The NFC South has not been a strong division in recent years. That trend has continued this season. They are a combined 14-22 including two teams tied for the worst record in the NFL. That’s the worst division record in the NFL, slightly worse than the AFC East and AFC South. Just like the NFC East, this division has become a two-team race that could come down to the last week of the season.
First Place Falcons
First up is the 6-3 Atlanta Falcons. It’s not a surprise the Falcons are leading the NFC South. Most people in the media predicted the Falcons to win the division. They won seven games last season despite having one of the worst quarterback situations in the NFL. The Falcons rectified this by signing four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency.
The Falcons got off to a rocky start, losing two of their first three games. But since then, they have only lost once and have already beaten the division rival Buccaneers twice. They have a strong offensive line, two terrific running backs, and an emerging star in wide receiver Drake London.
On defense, the Falcons have been solid but not spectacular. Their biggest issue is rushing the passer. The August trade of edge rusher Matt Judon has not worked as well as they hoped. They will need to find a way to generate more pass rush if they hope to contend for a Super Bowl. They will likely be division champions if they can improve in that area.
Injury Plagued Bucs
The reigning division champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers got off to a promising start this season. After six games they were 4-2 and coming off a 51-27 win at New Orleans. Their early season success included a road victory over the NFC-leading Detroit Lions. But then the injury bug landed in South Florida right in the middle of the toughest part of their schedule. The Bucs have now lost three straight and sit two games behind the Falcons.
Wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were playing some of the best football of their careers. They combined for 11 touchdowns in seven games and Godwin was leading the league in YAC (yards after catch) by a significant margin. Then came the Monday Night Football game against the Ravens. Evans hurt his hamstring and has not played since. Even worse, Godwin dislocated his ankle and is out for the season.
After losses to the Ravens, Falcons, and Chiefs, the Buccaneers are 4-5. It won’t get any easier when they play the reigning NFC champion San Francisco 49ers this Sunday. But there is some good news. The Bucs’ next three games after that are against the two-win Giants, Panthers, and Raiders. If you look at their remaining schedule, they only play one team with a winning record. Evans also could return after their week 11 bye. So despite losing to the Falcons twice, the Buccaneers have a much easier schedule. This division is not over yet.
Division Bottom Dwellers
Tied for last place are the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints with 2-7 records. They are tied for the worst record in the NFL with several teams. If you are a fan of either team, I imagine you are in draft mode by now. Where do I even begin to describe how bad these teams have been this year? I guess let’s start with the Saints.
The Saints are the best team in the NFL. That sounds funny to hear but some people were saying this after two weeks. The Saints were 2-0 and had completely dominated the Panthers and Cowboys. The offense looked unstoppable, scoring 47 and 44 points in those two games. Since then it has been a total disaster in The Big Easy. They have lost seven straight since then and just fired their head coach Dennis Allen.
An injury to quarterback Derek Carr has been one of many issues. The offensive line is one of the worst in the NFL. Their defense which had been a strong unit in years past has been torched this season. They rank 28th in yards allowed per game and just traded cornerback Marshon Lattimore to Washington. Finally, they are coming off a loss to the Panthers which led directly to Allen’s dismissal.
Carolina Mess
Speaking of the Panthers, despite beating the Saints this past Sunday, they are still one of the worst teams in the league. Their point differential is minus 146, by far the worst in the NFL. The Las Vegas Raiders are second with minus 83 points. The Panthers are rarely in close games and all seven losses are by at least 10 points.
The good news for the Panthers is there is nowhere to go but up. Believe it or not, quarterback Bryce Young didn’t look terrible against the Saints on Sunday. I think they will give Young one more year to see if he is their franchise QB. He was an outstanding college player at Alabama and won the Heisman Trophy in 2021. The Panthers need to rebuild their roster and start drafting better. It’s the only way they will become division contenders.
Final Thoughts
The Saints and Panthers will spend the rest of the season evaluating their rosters. Their playoff chances are all but gone, and they will have to decide which players are worth keeping around. The Falcons and Buccaneers will compete for the division title. Because the Falcons beat the Bucs twice, they win the tie-breaker if they finish with the same record. The Bucs do have a much easier remaining schedule so this division could come down to the last week of the season.
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