NFC South standings: How Buccaneers loss to Saints impacts divisional race with Panthers in Week 14

Someone is going to win the NFC South, and it looks like the divisional race is going to come down to the wire. 

The Carolina Panthers had a late bye week and were off in Week 14, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons were all in action. The Buccaneers and the Saints played each other, while the Falcons hosted the Seattle Seahawks. 

Tampa Bay was in the driver's seat for the NFC South title. Carolina had already lost to New Orleans earlier in the season. But the Buccaneers couldn't take care of business, and Saints quarterback Tyler Shough led his team to a huge divisional win, despite already being eliminated from playoff contention. 

The Falcons went into halftime tied with the Seahawks, but Seattle put the pedal to the metal. The Seahawks blew the Falcons out, winning 37-9. 

Here is more on how the Buccaneers' loss to the Saints impacts the NFC South divisional race in Week 14. 

MORE: Updated AFC, NFC playoff pictures in Week 14

NFC South standings

The NFC South has another tie atop the division. With the loss, the Buccaneers match the Panthers' record, who could benefit from being on bye. Tampa Bay currently has the tiebreaker in its favor. The Buccaneers and Panthers haven't played each other yet, so the tiebreaker rules then go best record in divisional games. Both teams are 2-1 currently in the NFC South. The third tiebreaker is record in common games, which favors Tampa Bay this week. 

While it may seem obvious to say the division will be decided in the final three weeks of the regular season, the reasoning is simple. The Buccaneers and Panthers play each other twice in the final three weeks of the season. Their second matchup comes in Week 18, and the division title itself and the playoff berth could be on the line. 

It is a two-team race in the South as the Falcons have officially been eliminated from playoff contention. 

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Buccaneers upcoming schedule

The Buccaneers won't have much time to sit on the loss as they host the Falcons for Week 15's "Thursday Night Football" game. Tampa Bay will then see Carolina in two of its last three games. The Week 17 game against Miami will only help for overall record and not divisional or conference record. For what it is worth, though, the Panthers beat the Dolphins in Week 5, so if Tampa Bay loses to Miami, it would give the Panthers a better result in common games if it goes to that tiebreaker. 

Panthers upcoming schedule

Carolina was off in Week 14 and remained in second place of the division. The Panthers have the chance to build some momentum against the Saints in Week 15, before a rough end to the season. Carolina will have to play Tampa Bay twice, and then have a date with the Seahawks and former quarterback Sam Darnold in Week 17. The Seahawks currently sit atop the NFC West at 10-3, and a loss by the Panthers could eliminate them from playoff contention depending on what happens in Weeks 15 and 16. 

Falcons upcoming schedule

Atlanta has two meaningful games left on its schedule. The Falcons have a chance to throw wrinkles into the Buccaneers' playoff push in Week 15 and the Rams' in Week 17, with both games slated for primetime. The Cardinals and Saints have already been eliminated from playoff contention. 

Saints upcoming schedule

New Orleans is eliminated from playoff contention. The Saints can get another win over the Panthers in Week 15 to hurt Carolina's playoff chances. Each of New Orleans' final three opponents in the regular season have all been eliminated from playoff contention, so the Saints will be competing for their draft slot.