We are a third of the way through the NFL season. The contenders have been identified and the pretenders have been unmasked. There are no undefeated teams left, a head coach has been fired, and speculation of the trade deadline is looming. A translucent image of the playoff landscape has emerged.
The NFC South has been playing good football as of late. Unlike the New Orleans Saints, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, and Carolina Panthers have each won consecutive games entering Week 7. Here is where the NFC South Standings sit through Week 6:
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5-1
- Atlanta Falcons 3-2
- Carolina Panthers 3-3
- New Orleans Saints 1-5
The Buccaneers’ fifth win of the season was their first victory by more than three points. They defeated the San Francisco 49ers 30-19. This was a huge win for Baker Mayfield and the Bucs. Much of their offensive core was out with injury. Week 7 inactives included Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr, Jalen McMillan, and Bucky Irving. Emerging star rookie Emeka Egbuka was lost early in the game to a hamstring injury.
Playing without his top four wide receivers and starting running back, Baker completed 17-of-23 pass attempts for 256 yards and 2 touchdowns, earning a 139.0 Passer Rating. A 15-yard scramble on a crucial 3rd-and-14 late in the game cemented Baker’s MVP game.
The Falcons took a huge step forward in Week 6, beating the 4-1 Buffalo Bills in primetime. Atlanta’s young playmakers stepped up. Michael Penix Jr. managed the game efficiently with 250 passing yards and a 97.1 Passer Rating, Drake London put up a monstrous stat line with 10 catches for 158 yards and a touchdown, and superstar running back Bijan Robinson had the best game of his career, rushing for 170 yards, including an 81-yard TD, and catching six passes for 68 yards.
The Panthers continue to make strides under second-year head coach Dave Canales. The Week 7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys was Bryce Young’s most efficient game of the season, with a 114.8 Passer Rating.
The real story for Carolina over the last two weeks is running back Rico Dowdle. Stepping in for the injured Chuba Hubbard, Dowdle made it back-to-back weeks with over 180 rushing yards. Against his former team, Dowdle ran for 183 yards on 30 carries and caught four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown.
Though the Saints fell to 1-5, they played the now 4-2 New England Patriots through the final whistle. Spencer Rattler looked like the elite 5-star recruit he once was, posting a 93.2 PFF Offense Grade. New Orleans’ offense kept New England’s defense off-balance, running the ball to set up the play action pass.
The Saints’ best offensive playmaker, Chris Olave, entered the contest averaging 7.4 yards per reception. He was featured in the deep passing game against the Patriots, recording a 53-yard reception early in the game and averaging 16.3 yards per reception.