You get three wins; you get three wins; EVERYBODY GETS THREE WINS! The NFC South operates within a liminal space; it is the Backrooms of divisions, where things don’t look quite right.
Here’s the Week 9 NFC South Review.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-6)
Week 9 Result: Buccaneers 24 – Bears 27
Week 10 Opponent: Bye Week
Caleb Williams threw four interceptions in this game, and he still wasn’t the worst quarterback on the field. Outside of 2-point conversions, Mayfield offered nothing for his offense. He was finally forced to throw the ball
more than 20 times, resulting in two interceptions, zero touchdowns, and a 56% completion percentage.
Despite their efforts, the Buccaneers can’t ask Bucky Irving to do everything, although I am sure he could have thrown at least one touchdown. It’s also become increasingly clear that Todd Bowles’ defense is not the problem. Should Jason Licht have stuck with his gut when he initially did not hand out an extension to Mayfield? Maybe the bye week can help the quarterback reset.
Carolina Panthers (3-5)
Week 9 Result: Panthers 21 – Broncos 26
Week 10 Opponent: New Orleans Saints
I have to be honest, I was expecting a blowout, but I underestimated how uninspiring Bo Nix can be and Bryce Young’s ability to overcome his bad offensive line. The Broncos jumped out to an early lead, but the Panthers took it in the 3rd quarter. Unfortunately for Charlotte, they couldn’t keep up with the Broncos, and the cracks in their roster became wider as the game dragged on.
They also suffered an unlucky interception that Falcons fans can empathize with. Luckily, this is the NFC South, and despite firing their defensive coordinator and losing three games in a row, they’ll play the Saints for the division lead next week.
New Orleans Saints (3-5)
Week 9 Result: Saints 23 – Browns 22
Week 10 Opponent: Carolina Panthers
The Saints won off their bye week and joined the ranks of their 3-win divisional opponents. It wasn’t pretty and required overtime against backup quarterback Shedeur Sanders, but the Saints got the last laugh. Austin Estime provided much-needed ground support, which finally gave Shough some breathing room.
After a last-place 2-5 start and the walls closing in, the Saints will host the Panthers this Sunday with the potential to walk out of the game as the division leaders.
Atlanta Falcons (3-6)
Week 9 Result: Falcons 17 – Bengals 34
Week 10 Opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
The Falcons were a penalty machine in Spain and got routed by Joe Burrow and his legion of dominant receivers. Penix and the offense’s performance were uninspiring and hampered by penalties. The Falcons defense was most notably shredded through the air, but they also gave up over 100 rushing yards to one of the NFL’s worst rushing offenses.
Despite still being in the race for the NFC South title, this isn’t a good football team, and the new front office recognizes that. Jessie Bates has been traded, and we wish him nothing but the best, but this was the right call. The team gets a 2nd- and 5th-round pick for a soon-to-be 30-year-old on an expiring deal. Could anyone else be moved before the Falcons play the Chiefs?
This is shaping up to be one of the nastiest NFC South seasons yet, but it is refreshing to see the Falcons realize that short-sighted moves to try and win the South aren’t as important as building a sustainable product for the future.
