The NFC South’s hierarchy has become increasingly clear. The Falcons are 3-7 with an injured quarterback, placing them in the division’s basement along with the 2-8 Saints. Meanwhile, the Panthers move to 6-5, just one game behind perennial top dog Tampa Bay. Here are my report card grades for each team in the division this week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Baker Mayfield
Oct 20, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) drops back to pass against the Detroit Lions during the first half at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Overall Grade: C
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For the second straight week, Tampa lost to an AFC playoff contender, and for the second straight week, the defense was largely to blame. While Josh Allen is elite, allowing six total touchdowns is unacceptable, especially considering how well Tampa limited the Bills’ running game. In comparison, the offense dominated by running the ball, but struggled through the air.
Offense Grade: B+
The Bucs’ running game was exceptional on Sunday, accumulating over 200 yards rushing. Running back Sean Tucker led the way with 140 total yards and three touchdowns, showcasing his versatility and explosiveness. However, quarterback Baker Mayfield was unable to replicate his Week 10 success, throwing for just 173 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
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Defense Grade: D-
Yeah, this was bad. The only reason the Bucs avoided an F was because of the two interceptions they made of Josh Allen. Other than that, the unit was hapless, allowing 414 total yards and 44 points to a Bills offense that was stifled by an awful Dolphins unit the previous week. Tampa needed to do better here, and they cost themselves momentum with another loss.
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Carolina Panthers:
Oct 19, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) throws the ball in the third quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Overall Grade: A
What a great bounce-back performance. Following a horrendous loss to New Orleans last week, the Panthers faced the Falcons in Atlanta and earned a hard-fought victory. For the first time all season, the passing offense was truly exceptional, and the defense held up when it mattered most. Carolina needed this win, and at 6-5, still has a chance at the playoffs.
Offense Grade: A+
I wondered last week if Bryce Young would ever find his rhythm. Well, it’s safe to say that question has been answered. He threw for a franchise-record 448 yards to go with three touchdowns in the win, proving that he can be relied upon to drive the team down the field. WRs Tetairoa McMillan (130 yards, two touchdowns) and Xavier Legette (83 yards, one TD) also stepped up for Young when he needed them most.
Defense Grade: B
The Panthers may have allowed 27 points, but they stepped up in the second half and overtime following Atlanta’s 21-point first half. They buckled down on Falcons stars Drake London and Bijan Robinson, allowing just six points after halftime. And in overtime, Atlanta received the ball first and was promptly stopped by Carolina, allowing the offense to win the game shortly after.
Atlanta Falcons:
Oct 19, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (center) carries the ball against San Francisco 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown (27) during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Overall Grade: C
The Falcons needed this game if they wanted to contend for the playoffs, and not getting the W pretty much spells the end of their chances. The offense was good but struggled in the second half, and now QB Michael Penix Jr. is out for the year. And the defense struggled against the Panthers’ passing game, a worrying sign for a previously good unit.
Offense Grade: B
Scoring 27 points is good enough to earn a B, but the six-point second half was concerning, especially with the unit’s injuries. Penix Jr. is done for the season, and WR Drake London is also expected to miss Week 12 with a knee sprain. The offense will need to continue to get RB Bijan Robinson involved, which they did in the first half, but not in the second
Defense Grade: D
Allowing 448 passing yards at home to a struggling QB is just terrible. The Falcons did a good job pressuring Bryce Young, sacking the diminutive passer five times. However, they were otherwise dominated, resulting in a blown double-digit lead and a fifth consecutive loss. Atlanta’s defense looked like a strength at the beginning of the year, but now, it’s hard to say how good the unit actually is.
New Orleans Saints:
Oct 26, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) throws downfield during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
Overall Grade: N/A
The Saints enjoyed a Week 11 bye following a strong performance in Week 10. The offense and defense will each be looking to build upon that momentum in Week 12 against the injury-riddled Falcons. Head coach Kellen Moore will do his best to get more out of rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, and the defense needs to continue forcing turnovers.
Offense Grade: N/A
Can the passing offense keep up its performance from Week 10? With QB Tyler Shough, WR Chris Olave, and TE Juwan Johnson, the Saints aren’t entirely devoid of talent. The running game, however, is a big issue. RB Alvin Kamara is no longer a player who can be relied upon for consistency or big plays, and New Orleans will have to find another way to run the ball more effectively.
Defense Grade: N/A
The Saints’ defense was great in Week 10, allowing just 175 total yards and no points in the game’s final three quarters. But the unit did this without forcing several turnovers and recording a ton of sacks, meaning this performance might not be replicable. New Orleans needs to force more turnovers and make more negative plays on defense to improve performance.
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