The Buccaneers and Panthers each secured wins in thrilling fashion, and the Saints earned their first victory.
Will McFadden
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.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. The NFC South enjoyed a flawless weekend while the Atlanta Falcons were off for their bye.
Of course, that's not the outcome Falcons fans wanted, but it's life in the NFL. Early on, this year's division race looks like it could be competitive. However, the Buccaneers have gained an early lead and look formidable on the field. The Falcons won't get the chance at payback for their Week 1 loss against Tampa Bay until Week 14. Like Tampa, Carolina's win featured a thrilling finish, and it's one that kept the Panthers from falling in a big hole early. The Saints took a step towards digging out of their own hole, claiming their first victory of the season and the first win for Kellen Moore as a head coach.
Let's take a moment to catch up on how the NFC South teams looked in Week 5.
**NFC South standings after Week 5**
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last game:38-35 win @ Seattle Seahawks (3-2)
Offensive standout:QB Baker Mayfield
Mayfield is quietly off to an MVP-caliber start, and he once again led the Buccaneers to a resilient win. While Emeka Egbuka continued his breakout campaign with seven catches for 163 yards and a touchdown, Mayfield was virtually flawless.
Defensive standout:LB Lavonte David
David wasn't perfect in coverage, but the veteran linebacker made the game-changing play when it mattered. His interception with under a minute remaining allowed the Bucs to eventually kick the game-winner.
Needs improvement:Red zone defense
The Buccaneers' offense has been rolling, but their defense has kind of made that a necessity. They are giving up more than 26 points per game, thanks in part to a red zone defense that ranks 29th.
Telling quote:It says we've matured. We're finally playing 59, 60 minutes, and (getting) wins early. Got to keep stacking them. They're hard to come by. We're playing good teams, and with injured guys all over the place, and those guys come here and win with a long plane ride says a lot about them. Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles
Vibe check:High
Up next:Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET vs. San Francisco 49ers (4-1)
Atlanta Falcons
Last game:Bye Week
Offensive standout:N/A
Defensive standout:N/A
Needs improvement:Scoring
The Falcons went into their bye week fresh off their best offensive performance of the season, but were their 34 points against Washington a sign of things to come or just a good day at the office? If it's the former, Atlanta likely won't be 26th in scoring for much longer.
Telling quote:"It's definitely a chance to go back and look at everything that you've done from all three phases of the ball and find out what you can do better and what you can add to it, or what you can take out, what you don't like. So, it's always a good time to look at those things and do those things." Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on the bye week.
Vibe check:Refreshed
Up next:Monday, 7:15 p.m. ET vs. Buffalo Bills (4-1)
Carolina Panthers
Last game:Win 27-24 vs. Miami Dolphins (1-4)
Offensive standout:RB Rico Dowdle
Given the opportunity to start, Dowdle was one of the most electric players of the weekend. He gained 206 total yards and scored once while averaging 9 yards per carry. Per Next Gen Stats, Dowdle gained 105 rushing yards over expectation.
Defensive standout:S Trevon Moehrig
Moehrig has been a nice addition for Carolina's defense and he was all over the field on Sunday, finishing with three tackles for a loss and seven total stops.
Needs improvement:Passing offense
Bryce Young threw for nearly 200 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, and he was efficient throwing outside the numbers. However, the Panthers average the third-fewest yards per pass play, which will hold them back.
Telling quote: "Lots of stuff to work on, but again, just the fight in this team, the belief in each other to continue to play, to continue to troubleshoot and find solutions together. I thought that was the biggest thing that I came out with today was guys were talking in between series and, (when) things happened, they collectively got together. They went out there, fixed some things, and continued to play well." Panthers head coach Dave Canales
Vibe check:Solid
Up next:Sunday, 1 p.m. ET vs. Dallas Cowboys (2-2-1)
New Orleans Saints
Last game:Win 26-14 vs. New York Giants (1-4)
Offensive standout:WR Rashid Shaheed
Shaheed's 87-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter was a breakthrough moment for the Saints' offense in this game. He finished with four catches for 114 yards and the score.
Defensive standout:CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
The first two interceptions of McKinstry's career could not have come at a better time for the Saints. His two turnovers in the fourth quarter kept the Giants from mounting any significant comeback attempt.
Needs improvement:Red zone offense
The Saints rank 29th in offensive efficiency inside of the red zone.
Telling quote:"I think our guys have grown a lot through this journey. We know we have played some good football. We haven't earned the wins. That is certainly the ultimate goal, but I think our guys battled each and every week." Saints head coach Kellen Moore
Vibe check:Improving
Up next:Sunday, 1 p.m. ET vs. New England Patriots (3-2)
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