The Falcons will get a chance to stay ahead of Tampa Bay this Sunday.
For the second week in a row, half the division was on a bye week. Tampa Bay continues to close the gap on the first-place Falcons, and the Panthers continue to give teams a run for their money.
The division isn’t full of winners, but one way or another, someone is ending this season with a crown. Here’s the Week 12 NFC South review:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)
Week 12 Result: Buccaneers 30 – Giants 7
Week 13 Opponent: Carolina Panthers
The Buccaneers took the Giants down with ease after coming off their bye week. Tampa Bay still isn’t 100% healthy, and they could be without Jordan Whitehead for the rest of the season. Mike Evans did make his return and had five catches for 68 yards. The Buccaneers are in second place but have closed the gap between them and Atlanta.
They’ll need to keep winning games if they want to overtake their division foe, but their schedule is quite favorable to close out the season. Tampa Bay will have to continue to overcome injuries and a bad defense, but that’s not a unique story in this year’s NFC South.
New Orleans Saints (4-7)
Week 12 Result: Bye Week
Week 13 Opponent: Los Angeles Rams
New Orleans spent Week 12 on a bye after a two-game win streak. The Saints appeared reborn after firing Dennis Allen, and after dealing with a handful of injuries, the team’s bye week couldn’t have come at a better time.
New Orleans’ division title goals are likely unachievable, but nothing is set in stone yet. This team looks formidable again and could spoil the playoff hopes of their remaining opponents. One of those teams could be the Rams, who the Saints play at home in Week 13.
Carolina Panthers (3-8)
Week 12 Result: Panthers 27 – Chiefs 30
Week 13 Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Panthers gave the Chiefs their best shot, taking them down to the wire. Unfortunately, Carolina couldn’t finish the job, but the team proved they could hang with anyone. Bryce Young had his best game of the season, and Chuba Hubbard continues to be a player the offense can lean on. The season’s final stretch won’t be easy, and Carolina is already monitoring draft seeding, but they can play spoiler with games against the Buccaneers and Falcons on deck.
Still, players are fighting for future jobs, and Dave Canales is starting to show signs of what could become the first healthy culture in Carolina since Ron Rivera, but we’re still far from that.
Atlanta Falcons (6-5)
Week 12 Result: Bye Week
Week 13 Opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
The division leaders got some much needed rest. Going into the bye week, the Falcons had lost two games in a row for the first time this year and had a laundry list of injuries. While the team hasn’t provided an update on injuries yet, we know the staff took a hard look internally during the downtime.
Hopefully, some fundamental changes will come from the self-scouting sessions because if not, Atlanta could continue to see their division lead fall out from under them. The Falcons will finally return to MBS, but they’ll have a rugged Jim Harbuagh-led Chargers waiting for them. Atlanta could quell fans’ worries with a win this upcoming Sunday. Alternatively, they could give their rivals hope.
The NFC South is set up for another uncomfortable finish. The Falcons have the lead for now, but with Tampa Bay on their trail and the Saints surging, nothing should be considered safe. The division might have a losing record overall, but these are the teams that annoy opponents the most because you never know which version of them will show up on Sunday.