The Falcons and Bucs drop games, while the Panthers surge and the Saints reverse a skid.
Only in the NFC South will the two 2-7 teams both notch wins in the same weekend while the consistent leaders of the division fall short.
The Falcons allowed the Saints to end their losing streak, while Carolina went on its first winning streak. Once again, Tampa Bay fought until the end, but their season continues to head in the wrong direction. Here’s the Week 10 NFC South review.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6)
Week 10 Result: Buccaneers 20 – 49ers 23
Week 11 Opponent: New York Giants
Every Sunday must feel like Groundhog Day for Buccaneers fans at this point. Stop me if you’ve heard this before; despite the odds and injuries, Tampa Bay put up a great fight but fell short in the final quarter. There are only so many adjectives and analogies one can continue to use to describe this scrappy, gritty, and lunchpail-y football team.
Health is wealth, and Tampa Bay is dirt poor. It’s never fun to see a season get derailed due to injury. The Buccaneers were once neck and neck with the Falcons for the lead of the division, but now they only have one more win than New Orleans and Carolina. Next week is the start of a very soft schedule that could allow them to climb back up in the ranks.
New Orleans Saints (3-7)
Week 10 Result: Saints 20 – Falcons 17
Week 11 Opponent: Cleveland Browns
The New Orleans Saints were staring eight straight losses in the face after firing ex-head coach Dennis Allen, but they did not flinch when Atlanta walked into the building. New Orleans got the interim head coach boost and were oozing with far more energy than their hated rivals. You could tell this was the 2024 Super Bowl for the franchise, whose fans have broken out the paper bags this year.
So credit to the Saints for moving up to 3-7. They now have the same record as Carolina and have a one-game lead over last place in the division. Next week, the Browns come to town, and it would be unfortunate for the team to take a step backward against the 2-7 AFC North squad.
Carolina Panthers (3-7)
Week 10 Result: Panther 23 – Giants 17
Week 11 Opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
Just win, baby. David Tepper shed his reptilian skin to enjoy a beer with fans after the Panthers second win in a row. He almost looked like a normal person, almost. It hasn’t been pretty, but this season was never a beauty contest for the young team. The locker room appears to be rallying around head coach Dave Canales, and Chuba Hubbard is having a top-five season for running backs.
This team is just focused on having fun and competing, and you can see that their overall record isn’t getting the best of their effort on Sundays. The Kansas City Chiefs will be coming to town, and nothing will win fans over more than knocking off the only undefeated team left in the league.
Atlanta Falcons (6-3)
Week 9 Result: Falcons 17 – Saints 20
Week 10 Opponent: Denver Broncos
The Falcons had an opportunity to sweep their division rivals for the first time since 2016 while simultaneously handing them their eighth loss of the season, but they couldn’t have looked more disinterested. Atlanta took a division loss for the first time this year, and while they still maintain a two-game lead, it should’ve been widened to three.
The pass rush couldn’t get home and only produced two pressures. Atlanta also took on a handful of unfortunate injuries that could make their defensive line rotations even more dire. Before their much-needed bye week in Week 12, the team heads to Denver to play one of the best passing defenses in the league.
Atlanta remains at the top, and the gap between them and Tampa Bay has not changed, either. The Panthers and Saints showed signs of life, but overall, this looks like another year that will end with three-quarters of the teams in the division having a losing record.