by SHELDON MICKLES; Advocate sportswriter; , The Advocate

The streak was astonishing, to say the least, when you consider that some pretty bad teams made the worst-to-first leap in that stretch: namely the 3-13 New Orleans Saints in 2005 and 4-12 Tampa Bay Bucs in 2006. They went 10-6 and 9-7, respectively, the next season to sit atop the division.

The trend ended last season, however, when the Atlanta Falcons, the cellar-dwellers in 2007, went 11-5 - coming in just one game behind the division-champion Carolina Panthers.

Yet, the Falcons still made the postseason party - giving superstitious Saints fans some extra hope for the upcoming season: and that's every team that has come in last in the

NFC South from 2002-07 has earned a playoff berth the next season.

But considering how competitive the division was last season (the teams combined for an NFL-best 40-24 mark) - and has been since the NFC South was formed in 2002 with only 10 wins separating the four teams - no one will be taking anything for granted.

With training camps opening in less than two weeks, here's a look at what they've done this offseason to get ready for another tough division race:

Atlanta Falcons

2008 record: 11-5 (second in NFC South).

Coach: Mike Smith (11-5, one season; 0-1 in playoffs).

Top returnees: QB Matt Ryan, RB Michael Turner, WR Roddy White, RB Jerious Norwood, DE John Abraham, K Jason Elam.

Top newcomers: TE Tony Gonzalez (trade, Chiefs), LB Mike Peterson (UFA, Jaguars), DT Peria Jerry (D1, Ole Miss).

Key losses: LB Michael Boley (UFA, Giants), LB Keith Brooking (UFA, Cowboys), T Todd Weiner (retired), CB Domonique Foxworth (UFA, Ravens).

Outlook: The Falcons rode the passing of rookie quarterback Matt Ryan and running back Michael Turner all the way to the playoffs in 2008, but they're going to need some defense this season. They ranked 25th against the run and 21st against the pass, yet managed to win 11 games. All they have to do is ask the Saints if a trend like that isn't dangerous.

Carolina Panthers

2008 record: 12-4 (first in NFC South).

Coach: John Fox (63-49, seven seasons; 5-3 in playoffs).

Top returnees: WR Steve Smith, RB DeAngelo Williams, QB Jake Delhomme, T Jordan Gross, DE Julius Peppers, LB Jon Beason.

Top newcomers: DE Everette Brown (D2a, Florida State), T Justin Geisinger (FA, Redskins).

Key losses: T Frank Omiyale (UFA, Bears), G Geoff Hangartner (UFA, Bills), CB Ken Lucas (released), G Jeremy Bridges (released).

Outlook: After that playoff meltdown to Arizona, the Panthers didn't do much to help themselves as far as acquiring new players. But they had one of the top running games in the league last season and should make another run at the playoffs if they can get through a killer schedule that includes 15 of 16 games against teams that were .500 or better.

New Orleans Saints

2008 record: 8-8 (fourth in NFC South).

Coach: Sean Payton (25-23, three seasons; 1-1 in playoffs).

Top returnees: QB Drew Brees, WR Marques Colston, RB Reggie Bush, T Jammal Brown, LB Jonathan Vilma, DE Will Smith, DT Sedrick Ellis.

Top newcomers: CB Jabari Greer (UFA, Bills), FS Darren Sharper (UFA, Vikings), FB Heath Evans (UFA, Patriots), CB Malcolm Jenkins (D1, Ohio State).

Key losses: RB Deuce McAllister (released), CB Mike McKenzie (released), FB Mike Karney (released), DT Brian Young (released).

Outlook: The Saints feel like they were closer than their record indicated in '08 with six losses coming by five points or less. More importantly, they were 0-5 in games decided by a field goal or less. New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and a new-look defense will be asked to take some of the load off quarterback Drew Brees and the NFL's top offense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2008 record: 9-7 (third in NFC South).

Coach: Raheem Morris (0-0, first season as a head coach).

Top returnees: WR Antonio Bryant, RB Earnest Graham, C Jeff Faine, DE Gaines Adams, LB Barrett Ruud, CB Ronde Barber.

Top newcomers: RB Derrick Ward (UFA, Giants), TE Kellen Winslow (trade, Browns), QB Byron Leftwich (UFA, Steelers), QB Josh Freeman (D1, Kansas State).

Key losses: QB Jeff Garcia (UFA, Raiders), LB Derrick Brooks (released), CB Phillip Buchanon (UFA, Lions), RB Warrick Dunn (released).

Outlook: A four-game losing streak to end the season, which kept the Buccaneers out of the playoffs, led to an implosion of the team with coach Jon Gruden and a host of longtime standouts being shown the door.

While the Bucs could always count on their powerful defense to bail them out, they don't have that to fall back on any longer.

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