The division has a new leader for the first time since October. The Buccaneers have won four in a row, while the previous division leaders, the Falcons, have lost four in a row.
New Orleans squeaked out a win, and the Panthers put up another respectable performance in defeat. Here’s the Week 14 NFC South review.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)
Week 14 Result: Buccaneers 28 - Raiders 13
Week 15 Opponent:Los Angeles Chargers
Tampa Bay continues to win, and they control their destiny for the rest of the season. If they win out, the division and likely only NFC South playoff spot will be theirs. Lose even one game, and the Falcons can take back the spot. The stakes are high.
While the Buccaneers have continued to win, it hasn’t always looked pretty, and the team is going to face their toughest remaining opponent this week in Los Angeles. If they can survive the Chargers, they’ll have a smooth landing on their way to the playoffs.
New Orleans Saints (5-8)
Week 14 Result: Saints 14 - Giants 11
Week 15 Opponent:Washington Commanders
New Orleans bounced back with an uninspiring win against the Giants, but a win is a win. Derek Carr learned the hard way that it’s never good for cars to go airborne, and his season is likely over due to a fractured left hand. While highly improbable, it’s not impossible for the Saints to make the playoffs.
It would take a collapse from both the Falcons and Buccaneers, but anything is possible in the NFC South. That being said, those hopes will rest on the arm of either Jake Haner or Spencer Rattler; not ideal, to say the least.
Carolina Panthers (3-10)
Week 14 Result: Panthers 16 - Eagles 22
Week 15 Opponent:Dallas Cowboys
The Panthers are the first team to hit double-digit losses in the division, a title they’ve held multiple years in a row. However, this season does feel different. Carolina started off the season in a bad way, but they look like a completely different football team now. Opponents have to show up ready for a fight, or these scrappy cats will pounce all over them.
Bryce Young is still auditioning for his 2025 job, and the quarterback may have already won it. The Panthers have already surpassed 2023’s win total (2), and they’ll have a chance to double it this week against a sputtering Dallas Cowboys.
Atlanta Falcons (6-7)
Week 14 Result: Falcons 21 - Vikings 42
Week 15 Opponent:Las Vegas Raiders
At one point, this team was 6-3 with a three-game lead in the division. Now, they have to hope others stumble while they attempt to run the table. Kirk Cousins is holding back the Falcons offense, and while the defense has begun accumulating sacks, the secondary got smoked by the Vikings talented receiver group.
Raheem Morris has stood by Cousins during this four-game slide, maybe to a fault. Penix shouldn’t be thrust into this situation just yet, but some public accountability for the $180M quarterback seems reasonable.
These final four games should be wins for a competent football team, but Atlanta hasn’t played that role since early November. They’ll get a chance to get back to .500 in Las Vegas this week, where it is highly likely they’ll face off against 2023 starter Desmond Ridder.
Being a fan of an NFC South is not for the faint of heart. Tampa Bay has the lead, and they could keep it that way if they win out. But that sounds too boring and straightforward for this division.