The NFC South is the most consistently mocked division in all of football, and for good reason. Last year, the Carolina Panthers clinched the division with an 8-9 record. This season, the four teams of the NFC South have gone a combined 3-9 through the first three weeks.
It's hard to imagine any of these teams pulling away soon, but it was nonetheless a great week for the Atlanta Falcons. As the lone NFC South team to come away victorious in Week 3, the Falcons suddenly have life - which is hard to imagine happening in any other division.
Atlanta kicked off Week 3 with a 35-14 win over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football to improve to 1-2. The New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers each lost on Sunday afternoon.
NFC South standings after Week 3
- New Orleans Saints (1-2)
- Carolina Panthers (1-2)
- Atlanta Falcons (1-2)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3)
The Buccaneers lost 23-16 to the Minnesota Vikings, and quarterback Baker Mayfield suffered a hand injury late in the game. It was not a great day for the Bucs, who now sit in last place with an 0-3 record.
The Panthers were defeated by the not-so-lowly Cleveland Browns, 21-18, on Sunday afternoon. Wide receiver Jalen Coker exited the game with a groin injury and did not return.
Last but not least, the Saints lost a close game to former Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins and the 3-0 Las Vegas Raiders. The Saints, despite playing really well for much of the season, fell to 1-2.
The Falcons will face the Saints on the road in Week 4. The 20-year anniversary of the "Domecoming" game will be played on Monday Night Football. The winner of Monday's game could potentially take over first place in the NFC South.
It's just a typical day at the office in the NFL's least-serious division.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: NFC South: Falcons leapfrog Bucs as division goes 1-3 in Week 3
