After missing the playoffs three consecutive times, the New Orleans Saints have won the NFC South crown in each of the past three seasons. New Orleans won 13 games in 2018 and 2019 while the NFC South's second-place team only went 7-9. However, the arrival of a legendary quarterback looking to plant his flag in a new conference poses a significant threat to New Orleans' dominance.

NFC South quarterback situations

Tom Brady signed a two-year, $50 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason. Brady left New England after winning a record six Super Bowls with the Patriots. Now, he's eyeing another ring.

Many analysts view these next two years as Super Bowl or bust for the Buccaneers. NFL.com's Adam Rank went as far as to write that Tampa Bay's season is only successful if the Buccaneers win it all.

“That's the only goal that matters. Tom Brady is trying to show the world that he can win without Bill Belichick. Bruce Arians would love to win a title of his own, as a head coach.”

The Saints find themselves in a similar boat. Drew Brees signed a two-year, $50 million contract with the team this offseason. It's highly unlikely the 41-year-old re-ups in 2022. The same goes for Brady, who recently turned 43.

Rank believes the 2020 season can only be counted as a success for the Saints if they go all the way.

“Win the Super Bowl. That's easy. It's great the Saints are winning the NFC South, racking up double-digit wins every year. But you have to win the Super Bowl. The Saints are a lot like one of your single friends who has trouble dating. And you're like, “You're great. I can't imagine why you are single.'”

The NFC South features two of the league's most well-rounded teams, and each is trying to win before their legendary quarterback retires. There's urgency in the air entering this coming season.

Offensive supporting casts

New Orleans and Tampa Bay both possess incredible offensive firepower. Last year, Michael Thomas won the Offensive Player of the Year award. Meanwhile, his Buccaneer counterparts, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, averaged a combined 184.2 yards per game. The Saints fixed their lack of depth at wide receiver by signing Emmanuel Sanders in the offseason.

Both teams have above-average tight ends as well. Jared Cook made the Pro Bowl for New Orleans last season while the Buccaneers feature the three-headed monster of Cameron Brate, Rob Gronkowski, and O.J. Howard.

Tampa Bay still holds an advantage in terms of depth at both tight end and receiver, but New Orleans' backfield and offensive line are clearly superior.

However, there's the possibility that the Saints could open 2020 without star running back Alvin Kamara. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Kamara hasn't shown up to training camp over the past three days. Per Schefter's sources, the unexcused absences are related to Kamara's contract, which ends after the upcoming season.

A potential Kamara holdout would go a long way to evening the odds between Tampa Bay's and New Orleans' backfields. Kamara is easily the second-best running back in the NFC South, only trailing Carolina's Christian McCaffrey.

Defensive dominance

Fans often overlook Tampa Bay's monstrous defensive front. It's perhaps the best unit in the NFC South, even topping New Orleans' offensive line. Last season, Tampa Bay only allowed 73.8 rushing yards per game, which ranked first in the NFL. The Jets came in second place, allowing 86.9 rushing yards per game.

The Buccaneers posted the lowest mark for average rushing yards allowed since the Detroit Lions in 2014. The dominant defensive front even stopped McCaffrey, limiting him to 68 rushing yards on 38 attempts (roughly 1.8 yards per attempt). Todd Bowles' defense shut down the best running back in the NFC South. McCaffrey only recorded 110 yards from scrimmage in his two games against Tampa Bay in 2019.

Miraculously, the Buccaneers succeeded in re-signing several key defensive players this offseason. Tampa Bay brought back Ndamukong Suh on a one-year deal and franchise tagged reigning sack king, Shaquil Barrett. Jason Pierre-Paul also came back, signing a two-year, $25 million contract. The three current or former Pro Bowlers rejoin a defensive front already featuring Vita Vea with Lavonte David and Devin White at linebacker.

Kamara had a surprising amount of success against Tampa Bay last season. He amassed 226 yards from scrimmage but failed to score a touchdown. If Tampa Bay can make New Orleans one-dimensional, the Buccaneers stand a chance at outgunning the Saints.

Saints hold slim advantage in NFC South race

Familiarity goes a long way to making players comfortable in the NFL. All of New Orleans' star players, and there are a lot of them, have played with the team for at least three years. Meanwhile, Brady and Gronkowski only recently arrived in Tampa Bay during the pandemic-shortened offseason. Without any preseason games, the new look Buccaneers face a trial by fire in Week 1.

The Buccaneers and Saints both boast rosters loaded with superstars. Their head-to-head games should be some of the most viewed this coming season. While the Saints hold a slim lead, the NFC South is a two-team race. Either could win and chart a course to the Super Bowl.