Three weeks into the 2026 season, nobody has taken control of the NFC South.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only winless team in the division at 0-3, but they remain just one game behind Atlanta, Carolina, and New Orleans. All three of Tampa Bay's division rivals sit at 1-2, leaving the Bucs within striking distance despite a difficult start to the season.
NFC South standings
Atlanta Falcons (1-2)
Atlanta enters Week 4 with some momentum after picking up its first win of the season against the Green Bay Packers. The Falcons are still looking for their first NFC South victory after losing 34-3 to Carolina in Week 2, and they'll get another opportunity Monday night against New Orleans. That game guarantees at least one of the teams ahead of Tampa Bay will pick up another loss this week.
Next two games: at New Orleans Saints, vs. Baltimore Ravens
Carolina Panthers (1-2)
Carolina owns the only divisional victory in the NFC South so far after its 34-3 win over Atlanta, but the Panthers couldn't build on it in Week 3, losing 21-18 to Cleveland. Carolina now returns home for a Sunday night matchup with Detroit before getting its bye in Week 5. Its next game after the bye will come on the road against Philadelphia.
Next two games: vs. Detroit Lions, at Philadelphia Eagles (Week 5 bye)
New Orleans Saints (1-2)
New Orleans is coming off a 35-27 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders after picking up its first victory against Baltimore the previous week. The Saints now have back-to-back home games, starting with Monday night's divisional matchup against Atlanta, then hosting the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5. With Atlanta and New Orleans both sitting at 1-2, Monday night's game will immediately impact the NFC South standings.
Next two games: vs. Atlanta Falcons, vs. Minnesota Vikings
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3)
The Bucs are sitting at the bottom of the division after losses to Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Minnesota, but the rest of the NFC South has kept them from falling too far behind. Tampa Bay is still only one game back despite its winless start, and it hasn't played a divisional game yet. The bigger concern is what comes next, as the Bucs will turn to rookie Jalon Daniels against Green Bay with Baker Mayfield sidelined before traveling to Dallas just four days later for Thursday Night Football.
Tampa Bay's defense showed improvement in the 23-16 loss to Minnesota, holding the Vikings to 230 total yards and 9 first downs, but the offense couldn't capitalize. The Bucs don't need to make up a massive deficit in the NFC South right now, but they do need to start winning before the rest of the division has a chance to create some separation.
Next two games: vs. Green Bay Packers, at Dallas Cowboys
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Buccaneers still within striking distance in wide-open NFC South
