The division has a brand new chief for the primary time since October. The Buccaneers have received 4 in a row, whereas the earlier division leaders, the Falcons, have misplaced 4 in a row.
New Orleans squeaked out a win, and the Panthers put up one other respectable efficiency in defeat. Right here’s the Week 14 NFC South evaluate.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)
Week 14 Consequence: Buccaneers 28 – Raiders 13
Week 15 Opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
Tampa Bay continues to win, they usually management their future for the remainder of the season. In the event that they win out, the division and sure solely NFC South playoff spot will probably be theirs. Lose even one sport, and the Falcons can take again the spot. The stakes are excessive.
Whereas the Buccaneers have continued to win, it hasn’t all the time regarded fairly, and the crew goes to face their hardest remaining opponent this week in Los Angeles. If they will survive the Chargers, they’ll have a easy touchdown on their strategy to the playoffs.
New Orleans Saints (5-8)
Week 14 Consequence: Saints 14 – Giants 11
Week 15 Opponent: Washington Commanders
New Orleans bounced again with an uninspiring win in opposition to the Giants, however a win is a win. Derek Carr realized the exhausting method that it’s by no means good for automobiles to go airborne, and his season is probably going over attributable to a fractured left hand. Whereas extremely unbelievable, it’s not unimaginable for the Saints to make the playoffs.
It will take a collapse from each the Falcons and Buccaneers, however something is feasible within the NFC South. That being stated, these hopes will relaxation on the arm of both Jake Haner or Spencer Rattler; not preferrred, to say the least.
Carolina Panthers (3-10)
Week 14 Consequence: Panthers 16 – Eagles 22
Week 15 Opponent: Dallas Cowboys
The Panthers are the primary crew to hit double-digit losses within the division, a title they’ve held a number of years in a row. Nonetheless, this season does really feel totally different. Carolina began off the season in a nasty method, however they seem like a very totally different soccer crew now. Opponents have to indicate up prepared for a struggle, or these scrappy cats will pounce throughout them.
Bryce Younger continues to be auditioning for his 2025 job, and the quarterback could have already received it. The Panthers have already surpassed 2023’s win whole (2), they usually’ll have an opportunity to double it this week in opposition to a sputtering Dallas Cowboys.
Atlanta Falcons (6-7)
Week 14 Consequence: Falcons 21 – Vikings 42
Week 15 Opponent: Las Vegas Raiders
At one level, this crew was 6-3 with a three-game lead within the division. Now, they need to hope others stumble whereas they try and run the desk. Kirk Cousins is holding again the Falcons offense, and whereas the protection has begun accumulating sacks, the secondary obtained smoked by the Vikings proficient receiver group.
Raheem Morris has stood by Cousins throughout this four-game slide, possibly to a fault. Penix shouldn’t be thrust into this example simply but, however some public accountability for the $180M quarterback appears cheap.
These closing 4 video games needs to be wins for a reliable soccer crew, however Atlanta hasn’t performed that position since early November. They’ll get an opportunity to get again to .500 in Las Vegas this week, the place it’s extremely seemingly they’ll face off in opposition to 2023 starter Desmond Ridder.
Being a fan of an NFC South shouldn’t be for the faint of coronary heart. Tampa Bay has the lead, they usually might preserve it that method in the event that they win out. However that sounds too boring and simple for this division.
