the starting job as his “until they take it away." Martin’s got the edge because he’s the kind of all-purpose back Schiano wanted. But Blount is talented and the competition could inspire him to become a more well-rounded running back.

Peyton Manning's joining the Denver Broncos might have a bigger impact than you realize on the NFC South.

That’s because all four NFC South teams will play the Broncos next season. There’s little doubt the Broncos are about to get a lot better in the passing game, and they already have a good defense. The move suddenly makes the Broncos and the entire AFC West better. With Denver and San Diego already pretty good and the possibility of Oakland and Kansas City improving, it’s pretty much a given that this isn’t going to be a repeat of 2010 when the NFC South was matched up with what was then a very weak NFC West. In that season, NFC South records got inflated (Tampa Bay went 10-6 and Atlanta was 13-3) in large part because they got some freebie wins against the NFC West.

We won’t know the schedule dates until April, but we already know where those games will be. New Orleans and Tampa Bay will have to play in Denver. We know the Saints aren’t always good in outdoor stadiums and their pass-happy offense could be slowed even more if the game is late in the season and the weather is rough. It’s kind of a similar story for Tampa Bay if its game in Denver is late in the season, because the Bucs historically have struggled in cold weather.

Perhaps the most intriguing matchup between Denver and the NFC South will come when John Fox returns to Bank of America Stadium to coach against his former team. By that time, Fox might not be the only familiar face returning to Charlotte. As I said before, I could see Fox trading with Carolina to get either DeAngelo Williams or Jonathan Stewart as a new toy for Manning out of the backfield. The Falcons also will play a home game against Denver, and I’m sure new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan is already thinking about some schemes to deal with Manning.

Let's take a look at the Sunday headlines from around the NFC South.

It’s almost a certainty the Atlanta Falcons will be looking for a left tackle. Sam Baker has not worked out and could be released and Will Svitek might be better off as a backup. The expectations are that Marcus McNeil will be released by San Diego and he could be a good fit for the Falcons if healthy. McNeil has had some neck problems, but is one of the best in the game when he is healthy. The Falcons need to make serious upgrades to their pass blocking and it would be hard for the team get an elite left tackle in the draft because they are without a first-round pick.

The Panthers will host the defending Super Bowl champions for the second straight season. They hosted Green Bay last season and the New York Giants are scheduled to play at Bank of America Stadium in 2012.

The Bucs looked at several candidates, including some they weren’t allowed to interview, before hiring Mike Sullivan as the offensive coordinator. As it turns out, they might have landed the perfect fit. As Stephen Holder points out, there’s a feeling inside One Buccaneer Place that getting quarterback Josh Freeman back on track is critical for the franchise. Working with Eli Manning the last two seasons, Sullivan has shown he can get positive results from a quarterback.

UCLA coach Jim Mora has been recruiting heavily in the Georgia area. He seems proud to remind recruits that he was the Atlanta coach the last time the Falcons won a playoff game. He might want to leave out the fact the Falcons were an incredibly unstable franchise throughout his tenure and much of that had to do with Mora’s up-and-down demeanor.

Saints defensive tackle Tom Johnson feels confident enough about his future with the Saints that he went ahead and recently bought a house in New Orleans. Probably a good move. After struggling with an early-season injury, Johnson worked his way into the rotation and seemed to score points with the coaching staff. Sedrick Ellis is a lock to stay in that rotation, but veterans Shaun Rogers and Aubrayo Franklin are not. Both are potential free agents and there is no guarantee the Saints want them back.

Tampa Bay veteran cornerback Ronde Barber, who is a free agent and also could choose to retire, said he hasn’t made any decision about what he wants to do in 2012.

Time for a look at the top Friday headlines around the NFC South.

• New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis is ready to get down to serious contract talks with quarterback Drew Brees. Loomis also is likely to try to attempt to keep guard Carl Nicks, receiver Marques Colston and some other free agents, but said it might not be easy. Loomis said figuring out how to stay under the salary cap will be like slicing up a pie.
• Former Saints’ player Steve Gleason, who has been diagnosed with ALS, writes an interesting column about how he’s become a fan. Gleason said he, and most players, don’t associate themselves to closely with a team while they’re playing because they often end up getting traded, cut or leaving via free agency. But Gleason said his illness has given him new perspective and allowed him to view the game like a fan.
• In this radio interview with "Mike & Mike," Carolina quarterback Cam Newton talks about his rookie season, his style of play and the spread offense.
• Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is expected to meet with city leaders soon to discuss possible funding for an overhaul of Bank of America Stadium.
• Tampa Bay general manager Mark Dominik revealed that most of the candidates the Bucs talked to during their recent coaching search pointed to quarterback Josh Freeman and the young talent on the defensive line as the team's biggest positives. Obviously, that had to include Greg Schiano, who got the job. Anyone looking at the roster objectively would have to start with those two areas as potential strengths. But there’s work to be done. Freeman is talented, but needs to bounce back from a disappointing 2011. Defensive end Adrian Clayborn had a nice rookie year and defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Brian Price have the potential to be forces inside, if they can stay healthy.

