It’s been a vintage year for the NFC South. There’s a chance that the division winner could enter the playoffs with a losing record. We won’t know who will be crowned the champ until next week, but it’s
come down to the Panthers and Buccaneers. Here’s the Week 17 NFC South Review.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
Week 17 Result: Buccaneers 17 – Dolphins 20
Week 18 Opponent: Carolina Panthers
The Buccaneers season has gone off course after a 5-1 start. The team has one win since the beginning of November, and its latest loss came against the Dolphins, led by rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers. Tampa Bay has dealt with injuries all year and has struggled to overcome its defensive play and Baker Mayfield’s volatility.
Yet none of it matters as the Buccaneers still have an opportunity to make the playoffs with a win over Carolina next week. However, there is one caveat: if the Falcons beat the Saints, it doesn’t matter what the Buccaneers do, as the Panthers will be crowned division champs.
New Orleans Saints (6-10)
Week 17 Result: Saints 34 – Titans 26
Week 18 Opponent: Atlanta Falcons
The Saints have won three games in a row, while the opponents haven’t been impressive; the Saints weren’t considered locks to win any of the matchups. Rookie Tyler Shough has continued to grow and will likely start the 2026 season as the Saints quarterback. New Orleans’ 3-2 division record is tied with Carolina for the best in the South. The team could finish with a better division record than the potential division winners (Tampa Bay), but they’ll have to take down a Falcons team that’s on a hot streak of their own.
Carolina Panthers (8-8)
Week 17 Result: Panthers 10 – Seahawks 27
Week 18 Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Panthers have lost back-to-back games after having the chance to lock up the division. Bryce Young continues to fold in key moments, passing for a measly 54 yards against the Seahawks defense. Not only that, but Young is only the third quarterback of the last 20 seasons to attempt at least 20 passes and have zero completions beyond 5 yards downfield. However, like the Buccaneers, all of the Panthers recent dismay can be wiped away with a win against the Buccaneers this upcoming weekend.
Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
Week 17 Result: Falcons 27 – Rams 24
Week 18 Opponent: New Orleans Saints
The Falcons nearly let the win slip through their fingers, but they were able to avoid a new entry in the blown-lead archives. A three-game win streak capped off with a victory over the Rams should be more celebrated, but none of it matters because the Falcons couldn’t take care of teams like the Jets or Dolphins. It’s frustrating that Atlanta could end the season with the same record as the division winner, but this is the bed they made. Raheem Morris will make one final case for his job against the team’s biggest rival on Sunday.
This division has come down to the final week of the season, just the way we like it. It’s anyone’s guess who will win, but one thing we know for sure is that there will be NFC South shenanigans aplenty in this final regular-season week.
