NFC South Update: Where The Race Stands After Week 5

When the Bucs fell apart late in Thursday’s game and lost to the Falcons in Atlanta, they let a major opportunity slip away. Tampa Bay looked primed to pick up a huge NFC South victory and create some separation early on in its quest to four-peat as division champions. Todd Bowles and his team would’ve been at 4-1, two games ahead of both Atlanta and New Orleans through five games while sitting at 1-0 in divisional play.

Instead, things are tight in the NFC South standings. The division has gotten used to that in recent years, as the race has gone down to the wire in each of the last two years. The Bucs clinched the South in Week 17 of the 2022 season before wrapping up their three-peat on the season’s final day last year.

So, where do things stand with the NFC South through Week 5 of the 2024 season? It’s time to break it all down.

NFC South Update: Week 5

Falcons QB Kirk Cousins – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs had sole possession of first place in the division heading into their NFC South opener against the Falcons on Thursday Night Football. But now, entering Week 6, they not only don’t have sole possession of the top spot – they sit in second place via tiebreaker.

Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense got out to a hot start on Thursday, scoring 24 first-half points as they established a 24-17 lead going into halftime. But the offense stalled out in the second half and the defense couldn’t keep up with Kirk Cousins and the Falcons offense. Even after it seemingly iced the game with a Lavonte David interception, Tampa Bay couldn’t get the final stop it needed in regulation and lost the coin toss in overtime. Shortly after, the walk-off touchdown sent the team home with a bitter taste in their mouths.

The Falcons had Cousins throw for a franchise-record 509 yards and four touchdowns in their big win, and Drake London was a major part of that effort. He caught 12 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown, but it was Kha’Darel Hodge who caught the game-winning 45-yard touchdown just seconds after London headed to the sideline with an injury in overtime. The fans inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium were sent into a frenzy as their team picked up a key win that will set them up well early in the division race.

On Sunday, the Panthers fell deeper into last place with a lopsided 36-10 loss to the Bears in Chicago. Chuba Hubbard gave Carolina an early 7-0 lead with a 38-yard touchdown run, but the Bears came back to score the next 30 points. The bounce that Dave Canales’ team experienced in Week 4 when he replaced Bryce Young with Andy Dalton was short-lived, as Dalton was 18-of-28 for just 136 yards, no touchdowns and an interception in the loss. That has the Panthers at 1-4 through five weeks.

Saints QB Derek Carr – Photo by: USA Today

Finally, to wrap up the weekend of NFL action, the Saints were in Kansas City to take on the Chiefs on Monday Night Football. New Orleans stuck around for the majority of the game despite getting very little from Alvin Kamara, who has starred for the offense so far this season. After trailing 16-7 at halftime, the Saints got within 16-13 early in the fourth quarter.

But an Xavier Worthy touchdown run and a late field goal – paired with a late injury to quarterback Derek Carr – helped the Chiefs get to 5-0 with a 26-13 victory. Meanwhile, the Saints fell to 2-3 with their third straight loss.

Updated NFC South Standings After Week 5:

Atlanta Falcons: 3-2 (2-0 in the NFC South)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 3-2 (0-1 in the NFC South)
New Orleans Saints: 2-3 (1-1 in the NFC South)
Carolina Panthers: 1-4 (0-1 in the NFC South)

💔 pic.twitter.com/uop88PGoR8

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 4, 2024

Bucs Will Have A Big Chance To Bounce Back In Week 6

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

As much as that Thursday night loss to Atlanta stung, Tampa Bay doesn’t have to wait long for a chance at redemption. Of course, the team does literally wait a little longer to play given the 10-day break between that Thursday night game and Sunday’s contest. But this Week 6 matchup will be a chance for the Bucs to bounce back and help their place in the NFC South race. 

Todd Bowles and his squad will be in New Orleans to take on the Saints, who have lost three straight and are dealing with some key injuries themselves. Derek Carr will miss Sunday’s game, but regardless of who’s under center for the Saints, the Bucs need to find a way to rebound, get to 4-2 and pick up a big divisional win.

The Bucs won the division at 8-9 in 2022, though they had a 4-2 record inside the NFC South. They won it again at 9-8 last year while once again finishing with a 4-2 mark against divisional opponents. So, dropping their first two games against NFC South foes would make life very difficult going forward.

Tampa Bay really can’t afford to fall to 0-2 in NFC South play, especially when you consider that Atlanta will be heavily favored to get to 4-2 overall and 3-0 in divisional play this Sunday. They play the 1-4 Panthers, who remain one of the worst teams in the NFL.

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