Last week, everyone except the Atlanta Falcons lost, so it’s no surprise that the entire division bounces back a week later.
Here’s the Week 5 NFC South Review.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1)
Week 5 Result: Buccaneers 38 – Seahawks 35
Week 6 Opponent: San Francisco 49ers
The best quarterback battle of the week did not disappoint. Baker Mayfield is leading the early-season MVP race after coming up big in the clutch for the fourth time this season. Rookie Emeka Egbuka is one of the top-performing WRs in this league. This team continues
to find ways to win, and they aren’t letting injuries slow them down. The South runs through Tampa Bay, and this week the team will try to assert its NFC dominance over the 49ers.
New Orleans Saints (1-4)
Week 5 Result: Saints 26 – Giants 14
Week 6 Opponent: New England Patriots
The Saints secured their first win of the season and looked competent in the process. Spencer Rattler has performed well this season, and the Tyler Shough pick is looking like a waste. This team doesn’t appear to be headed for a turnaround, but they won’t be pushovers this season.
They are prime candidates to play spoiler as the season progresses. Next week, they’ll take on a Patriots team coming off a massive win against the Buffalo Bills.
Carolina Panthers (2-3)
Week 5 Result: Panthers 27 – Dolphins 24
Week 6 Opponent: Dallas Cowboys
Carolina is still under .500, but avoided a catastrophic 1-4 start to keep their season alive. The Panthers crawled out of a 17-point hole thanks in part to one of the worst halves of coaching we’ve ever seen from the Dolphins. Carolina is 0-3 on the road, but undefeated at home.
The cats are a volatile team, and you never know which version of them will show up. The team has a chance to silence doubters and get to .500 against the Cowboys in Week 6.
Atlanta Falcons (2-2)
Week 5 Result: Bye Week
Week 6 Opponent: Buffalo Bills
The bye week came at a good time for Atlanta. The team has activated Ta’Quon Graham’s 21-day window to return and expects to get A.J. Terrell back. Atlanta will need all hands on deck as they head into a tough back-to-back stretch that will be featured in primetime.
Unfortunately for the Falcons, the entire division won while they were on break. However, you can’t worry about how others are performing; you should focus only on what you can control. The Falcons still control their own destiny to a winning season.
The entire division bounced back while the Falcons were on the mend. Tampa Bay has a firm grip on the division crown, but the season is still young.
