NFC South Week 13 Review: It’s a two-team race

This season, there are two clear tiers in the NFC South division: the hopeful and the hopeless.

While the Falcons and Saints continue to roll around in squalor, the Buccaneers and Panthers find themselves in the thick of the playoff race. Here’s the Week 13 NFC South review.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)

Week 13 Result: Buccaneers 20 – Cardinals 17

Week 14 Opponent: New Orleans Saints

The Buccaneers needed to bounce back after getting throttled by the Rams, and they delivered. Bucky Irving’s return gave the offense a much-needed boost and took the weight off of Mayfield’s shoulders, and that was needed because he had one of his more modest outings of the season.

Tampa Bay still controls the division, and three of their final five opponents have losing records. However, two of those games are against the Panthers, and those matchups will likely decide the division winner. Before the Buccaneers can worry about that, they need to take care of business against the Saints, who upset the Panthers earlier this season.

New Orleans Saints (2-10)

Week 13 Result: Saints 17 – Dolphins 20

Week 14 Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Saints continue their losing ways and are one of four teams with double-digit losses. They made a late push for a comeback, but the Dolphins denied their request. This team has shown heart during their 2025 campaign, but it’s clear they’re devoid of winning talent.

New Orleans is set to have a top pick this upcoming draft, but they still have five games to go before worrying about how they’ll use it. This weekend, they have the opportunity to play spoiler against the Buccaneers.

Carolina Panthers (7-6)

Week 13 Result: Panthers 31 – Rams 28

Week 14 Opponent: Bye Week

The Cardiac Cats are back in full force after taking down the best team in the NFC. Carolina has been nearly impossible to gauge. One week, they look like a fluid offense that can beat anyone, but on other occasions, they play like the Panthers of seasons past.

Regardless of what you think of this team, they have a winning record and have positioned themselves to make a push for the playoffs. They’ll get some much-needed rest before their final four games as they head into their Bye Week.

Atlanta Falcons (4-8)

Week 13 Result: Falcons 24 – Jets 27

Week 14 Opponent: Seattle Seahawks

One step forward and one embarrassing tumble backward. The Falcons find ways to lose games; they are poorly coached, and it shows every Sunday. Losing to this Jets team is the final dagger of the season, and hopefully this current regime’s future. Everyone deals with injuries and unfair circumstances; it’s part of the game, and this team has failed mightily when met with a crumb of adversity. Their hopes of winning the division have been obliterated, and now they have to take on a tough Seahawks team. A loss would officially eliminate them from the playoffs.

It’s a two-team race between the Panthers and Buccaneers, and we’ll get to see them duke it out twice over this final stretch. The Saints and Falcons will be playing for pride, but there isn’t much to be had at this point in the season.