Two massive wins in the NFC South, including one of the most unlikely blowouts in a while.
Here is how each team did in Week 7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers :
Against all odds, the Buccaneers beat the Panthers 43-13 in Charlotte. Not sure anyone expected this result, but it is the NFC South, so maybe that’s on me. This game marked the return of Baker Mayfield to the lineup, but hilariously, he only threw 11 times, completing 7 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. And yes, he did play most of the game.
Bucky Irving was the star for
the Buccaneers offense, getting over 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns. I’ll talk a bit more about the Buccaneers defense in the next section.
Carolina Panthers:
And then we have the Panthers. This was Carolina’s worst game this season, and with the defense struggling, the offensive issues only made it worse. Bryce Young was sacked 5 times, threw two interceptions, the run game was horrible, and the Panthers fumbled once. This was one of those games Carolina should put behind them, but their first-place lead just got much smaller.
Atlanta Falcons:
With the upset of the week, the Falcons somehow beat the undefeated San Francisco 49ers. What made this win even more impressive for the Falcons was that they didn’t need to rely on Bijan Robinson’s rushing ability to win, which has been their recipe for success.
Michael Penix had a strong game, controlling the offense and avoiding turnovers, while the defense forced turnovers that made the difference.
New Orleans Saints:
Due to the Buccaneers’ win, the Saints are now last in the division after their loss to the Steelers. This wasn’t as embarrassing as some of their previous losses, but it made clear once again that the season’s issues persist. What made it worse was that the Saints’ massive red-zone improvement regressed.
Heading into the bye, the team must make changes across the roster, and although Kellen Moore may be safe, one more loss could end his time in New Orleans.
