FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The winner of the NFC South will be decided in Week 18.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers can each win the division on the final weekend of the regular season, although their paths are a little bit different. The Panthers' path is easiest and most straightforward, though, as they just need one of two things to happen whereas the Buccaneers need two things to happen.
Carolina Panthers win the NFC South if either of the following happens...
- They beat or tie the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- The Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay Buccaneers win the NFC South if both of the following happens...
- They beat the Carolina Panthers
- The New Orleans Saints beat the Atlanta Falcons
Neither potential division winner is particularly hot heading into Week 18, though. The Panthers have been alternating between wins and losses since Week 7, and the Buccaneers have just one win in their last eight games. In fact, the other NFC South matchup between the Falcons and Saints features the two teams with the most recent success. Atlanta has won its last three games, including an impressive Monday night win against the Los Angeles Rams, and New Orleans is on a four-game win streak.
Throughout the season, this piece will serve as a check-in on the four teams in the division, tracking their performance and noting the standout players from each game. Teams will be listed in the order of the division standing.
- Carolina Panthers (8-8 | 3-2 in division)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9 | 2-3 in division)
- Atlanta Falcons (7-9 | 2-3 in division)
- New Orleans Saints (6-10 | 3-2 in division)
Carolina Panthers
Last game: Lost 27-10 vs. Seattle Seahawks (13-3)
Offensive standout: RB Rico Dowdle
Carolina averaged just 2.7 yards per play in this game, so it's hard to say anybody stood out in a positive way. Dowdle did gain 59 yards on 12 carries, though.
Defensive standout: CB Mike Jackson
It's not usually a good sign when a cornerback is a team's leading tackler, and that's exactly what Jackson was for Carolina on Sunday. He was all over the place for the Panthers and even picked off Sam Darnold on the Seahawks' first possession of the second half.
Needs improvement: Offensive consistency
The Panthers are struggling to move the ball and score points on offense. In their last three games since the bye week, Carolina has scored just five touchdowns and has gained the third-fewest yards.
Telling quote: "It was going to come down to this game, us handling our business and facing the Bucs one more time on the last game of the season. Couldn't ask for a better situation for this. The guys are excited and fired up about that and we got to get over the fact that we missed an opportunity with the Bucs losing that game, but our focus has to go to the next one really quickly." – Panthers head coach Dave Canales
Up next: The Panthers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last game: Lost 20-17 at Miami Dolphins (7-9)
Offensive standout: WR Chris Godwin
Godwin finished with 108 yards and a touchdown on seven catches against Miami. On a day when Mike Evans was largely held in check, Godwin and second-year receiver Jalen McMillan carried the load for Tampa's passing game.
Defensive standout: OLB Yaya Diaby
The Buccaneers' pass rusher has been on a tear recently. He picked up his seventh sack of the season against the Dolphins and finished with six tackles and four stops.
Needs improvement: Turnover margin
Tampa Bay has not finished a game with a positive turnover margin during its current four-game losing streak. The Buccaneers turned the ball over three times against the Dolphins and recorded no takeaways. Given that each of the Buccaneers' last four losses was by four points or fewer, those swing plays loom large.
Telling quote: "Working on us – accountability and working on us. Not worrying about the opponent next week, not worrying about we have one more game to win and we get another chance to play in the playoffs or whatever the case may be, because it's a hard feeling when you lose that many a row and the way you lose them coming down to the end with the things that we've done to lose these ball games is frustrating, but we have to be grown men about this and look ourselves in the mirror. Success is a hard road, and right now we're taking the hard road." — Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles
Up next: The Buccaneers host the Carolina Panthers (8-8) on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Atlanta Falcons
Last game: Won 27-24 vs. Los Angeles Rams (11-5)
Offensive standout: RB Bijan Robinson
The NFL's scrimmage yard leader added another 229 in a dominant performance against the Rams. Robinson now has 2,255 scrimmage yards on the season, and he surpassed William Andrews on Monday night to set the Falcons' all-time mark in that category.
Defensive standout: S Xavier Watts
Although veteran Jessie Bates returned his second-quarter interception for a touchdown, it's the rookie who gets the shoutout here. His two interceptions were huge in helping the Falcons build a first-half lead and hold onto it in the second half. Atlanta's rookie defenders have been outstanding this year, and Watts stepped up on the big stage.
Needs improvement: Third-quarter play
The Falcons looked as strong as they had all season in the third quarter against Arizona, but it was a different story on Monday night. The Rams scored 17 points in the third quarter to storm back into the game after a dominant first half by Atlanta. The Falcons have been outscored by 54 points in the third quarters of games this season.
Telling quote: "I think these guys are fighters. I think these guys love football. I think the world of this football team. I think these guys are built for this. I told you earlier, I know we joke about it a lot, but I tell you, we have to find ways to win and they just found ways to win and they're doing that now. When you're talking about finding ways to win, you're talking about people making plays, you're talking about people doing exceptional jobs at a very high level and that's what we're seeing." – Falcons head coach Raheem Morris
Up next: The Falcons host the New Orleans Saints (7-9) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
New Orleans Saints
Last game: Won 34-26 at Tennessee Titans (3-13)
Offensive standout: QB Tyler Shough
The Saints may have something in their second-round quarterback out of Louisville. Shough has steadily been getting better since he became the Saints' starting quarterback in Week 9, and he had his best game Sunday against the Titans. The rookie was 22 of 27 for 333 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Defensive standout: OLB Chase Young
Atlanta has the division's best pass rush, but the Saints are a respectable 10th in NFL sack totals with 41 on the season. Young picked up 1.5 sacks against Tennessee, giving him 8.5 on the year. That's one sack behind the ageless Cameron Jordan, who leads New Orleans with 9.5. Both players will likely make a hard push to finish the year with double digits.
Needs improvement: Starting fast
This has been an issue for the Saints all season long, and it's remained one even during their current four-game win streak. On Sunday, the Titans built a 13-0 lead before the Saints scored their first points with under six minutes remaining in the second quarter.
Telling quote: "What everyone just watched is two quarterbacks that are probably going to be big-time quarterbacks in our league for a really long time. So, we're fortunate to have Tyler." - Saints head coach Kellen Moore
Up next: The Saints travel to play the Atlanta Falcons (7-9) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