Time for a look at the Wednesday morning headlines from around the NFC South.

Jeff Schultz writes that the Falcons got it right when they hired Mike Nolan as defensive coordinator. I agree totally. Steve Spagnuolo was the other big-name coordinator candidate out there and he’ll end up doing a fine job somewhere else (maybe even New Orleans). But I think Nolan is a better fit for the Falcons.

Spagnuolo reportedly will interview with New Orleans today. Just like I think Nolan is the better fit for the Falcons, I think Spagnuolo would be an excellent fit in New Orleans. The Falcons and Saints are two very different organizations. I think Nolan’s personality will allow him to fit in perfectly with the Falcons. Spagnuolo has a different style that could fit nicely with the Saints.

The Carolina Panthers don’t know who they’ll play in the 2012 opener yet, but they know it will be on the road. Team owner Jerry Richardson said the team will open on the road because the Democratic National Convention will be taking place and some of the events will be held at Bank of America Stadium.

Roy Cummings writes that Tampa Bay’s lengthy search for a new head coach isn’t out of the ordinary. He’s right and he points to how it took the Bucs a good bit of time to hire Tony Dungy and trade for Jon Gruden in the past. I can think of a few others that dragged out but seemed to work out fine. Carolina’s hiring of John Fox in 2002 went late into January. Same for last year when the Panthers went through a methodical process before hiring Ron Rivera.

Time for a look at the Friday morning headlines around the NFC South.

When the Falcons and Saints play Monday night, the two shortest players in the NFL will be on the field. Atlanta running back Jacquizz Rodgers and New Orleans running back Darren Sproles are 5-foot-6. The Falcons gradually have been creating a bigger role for Rodgers. They might be wise to take notes on how the Saints use Sproles.

They’ll be holding a reunion for University of Miami tight ends at Bank of America Stadium when the Panthers host the Bucs on Saturday. Carolina’s Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey and Tampa Bay’s Kellen Winslow all played at Miami. Carolina offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski was the Miami tight ends coach. In related news, Winslow said he believes Chudzinski will make a great head coach. Chudzinski’s name has popped up as a coordinator on the rise and he could be interviewed for some top jobs after the season.

Although specific details of the draft-pick compensation the Saints will receive for trading Reggie Bush to Miami in the summer are not known, Mike Triplett reports what New Orleans gets is not tied to Bush’s on-field performance.

Tampa Bay linebacker Geno Hayes, who can become a free agent after the season, said there have been no talks about a contract extension. But Hayes said he would like to remain with the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay cornerback Myron Lewis, a third-round pick last season, hasn’t received a lot of playing time. But, with Aqib Talib lost for the season, Lewis should at least be active Saturday at Carolina, and he might get a chance to validate his draft position.

Thoughts on the Carolina Panthers' 28-13 victory against the Houston Texans on Sunday at Reliant Stadium:

What it means: A lot more than you think. This was a turning point for Ron Rivera and his young team. The Panthers went on the road and beat a good team. That’s a step toward bigger and better things for next season. The Panthers had come close to doing something like this a bunch of times this season, but they always built a lead and let it slip away. This time they didn’t. A defense that’s been decimated by injuries and struggled all season stepped up and held a good offense to 13 points. Imagine what Rivera, a defensive coach, can do next season when he gets some injured defenders back and fills a few holes through the draft and free agency? Even the present is much brighter than it was before. The Panthers are 5-9 and no longer are in last place in the NFC South. That honor now belongs exclusively to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Play of the day:DeAngelo Williams’ 24-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. It came at a time when the Panthers looked like they were starting to collapse again.

