While most NFL divisions are still unsettled, aside from the AFC South, there isn’t a race tighter than the NFC South, with three of the four teams still in play for the division crown. Three weeks ago, it appeared the Atlanta Falcons or New Orleans Saints would be in the best position to earn a trip to the postseason.
Now, after three consecutive wins, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers find themselves on top of the NFC South, but only by half a game. A year ago, all it took was eight wins to win the division, with the other three teams coming up just short, with seven wins apiece.
We could see a similar story this year, where it only takes eight or nine wins to clinch a playoff spot. With three games left to play for the Bucs and Falcons and just two left for the Saints, we’re bound to see a few more shifts before the regular season ends.
David Tepper has already made a coaching change in Carolina, with the Panthers set to hire a new coach for the third time in four years. Yet, there’s also a sense that the other three coaches in the NFC South could be on the outs too.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, all three remaining head coaches in the NFC South are “being evaluated” by team ownership.
Reports have been all over the place on Arthur Smith’s job security in Atlanta, and rattling off two wins in a row, putting the Falcons back in playoff contention, could help swing factors in his favor.
Then there’s New Orleans, who has helped maintain pace since Sean Payton left the Saints, yet they also haven’t established themselves as the class of the division.
In Tampa Bay, Todd Bowles has also led a middling effort, but the Buccaneers are hot right now and are the current division leaders. All this was done without Tom Brady, who led Tampa Bay to eight wins a season ago. Don’t look now, but Baker Mayfield has the Bucs at seven wins with three games left to play. Could Bowles really be fired after going from Brady to Mayfield, yet possibly improving the team’s win total?
All of that is still up in the air, but as of now. it appears all options are on the table in the NFC South.