Carolina isn’t out of the conversation just because they are out of the picture
The 8-7 Atlanta Falcons currently lead the 8-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the NFC South divisional crown thanks to their Week 5 and Week 8 sweep of the Bucs. Traditionally, they would be seen as the team in control of this division with two weeks left to play in the 2024 regular season. The 5-10 New Orleans Saints are rightfully irrelevant to the rest of this conversation. The 4-11 Carolina Panthers would be, as well, but for a fun quirk of their scheduling: they face both the Bucs and the Falcons in these final two weeks.
The Bucs have the more favorable schedule down the stretch, facing both us and the Saints. While the Falcons have to play the Washington Commanders on the road this week. That has the Bucs as slight favorites by betting odds to take the division.
The Panthers are in prime position to change this conversation in any number of ways. A win against either the Bucs or the Falcons throws the whole race into chaos. It may be thin soup compared to actually getting to play in the playoffs, but it’s still a lot of fun compared to the largely irrelevant Januaries of years past.
Who gets to take the division? Will it be the Falcons, a team in the midst of a quarterback change? The Bucs, a team that seems incapable of breaking out of the mire of the worst division in football? And will the Panthers get to decide their fates? Sound off in the comments to below to let us know your take.