More Playoff Teams from the NFC South than the West? Who the 49ers Need to Worry About

NFC South teams face a turning point as the division battles to shake off last season’s mediocrity—no squad finished above .500. Can the Carolina Panthers, led by Bryce Young and energized by Jaelan Phillips and Tetairoa McMillan, build on their surprise division title or will questions persist about their offensive ceiling and quarterback future? Atlanta Falcons fans are watching a fierce quarterback competition between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr., while Kevin Stefanski’s arrival as head coach and a largely unchanged roster raise questions about the team’s path forward.   Meanwhile, Tyler Shough’s late-season surge fuels optimism for the New Orleans Saints, with Chris Olave and Travis Etienne poised to add firepower behind a developing offensive line. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers—retooled with Emeka Egbuka, Reuben Bain, and Baker Mayfield at the helm—still look like the most complete contender in the division. Which team is the biggest threat to the San Francisco 49ers’ Super Bowl aspirations?   San Francisco 49ers fans are treated to daily news and analysis with Locked On 49ers, hosted by football analyst Brian Peacock and former NFL/AFL cornerback Eric Crocker.   Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-49ers/   Locked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/nfl/   Follow Brian Peacock and Eric Crocker on Twitter, where they’ll be sharing the latest news about the Niners and talking with fans. Twitter: twitter.com/BDPeacock, twitter.com/eric_crocker   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now.   Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at http://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.