The Falcoholic
For the third straight week, only one team in the division won a game. This was the NFC South we were raised on; this is home. Here’s the Week 12 NFC South review.
Week 12 Result: Buccaneers 7 – Rams 34
Week 13 Opponent: Arizona Cardinals
The Buccaneers have lost three in a row after going through a mini-gauntlet that included the Patriots, Bills, and Rams. Early-season hype has died down, and this team looks good by NFC South standards, but that’s a low bar. Todd Bowles’ defense has been getting shredded, but you also have to live and die with the volatility that comes with Baker Mayfield.
Now the Buccaneers could be without him altogether, and Teddy Bridgewater is a good man, but he looked over the hill in his limited outing. Tampa Bay faces off with a scrappy Jacoby Brissett-led Cardinals next.
Week 12 Result: Saints 10 – Falcons 24
Week 13 Opponent: Miami Dolphins
This is not a good football team, just look at how competent they made the Falcons appear. The kicker got the yips, Alvin Kamara left the game early, and the defense just isn’t talented enough to compete without any support from the offense. Tyler Shough quarterback play can be described as chaotic.
The Saints are going to give him the rest of the season to prove himself, but he’s looking like a project that isn’t worth their time. He’ll have a good opportunity to make his case against the Dolphins this weekend.
Week 12 Result: Panthers 9 – 49ers 20
Week 13 Opponent: Los Angeles Rams
Bryce Young didn’t play the Falcons this week, which means he went back to being a below-average quarterback. The Panthers had the perfect opportunity to take control of this division, Brock Purdy gave them multiple chances, but Carolina sputtered on offense.
They’re still second in the division, but this was a game that playoff-caliber teams win, but the Panthers look like pretenders. They’ll have to go up against a Rams team that just obliterated the Buccaneers.
Week 12 Result: Falcons 24 – Saints 10
Week 13 Opponent: New York Jets
The Falcons snapped their five-game win streak and recorded their first division win of the season. “We are so back” – Arthur Blank (probably). Kirk Cousins and the offense looked good, but the Falcons (and their fans) need to focus on the fact that they’re 4-7, not two games out of first place. There’s a lot of work to be done before the team that’s 1-3 in the division worries about anything other than the next game on the schedule. The Falcons have another favorable matchup this week against the Jets.
Everyone’s come into form, the Falcons are doing their traditional “we’re not dead yet” bit, the cardiac cats are driving their fans to the edge, Tampa Bay is living and dying by Mayfield madness, and the Saints are...
