Week 2 has come and gone for the NFC South, and the New Orleans Saints (1-1) have jumped out ahead in the race for the division title -- and the coveted playoff berth that comes with it. But they aren't alone. The Carolina Panthers (1-1) took out some frustration after a season-opening loss by nearly shutting out the hapless Atlanta Falcons (0-2), 34-3. A fourth-quarter lightning delay interrupted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2) as they attempted a comeback against the visiting Cleveland Browns, falling short 23-19. And for their part, the Saints pulled off the weekend's biggest upset by defeating the Baltimore Ravens on their home turf at M&T Bank Stadium, 24-17.
So it's New Orleans and Carolina on top through two weekks. While they share the same
record, the Panthers get a tiebreaker for their divisional win over the Atlanta Falcons. The Saints play that same Falcons team on Monday Night Football in just a few weeks, so they'll have a chance to even the score. Here's how the NFC South stacks up after Week 2:
1st. Carolina Panthers (1-1)
- Scoring differential: +9
- Divisional record: 1-0
- Conference record: 1-1
- Week 3 game: at Cleveland Browns (Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland)
2nd. New Orleans Saints (1-1)
- Scoring differential: +6
- Divisional record: 0-0
- Conference record: 0-1
- Week 3 game: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Caesars Superdome, New Orleans)
3rd. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2)
- Scoring differential: -10
- Divisional record: 0-0
- Conference record: 0-0
- Week 3 game: vs. Minnesota Vikings (U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis)
4th. Atlanta Falcons (0-2)
- Scoring differential: -38
- Divisional record: 0-1
- Conference record: 0-1
- Week 3 game: at Green Bay Packers (Lambeau Field, Green Bay) on Thursday Night Football
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Two-way tie emerges atop NFC South standings after Week 2