Unsung hero: Jordan Senn, who would have been about seventh on Carolina’s depth chart at the start of training camp, came up with a huge interception. Carolina lost linebackers Thomas Davis and Jon Beason to injuries early in the season. The Panthers then went through a bunch of linebackers. But Senn finally earned a starting role. Even when the Panthers get healthy at linebacker next season, Senn should have a job.

Disappointment of the day: Cam Newton came in needing only 167 yards to break Peyton Manning’s record for passing yards by a rookie. Newton came up a bit short, getting 149 against Houston. I think it’s a safe bet Newton will get the record in his next game. Newton threw for two touchdowns and no interceptions.

What’s next: The Panthers host the Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Thoughts on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 31-15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium:

What it means: Wow, there’s a loaded question. The Bucs lost their eighth consecutive game. They now are 4-10. Their stadium had as many fans dressed in blue and white as it did in red or pewter, which was the only reason this game was the second home sellout of the past two seasons. I’ve tried to think of possible ways the Bucs could keep coach Raheem Morris for 2012, but I no longer can see any way that happens. In fact, as much as the Bucs may not like their options for an interim coach, ownership might have to pull the plug now, just to send a message to the fans.

Interim options: As long as we’re talking about the possibility of finishing the season with an interim coach, let’s examine the very limited possibilities. Offensive coordinator Greg Olson would be one. But the problem with Olson is he has no filter with the media and could say some things that might not come across well. Defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake might be the best choice. In theory, he could take over Morris’ play-calling duties for the defense. Then again, the Bucs could just play out the string with Morris and pull the plug the day after the season ends.

What I liked: Hey, there was a bright spot for the Buccaneers. First-round pick Adrian Clayborn continues to show signs he can play.

What I didn’t like: That could probably fill up a book, so I’ll try to be brief. The offense was horrible and quarterback Josh Freeman never got into any sort of rhythm. The defense couldn’t tackle or cover.

Worst stat: Prior to linebacker Dekoda Watson recovering a fumble and returning it for a touchdown early in the third quarter, the Bucs had been outscored 69-0 since jumping out to a 14-0 lead against Jacksonville two weeks ago.

Worst stat II: At just about the five-minute mark of the third quarter, the Cowboys had 23 first downs and the Bucs had one. Then, Tampa Bay exploded for its second first down of the night.

What’s next: The Buccaneers play the Carolina Panthers on Christmas Eve at Bank of America Stadium.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- There was a very interesting moment in a media room at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday after the Atlanta Falcons defeated the Carolina Panthers.

As the media waited for coach Mike Smith, the door swung open and former Atlanta coach Jim Mora stuck his head in very briefly.

“Oops, wrong room,’’ said Mora, who has been working as a television analyst in recent years.

Mora was hired as the head coach at UCLA on Saturday, but fulfilled his Sunday obligation as a broadcaster.

A few minutes after Mora ducked out of the media room, he came back in. Smith still hadn’t arrived, but Falcons owner Arthur Blank was in the room.

Blank quickly strode over in Mora’s direction and the two hugged and exchanged words. I couldn’t hear the conversation, but it was pretty obvious it was warm and I feel safe in guessing Blank was congratulating Mora on his new job.

Blank has shown he’s capable of having good relationships with people who left his organization under bad terms. He has done it with Michael Vick and now with Mora.

However, I’d have a tough time imagining Blank hugging Bobby Petrino.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones has a small tattoo on his upper back that says “Chosen 1’’.

Now, we know why.

What Jones did in Sunday’s 31-23 victory against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium gave us the most conclusive evidence yet that the Falcons made the right choice back in April.

In a move that was daring but controversial, the Falcons traded up 21 spots to take the wide receiver from the University of Alabama. The explanation at the time was the Falcons thought Jones could make the Falcons’ offense much more explosive.

Jones and the Atlanta offense exploded in the second half Sunday, after trailing 23-7 at halftime. Jones caught a 17-yard touchdown pass with 12 minutes, 42 seconds left in the fourth quarter to put the Falcons ahead 24-23, their first lead since since the first quarter.

He followed that with a 75-yard touchdown catch with 4:17 remaining and finished with three catches for 104 yards.

“I think Julio showed the skill set we all envisioned,’’ Falcons coach Mike Smith said.

We had seen that skill set in bits and pieces from the start of the season. Jones had three 100-yard receiving games before Sunday. But he also missed some time with a hamstring injury and was coming off his worst game. That was in a loss to Houston last week, in which Jones was responsible for two costly penalties and had two drops, including one in the end zone on the game’s final play.

