Believe it or not, but the New Orleans Saints are not that far away from first place in the NFC South. They're also in last place in the NFL's worst division. But that parity means there isn't as wide a gap from worst to first as you'd think, at least among the NFC South's four teams. Here's how the division stacks up after Week 5, and what's next for each team:
1. Carolina Panthers (2-2)
- Point differential: +12
- Division record: 1-0
- Next week: at Philadelphia Eagles (2-3)
The Panthers were on bye this week, and they used the opportunity to rest up and watch while their division rivals tripped over themselves. The Falcons lost by way of an overtime interception, the Saints were outcoached and outplayed by the Minnesota Vikings, and the Buccaneers kept their season alive with a narrow win on Thursday Night Football. All in all, it was a good weekend for
Carolina.
2. Atlanta Falcons (2-3)
- Point differential: -3
- Division record: 1-1
- Next week: vs. Chicago Bears (3-2)
Michael Penix Jr. kept the Falcons in their Sunday night game with the Baltimore Ravens, but a late injury sidelined him and forced backup QB Tua Tagovailoa into the game in overtime -- right after Baltimore conducted an efficient clock-draining drive to take the lead. And when Tagovailoa got in, he immediately threw an interception to seal a win for the Ravens.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-4)
- Point differential: -12
- Division record: 0-0
- Next week: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)
Credit where it's due; the Bucs won with a rookie quarterback replacing Baker Mayfield, but Jalon Daniels most had to avoid turning the ball over while letting running back Bucky Irving go to work. Irving rumbled for 165 yards and a touchdown on the ground, including a huge 72-yard run that set the Dallas Cowboys defense back. Irving also caught a touchdown pass in their prime-time win. Sure, it was the Cowboys, but Tampa Bay appears to be in good hands while Mayfield recovers from an injured hand.
4. New Orleans Saints (1-4)
- Point differential: -33
- Division record: 0-1
- Next week: at New York Giants (3-1-1)
What can we say? The Saints were outmatched in every phase by a Vikings team that knew exactly how vulnerable their opponent was. Kellen Moore didn't have an answer for the pressure packages Minnesota DC Brian Flores threw at him and second-year quarterback Tyler Shough was rushed into a couple of costly decisions. Defensively, New Orleans couldn't contain Kyler Murray or get hands on his passes. And the less said about their effort on special teams, the better. It was an embarrassment in every phase.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: NFC South standings after Week 5: How far are Saints from first place?
