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- NFC South
The NFC South is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It was created prior to the 2002 season when the league realigned divisions after expanding to 32 teams. The NFC South currently has four members: the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Prior to the 2002 season, the Buccaneers belonged to the AFC West (1976) and NFC Central (1977-2001), while the other three teams were part of the geographically inaccurate-in-name NFC West.
It has at times been noted on Fox NFL Sunday as being nicknamed the "NASCAR Division," due to its geographic location in traditional NASCAR Country.[citation needed] Incidentally, Fox (owners of NFC broadcast rights) also has a contract with NASCAR. Two of the division's cities, Atlanta and Charlotte, host NASCAR races, and the Charlotte area is the home base for most drivers and their crews.
The NFC South is the only division since the 2002 realignment to have each of its teams make a conference championship game appearance: Tampa Bay (2002), Atlanta (2004), Carolina (2003 & 2005), and New Orleans (2006 & 2009). All four teams have made a Super Bowl appearance: Atlanta (XXXIII), Carolina (XXXVIII), New Orleans (XLIV) and Tampa Bay (XXXVII). Only Tampa Bay and New Orleans have won.