Here We Go Again: The 2023 NFC South

You know how every reality show has that trainwreck cast member who we just can't quit watching, no matter how much we should just look away? That's the NFC South in the NFL. And apparently, the football gods liked seeing this division go to pot so much, that they decided to bring back this wacky recurring character for a second season.

I'm dead serious, I didn't think this division would be this bad again. Usually when NFL divisions go to pot, they get better the next year. This is not the case with the NFC South. It's actually worse than last year. This time last season, the NFC South had a combined 20 wins. This year, 19 total wins.

Fittingly, the Week 14 schedule included the NFC South teams facing each other, with both games taking place in the early window. The Atlanta Falcons entered this week in first place in the division at 6-6, and they were hosting the 5-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while the 5-7 New Orleans Saints hosted the one-win and long-eliminated Carolina Panthers. The Panthers/Saints game was over when it started. The Panthers were playing like a team with literally nothing to play for, because they didn't. No playoffs, no first round pick, nothing. The Saints couldn't help but capitalize on this and absolutely beat down Carolina by a score of 28-6.

The other NFC South game had all of the drama, as the Falcons and Buccaneers played quite the close game. It was back and forth throughout the entire game, and the ultimate clutch moment came in the final moments of regulation. Baker Mayfield led a big-time drive that was capped off by a go ahead touchdown reception from tight end Kyle Otton. Atlanta's last chance saw Desmond Ridder's Hail Mary pass to Drake London connect, but he was stopped about three yards short of winning the game. The Buccaneers won, 29-25 in Atlanta.

As a result of these games, we have a three way tie atop the NFC South...at 6-7. With four weeks left in the regular season, let's take a look at the three-team race for the division title.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

That's right. In this 6-7 NFC South logjam, it's the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who stand on top of the (garbage) heap. The Bucs currently hold the common games tiebreaker over the Falcons (4-2 over ATL's 3-3), and they do have head to head over the Saints. After a 3-1 start, the Bucs lost six of their following nine games, but they've won just enough to take over first place in this terrible division...barely. The expectations of the Bucs had been mystery this season, as this was their first after Tom Brady's three-year tenure ended with his (actual) retirement. I myself figured that the division would improve and the Bucs would take a step or two back, but lo and behold, the NFC South's worse than ever, and Tampa Bay has capitalized.

So Tampa Bay's in the driver's seat, but it gets tough for them. They will head to Lambeau after this, and the three games after this: vs JAX, vs NO, and @ CAR. Those first two are tough. I do sense a 2-2 split in the final four, but it may not be enough for the Bucs to repeat as NFC South Champions.

Atlanta Falcons

When the Atlanta Falcons took the division lead entering the final one-third of the season, I did hope that they would go on to win the division, mainly because I wanted something good for this team long after "28-3." It wasn't easy, but they did make it to the top of the division, but right now, they are in second place via tiebreakers. Their Week 12 win over the Saints keeps them ahead of New Orleans in the NFC South, and they do have quite a good chance of winning the division for the first time since that 2016 season that ended with the terrible collapse.

Atlanta's remaining schedule is an easy one: @ CAR, vs IND, @ CHI, @ NO. Only one home game, but two of the three road games are softballs. The Falcons basically have the easiest road to the NFC South crown out of the three teams in the race, though December/early January football brings out some strange happenings.

New Orleans Saints

Hard to believe that this is already Year Three of the post-Drew Brees era. The New Orleans Saints' first year (2021) actually saw them barely miss the playoffs, lasting up until the final week, but it was a downward slide from there. With Christmas two weeks away, the Saints find themselves with an outside shot at the NFC South, but they are in the bottom of a three-way tie here. Even crazier, the QB position remains an adventure; this year saw them pick up Derek Carr following his exile from the Raiders, though Jameis Winston has had to enter games when he was needed.

The Saints' final four games are as follows: vs NYG, @ LAR, @ TB, vs ATL. That is not a good schedule. For one, the Saints have the unfortunate distinction of being done with the Panthers. Secondly, their one softball opponent kicks off their final four games. It's followed by three games against three hungry NFC contenders, and two of them are on the road. Even worse, the game in LA is a Thursday game, meaning it's a long flight on short rest after hosting the Giants.

There is a good chance that Falcons/Saints may determine the division, but I don't know how good of a possibility that is. If so, we may see that matchup serve as the 272nd and final game of the regular season on Sunday Night Football on January 7, 2024. Well, football fans, the NFC South is bad once again, yet it's absolutely thrilling. Last year, the division was wrapped up in Week 17. I'm hoping Falcons/Saints ends up being for the division crown and ends the season. In any event, the race in the tepid NFC South is getting pretty interesting with just four weeks left in the regular season.