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Curse Of NFC South Hits Saints

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By IRA KAUFMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 18, 2007

Updated: 09/18/2007 12:33 am

TAMPA - The curse of the NFC South is alive and well.

The NFL's most mercurial division has served up another dash of gumbo with the defending champion Saints 0-2 following Sunday's lopsided loss to the Bucs. No NFC South winner has repeated since the 2002 realignment and New Orleans is facing long odds just to get back into the playoff picture.

In the past two years, 18 clubs have opened at 0-2 and only one, the 2006 Chiefs, scrambled back to earn a postseason berth.

'There is no excuse for starting 0-2, but it is what it is,' said Charles Grant, the Saints defensive end who was invited to Tampa for a visit with the Buccaneers before signing a long-term extension in the offseason. 'We have goals that we can still obtain and we aren't backing away from the road that we have in front of us.'

That road suddenly looks bleak heading into Monday night's home opener against Tennessee.

After leading the league in total offense last year, New Orleans has scored two offensive touchdowns in two games and quarterback Drew Brees appears dazed and confused.

Brees, who started for the NFC in the Pro Bowl, is averaging a mere 5.3 yards per attempt, last in the league among quarterbacks who have thrown at least 50 passes.

And Reggie Bush continues to struggle as a runner, averaging only 3.0 yards per carry and failing to emerge as a breakaway threat.

Two weeks into a new season, last year's NFL darlings rank as the underachievers of '07. That's how quickly things can change in an unpredictable league and a rather quirky NFC South.

HUDDLE UP: Denver can muster up a mighty pass rush, especially if and when Simeon Rice gets untracked, but the Broncos are going nowhere unless they tighten a rush defense that has yielded 312 yards in two games. ... No Richard Seymour, no Rodney Harrison, no Corey Dillon, yet the New England train keeps a rollin'. No staff coaches up players better than Bill Belichick's boys. ... No matter what penalty Roger Goodell would have levied against the Pats, some jealous New England bashers would have argued they got off easy. ... Dante Hall was once a terrific punt and kickoff returner. Now, he's a liability. ... He doesn't get the ink of Ray Lewis, but Bart Scott is Baltimore's best linebacker. ... There isn't a more frustrated player in the league than Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez, a perennial Pro Bowler who appears destined to never play in a Super Bowl. ... The real problem in Atlanta is an offensive line that has yielded 13 sacks in two games.

Can a kick returner be a legitimate candidate for league MVP honors? Chicago's Devin Hester is poised to give it a go. ... GM Rich McKay is under scrutiny in Atlanta, where the decision to trade QB Matt Schaub looks more misguided with each Texans victory. ... If the Lions challenge for a playoff spot in '07, Jon Kitna's toughness will be a big reason why. The veteran QB kept getting off the turf Sunday against Minnesota, despite a brutal pounding. ... Still unsure that a sound running game is built on attitude? Check out Arizona, where new head coach Ken Whisenhunt and OL coach Russ Grimm have decreed there will be accountability in front of rejuvenated RB Edgerrin James. ...Yeah, Michael Strahan's return has certainly made a difference in that Giants defense. ... We're only two weeks in, but 49ers MLB Patrick Willis is going to be tough to beat as Defensive Rookie of the Year. ... The Rams lost 10 fumbles all season in 2006. They're halfway to that total in just two games. ... Forget this Miami mirage - let's remember Trent Green as the slick triggerman for a K.C. offense that had no equal just a few years back. ... This week's journey from the sublime to the ridiculous: Seven years ago, Marvin Lewis served as defensive coordinator for a Baltimore defense that set new NFL standards of frugality. On Sunday, Lewis looked on in anguish from the Cincinnati sidelines as the Browns averaged 8.8 yards on their 63 snaps.

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