We've now reached the point in the NFL season where teams really begin separating themselves... for the New Orleans Saints, that's not a good thing.

The Saints have limped to a 1-6 overall record and are the only team in the NFC South sitting below .500 on the year. The Black and Gold also haven't played a divisional game yet, but that all changes this weekend as the team will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Where do New Orleans and its biggest rivals stand at this point in the season? Let's take a look at this week's NFC South power rankings.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2)

Tampa Bay still has a solid lead in the division -- as it has all year -- but a tough 24-9 loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday night gave the Bucs a dose of reality.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield is having an MVP-worthy season so far and has a special ability to incorporate everyone on the field. Whether Tampa Bay is blowing out the competition or needs some sort of last-minute Mayfield Magic for a go-ahead score, the team just keeps on winning. 

The NFC South has been the Buccaneers' to lose all season, but following this Sunday's upcoming matchup with the Saints and an ensuing bye week, they'll face a three-game gauntlet against the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams. That stretch of games is likely going to be the most telling as to whether or not the Bucs will repeat as divisional winners for the fifth year in a row.

2. Carolina Panthers (4-3)

The Panthers have come out of nowhere after starting the season off incredibly slow, and are suddenly a contender for the NFC South title.

Carolina is on a three-game win streak against the Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets. In all fairness, those aren't exactly the most formidable opponents... but nobody thought the Panthers were any good a few weeks ago, either. Bryce Young has done well enough to lead his team behind center, but he will be sidelined for at least one week with a high ankle sprain. On the other hand, running back Rico Dowdle has had breakout performances in the team's latest victories. 

Can veteran Andy Dalton lead the Panthers to a win against Buffalo on Sunday? It's a tall ask, but a win would do wonders for the franchise heading into the second half of the season. 

3. Atlanta Falcons (3-3)

The Falcons could be the most hot-and-cold team in the entire NFL right now.

Atlanta dropped its third game of the season on Sunday night to an injury-depleted San Francisco 49ers squad, just one week after knocking off a Super-Bowl contender Bills squad. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. varies week by week; he'll look like a young Cam Newton in one game, and be benched for Kirk Cousins the next. 

In all honesty, the franchise seems a bit lost right now. The Falcons are definitely still in the race for the NFC South title, but it's so easy to overlook them because they tend to take two steps back for every one step forward. 

4. New Orleans Saints (1-6)

Statistically, New Orleans could still win the NFC South. It's just not going to happen.

The Saints are one of the sloppiest, most fundamentally-lacking teams in the league this year. Aside from their lone win against the New York Giants, the team has been inconsistent across all units in nearly every game. Quarterback Spencer Rattler might not be "the guy" for the Black and Gold, and every other key player is either making rookie mistakes or aging out. 

New Orleans is thick in the middle of a rebuild season, which every team in the league has gone through at some point. Will they use the adversity to make themselves better, or will it crush them?