The Carolina Panthers pulled off a division crown stunner in 2025, ending four years of dominance from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But with Week 1 barreling down, the “First Things First” crew of Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Danny Parkins all agreed on one thing for 2026: the Bucs are back on top.
The Bucs Are The Team To Beat, Seriously
It’s pretty clear what the experts are thinking. Every single one of them has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finishing first in the NFC South. Parkins didn’t mince words, calling them “the clear-cut team” heading into the season. The reasons are piling up, too. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is back, and that apparently lights a fire under him. Broussard pointed to Mayfield’s contract situation, saying he’s got “a chip on his shoulder, lots approved, money on the line.” Beyond that, there’s talk of an improved offensive line and a seriously retooled defensive front. Wright highlighted the additions of rookie pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. and the return of Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey up front. He’s not even convinced they’ll miss Mike Evans that much after his free agency departure. Wright went as far as to predict the Bucs will hit an 11-6 record, good enough for a playoff spot. Sounds like everyone expects Tampa Bay to absolutely run away with this thing.
Bryce Young’s Struggles Keep Carolina At The Bottom
So, what about those defending division champion Panthers? Two of the three analysts are NOT feeling it for Carolina, putting them dead last. Nick Wright expects the Panthers to land around six wins, pointing directly at quarterback Bryce Young. Wright wasn’t seeing a leap forward, saying Young’s overall season “was a hell of a lot like Year 2” despite a nice stretch of games. Broussard echoed that skepticism, admitting Young was “better last year, but he still wasn’t good.” While Broussard was optimistic about Carolina’s defense thanks to the addition of edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, it wasn’t enough to lift them out of the basement in his eyes, placing them behind both the Saints and Falcons. It’s a tough look for a team that just won the division, isn’t it?
But Wait, What If The Panthers Actually Make A Jump?
Here’s where it gets interesting. While Wright and Broussard piled on the Panthers, Danny Parkins completely broke from the consensus. He has Carolina finishing second in the division! What’s he seeing that the others aren’t? Parkins is bullish on rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan, even predicting he “could be a top 10 receiver by the end of the year.” He also credited the Jaelan Phillips signing as a reason for believing the Panthers will make a significant jump. That’s a bold take, putting them ahead of both the Saints and Falcons. Speaking of the Falcons, Wright actually sees them as a deep sleeper to sneak into the playoffs at nine wins, citing running back Bijan Robinson potentially hitting number one on the NFL 100 next year and a possible step forward from quarterback Michael Penix Jr., thanks to new head coach Kevin Stefanski’s track record. Broussard, however, raised concerns about Atlanta’s quarterback durability, saying “they have no idea who’s getting away with it” and both options are injury-prone.
With Week 1 on the horizon, it’s clear everyone expects the Buccaneers to reclaim their spot at the top. But with Parkins’ surprising confidence in Carolina and Wright’s sleeper pick in Atlanta, this division might just be more unpredictable than the unanimous Bucs prediction suggests. Will Bryce Young shut up the doubters, or will Baker Mayfield and the Bucs prove everyone right? We’re about to find out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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