Jones’ first half against the Panthers wasn’t great either, but then again, the same thing can be said about all of the Falcons. Jones had at least one first-half drop as the Falcons (8-5) fell behind the Panthers (4-9), who might have played their best half of football of the season in the first two quarters.

“We played with resiliency and character,’’ Smith said.

Smith was talking about his entire team, and that’s very accurate. The comeback was the fourth-biggest in franchise history. But there might not have been a player who showed more resiliency and character than Jones.

Smith said the rookie had a "bounce-back game'' and that says a lot about Jones. We’ve seen rookies go into funks after having games like the one Jones did in Houston. His every move has been under scrutiny since the day the Falcons drafted him. But Jones was under more scrutiny than ever after what happened in Houston, and Sunday’s first half was clearing the way for even more criticism.

Had the Falcons not rallied, their playoff chances would have taken a hit. Had Jones not rallied, the skeptics would have been lighting up general manager Thomas Dimitroff for making the huge trade on draft day.

But Jones and the Falcons did rally. The Falcons now have secured their fourth straight non-losing season, and this was a team that never had back-to-back winning seasons until 2009. Jones rallied and was perhaps the biggest hero of the game, although Carolina’s second-half defense and two second-half interceptions by Cam Newton definitely played a big role.

Jones said he didn’t even notice the scrutiny after the Houston game, and he wasn’t about to let himself get down after a tough first half against the Panthers.

“I can only control what happens on the field,’’ Jones said. “I’m here for my teammates. Everything else is outside of the organization. I really don’t hear it or pay attention to it. I try to help my teammates.’’

Jones helped his teammates tremendously, and also got an assist from a fellow rookie. That was running back Jacquizz Rodgers, who caught a 31-yard touchdown pass with 8:55 left in the third quarter to cut Carolina’s lead to 23-17.

Suddenly, the Falcons are getting those explosive plays they talked so much about in the offseason, but weren’t showing in the early part of the season.

“We’ve certainly made strides in that department,’’ quarterback Matt Ryan said. “We’ve made plays that we wanted to make. I think the addition of those two rookies has certainly helped in that respect.’’

Ryan has been a master of the fourth-quarter comeback, but now he’s getting even more dependable weapons to work with. Sunday was the 14^th fourth-quarter comeback (16th if you count overtime games that he's won after trailing in the fourth quarter) of Ryan’s career, and he finished the day completing 22 of 38 passes for 320 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.

We’ve known for a long time that Ryan is capable of bouncing back. But we found out Sunday that Jones has that same ability.

“I think it’s extremely impressive,’’ Ryan said. “If you look at the day and the two weeks he’s had, he’s made some huge plays for us and he’s made some plays where I’m sure he would have liked to have done better. That’s him maturing and understanding what the NFL is all about. There are going to be times when you don’t make the plays you want to make, and it’s all about how you respond to those types of situations. He did a great job for us.’’

That’s impressive for a rookie or really any player.

“But that doesn’t surprise me,’’ Ryan said. “That’s been his deal the entire year. He’s worked really hard. He’s been into it and done everything you could ask for from a rookie.’’

What Jones did on his second touchdown was beyond what you’d expect from any rookie. He blew by Carolina defensive back Darius Butler and outraced him to the end zone to put the game away.

Jones said his big day came because the coaches never lost faith in him.

“Matt had confidence in me,’’ Jones said. “The coaches kept calling plays for me. They kept giving me the ball and that gave me the opportunity to bounce back and go out there and make plays for the team.’’

And Jones never lost faith in himself.

What it comes down to is that Jones firmly showed why he was the Chosen One for the Falcons on draft day.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – I’m set up at Bank of America Stadium, where I’ll be covering Sunday’s game between the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers.

There are a few players out on the field loosening up, but I haven’t seen any signs of Carolina left tackle Jordan Gross yet. Gross is questionable with an ankle injury and is expected to try to run at some point this morning. After he does, the Panthers will make a decision on if he plays.

I’ll let you know as soon as we get word on Gross and I’ll get you inactives about 90 minutes before kickoff.

Also, a reminder that we’ll be doing Countdown Live, a live chat throughout the game.

I’m about to begin the trip up to Charlotte, where I’ll be covering Sunday’s game between the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers.

Keep an eye on our main NFL page for any breaking news while I’m traveling. If there is anything of significance, I’ll weigh in on it once I get settled in Charlotte.

