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Now that basketball season's officially over, we can set our sights on what really matters, the National Football League. Today, Electronic Arts released team and individual player stats in Madden NFL 10 for the NFC South, a division that includes the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints, or as we prefer to call them, the teams that didn't make it to last year's Super Bowl.

Here's the skinny from EA's Madden website:

Atlanta Falcons: "In the span of 2 seasons, the Atlanta offense has gone from laughing stock to powerhouse...They have all the skill positions covered now: QB Matt Ryan (85 OVR), Michael Turner (95 OVR), Roddy White (93 OVR), and Tony Gonzalez (98 OVR)...Not to mention dangerous backup RB Jerious Norwood and his breakaway 95 SPD...The offensive line is the weak spot on the offensive side of the ball, but they have Guard Harvey Dahl and Tackle Sam Baker to build around...The Falcons defense will be the thing that holds them back from the Super Bowl this year...John Abraham (95 OVR) is the only elite player on the defense...They have the 30th ranked LB unit in the league, 27th ranked CB unit, and the 31st ranked Safety unit...On offense however, they rank 2nd at RB, 10th at WR, and 1st at TE."

Who ordered the bruised ribs, broken leg and dislocated shoulder?

Carolina Panthers: "This Panthers team went 12-4 in 2008 and they kept most of the same pieces in play for the 2009 season...Carolina has one of the most dangerous running attacks in all of Madden football...The 2-headed monster of DeAngelo Williams (94 OVR) and Jonathan Stewart (85 OVR) makes you sell out all your defensive resources against the run when you play the Panthers...Carolina will lull you to sleep with all the running and then knock you over the head with one of the best WR's in football Steve Smith (97 OVR)...Jordan Gross and Jeff Otah form a nasty duo to run behind on the Panthers OL...Stud DE Julius Peppers is still in Carolina, so look for him to wreck havoc in opposing Madden 10 backfields all year long...Carolina is ranked Top 10 in RB (5th), WR (8th), and OL (9th)...Their worst units are TE (29th) and Safety (26th)."

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: "The Bucs are a team that is much more dangerous on offense than defense, something that you have not been able to say for a decade in Tampa Bay...With the additions of laser-armed/fleet footed (96 THP/74 SPD) Josh Freeman, TE Kellen Winslow will team up with 86 OVR WR Antonio Bryant to form a deadly duo in the passing game, and also former Giants RB Derrick Ward now leading the rushing game, the Bucs offense is definitely a sleeping giant in Madden 10...The Bucs offensive line is one of the best young OL's in football (ranking 12th in NFL)...The downside with the Bucs in Madden NFL 10 is the defense....they sport the 28th ranked DL in the league, as well as the 25th at Saftey...Ronde Barber (88 OVR) is starting to hit the downside of his career despite his Pro Bowl appearance in 2008, and his SPD is starting to show it (79 SPD with new stretched out ratings)...Barrett Ruud (87 OVR) is the player to build around in franchise mode, he is a tackling machine."

New Orleans Saints: "The Saints live and die with Drew Brees and the passing game...Lucky for them, Brees is the most accurate QB in Madden NFL 10 with his 98 short accuracy, 96 mid accuracy, and 90 deep ball accuracy...The receiving unit is led by WR's Marques Colston (87 OVR) and Lance Moore (81 OVR), and Tight End Jeremy Shockey (85 OVR)...The running game is a true Running Back By Committee situation with Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas splitting the carries...Bush is the fast, elusive back who is the ultimate weapon out of the backfield (but is injury prone)...P. Thomas is the short yardage grinder in this Saints offense...Jahri Evans the leader of this offensive line, look for him to be around for many years in franchise mode, you can really build a line around this guy...Despite making big time moves in the off-season adding Jabari Greer and Malcolm Jenkins to the Defensive Back unit, New Orleans is still one of the worst secondaries in the NFL...The Saints have a Top 10 unit at QB...However, they rank 27th in the league at Linebackers and have the 29th ranked Special Teams unit."

We'll see if any of these teams have a fighting chance when Madden NFL 10 debuts August 14th.

Chris Buffa is GameDaily's senior editor. He enjoys easy achievement points, first person shooters and starting trouble.