Spring football is upon us, with a handful of FBS teams already holding workouts and the rest of them getting started in the next month or so. It’s a somewhat exciting respite from a cold, football-less, six-month stretch, and it’s also a unique quirk of the sport.
Spring ball seems simple, with players suiting up as the weather gets nicer and coming together with their coaches for the first time in a new season. But spring practices are the result of a complicated web of scheduling, NCAA regulations and individual program preferences.
Here’s a rundown on how it all works.
The NFC South remains the worst division in football and nothing is going to change that at this point. The Falcons were dominated by the Packers Monday, and fell to 5-8. Of course, they’re still tied for the NFC South lead with the New Orleans Saints, who are 5-8 after falling to the Carolina Panthers. Carolina dominated the Saints Sunday and is 4-8-1 on the season, within spitting distance of the division lead.
This division became a two-team race over the weekend. The San Francisco 49ers were holding on to hopes of taking the division, and technically there is still a chance of making it to the postseason. Given that they looked totally lost against the Oakland Raiders, of all teams, it’s not likely. Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals notched their 10th win of the season, while the Seattle Seahawks are just a game behind.
The Philadelphia Eagles put themselves on top of the NFC East with a win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13, but the division is tied up again after the Cowboys won Thursday and the Eagles fell to the aforementioned Seahawks. Both teams are at 9-4, and they’ll play each other again Sunday for Week 15. That game could decide the division.