Otherwise, check back Sunday morning. I’ll have inactives on the Falcons and Panthers straight from Bank of America Stadium. I’ll also have the pipeline working down to Jacksonville and will let you know as soon as we know whether Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman will be playing. I’ll be watching the Bucs and Jaguars and Saints and Titans on television and providing wrap-ups after those games end.

But my main assignment will be the Falcons and Panthers. This will be the Countdown Live game from the early contests. For those not familiar with Countdown Live, it’s a live chat throughout the game. I’ll be joined by Scouts Inc.’s Matt Williamson and ESPN Stats & Information and we’ll take questions from you throughout the game. Just check back before or during the game Sunday and look for the Countdown Live post on the NFC South blog and you’ll be able to jump right into the chat.

It’s kind of ironic that Carolina’s Cam Newton and Atlanta’s Matt Ryan will play against each other on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.

There’s a very good chance Newton could move ahead of Ryan on the list of most passing yards by a rookie in NFL history. Newton has thrown for 3,297 yards so far and that puts him within easy striking distance of Ryan, who is No. 3 on the list with 3,440 yards in 2008.

Newton also has a chance to overtake Sam Bradford (3,512 yards last season) for No. 2. Newton likely will need a little more time to have a shot at moving into the No. 1 spot.

Peyton Manning set the rookie record for passing yards with 3,739 in 1998.

Thoughts on the Atlanta Falcons' 17-10 loss against the Houston Texans on Sunday at Reliant Stadium.

What it means: This one’s not going to help Atlanta’s chances of getting to the playoffs or catching the Saints in the NFC South. The Falcons are 7-5 and could fall two games behind the Saints in the win column if New Orleans wins on Sunday night against Detroit.

What I didn’t like: The Falcons came out and tried to be very aggressive on offense early on. Nothing wrong with that. But Matt Ryan and his receivers weren’t in sync, and that got Atlanta off to a rough start. Ryan was intercepted twice in the first half. The Falcons never really got running back Michael Turner and the running game on track.

Wasted opportunities: The Falcons had two 12-play drives in the second half that didn’t result in any points. The defense played a decent game, but wasn’t able to force many mistakes by rookie quarterback T.J. Yates, who was making his first NFL start.

The streak is over: The Falcons had a streak of 14 consecutive games without allowing a running back to rush for 100 yards. That’s over. Arian Foster rushed for 111 yards.

Festival of flags: The Falcons were their own worst enemy. They had two apparent defensive touchdowns wiped out by penalties. They also weren’t able to get a play off before the play clock expired on a fourth down in the fourth quarter. Rookie Julio Jones also had a critical penalty late in the game as he made an apparent catch that was wiped out because he went out of bounds and came back inbounds.

What’s next: The Falcons travel to Carolina to play the Panthers next Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.

Thoughts on the Carolina Panthers’ 30-3 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium:

What it means: A few weeks ago, when the Panthers defeated the Washington Redskins, it looked like this young team had a great opportunity to turn the corner. Home games with the Vikings and Titans were coming up and they looked winnable. Instead, the Panthers lost them both. They’re 2-7 and the early hope that rookie quarterback Cam Newton brought is fading a bit. Earlier in the season, it looked like the Carolina offense could score against anyone. But the Panthers couldn’t even get into the end zone against the Titans.

Slump busters: There will be a lot of stories about how Tennessee running back Chris Johnson snapped out of a season-long funk as he rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown. I wouldn’t go declaring that Johnson’s slump is over. I’d make the case that he was simply going up a defense that can’t stop the run.

Nobody’s coming to the rescue: Perhaps the most discouraging thing about the rest of the Carolina’s season is that it’s highly unlikely the defense is going to show any signs of improvement. Season-ending injuries to linebackers Jon Beason and Thomas Davis and defensive tackle Ron Edwards were beyond devastating. The Panthers simply didn’t have much depth behind him. The defensive problems can’t be fixed until next year, when some of the injured players return and the Panthers have a full offseason to reload their defense.

This is never a good sign: Legedu Naanee led the Panthers with eight catches for 75 yards. Naanee’s not a threat. Steve Smith, who is a huge threat, was held to five catches for 33 yards. He’s been outstanding all season, but Smith didn’t have a catch go for more than 15 yards on Sunday.

What’s next: The Panthers travel to Detroit next Sunday to play the Lions at Ford Field.