Atlanta Falcons

• Poor Falcons fans. And players. And coaches.

Another week and another late game blown, fourth-quarter lead and loss. This time to the hands of the Chicago Bears, who came back from being down 26-10 late to beat the Falcons, putting them at 0-3 on the season.

Head coach Dan Quinn told the media the blame is all his following the game on Sunday.

“Well, number one, it falls on me in all spaces,” Quinn said. “I want to make sure we’re clear on that. But we’re all in this together.”

Dan Quinn and Bruce Arians – Photo by: Getty Images

Quinn’s players have been defending him despite the back-to-back blown leads.

Carolina Panthers

• The Panthers surprised the Chargers, the Bucs’ next opponent, with a 21-16 road win. While it wasn’t a thing of beauty, it snapped a 10-game losing streak dating back to last season. The victory was the first for new head coach Matt Rhule.

“I felt relief,” Rhule told Joe Person of TheAthletic.com. “When those games come down to the wire, it’s like relief. It’s like, all right, we did it.

Panthers HC Matt Rhule and QB Teddy Bridgewater – Photo by: Getty Images

“For some of these guys, it’s been 10 straight losses. I don’t really carry that around with me. It’s been two [losses] and I see where we’re headed. But when you’re a young guy and that’s all you hear, it can start to weigh on you.”

• As expected, the Panthers placed running back Christian McCaffrey on the reserve/injured list after suffering an ankle injury against the Buccaneers. The earliest McCaffrey could return would be for their October 18 match-up with the Bears.

•  And in other news, last week the Panthers announced they have moved offensive lineman Chris Reed off the COVID-19 list to the active roster.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints are in unfamiliar territory, sitting at 1-2 on the season, according to head coach Sean Payton, who also said it is still frustrating.

“It’s been a while since we felt that, but three years ago, we were 0-2” Payton said as ESPN.com reported. “A little bit of a gut check, and yet we aren’t playing well enough. Let’s not fool ourselves. We’re making too many mistakes. We aren’t playing disciplined enough on both sides of the ball. That’s really just the truth.

Saints head coach Sean Payton and QB Drew Brees – Photo by: Getty Images

“You’re frustrated as a coach because that starts with us. We have to do a better job. We have to get ready to play a better game against Detroit [on the road next week].”

Quarterback Drew Brees agreed with his coach.

“If you’re a veteran player in this league, you know you are not guaranteed anything year to year,” Brees said. “You come out and have to earn it. Based on the last two losses, we need to take a hard look here. What we’re doing, how we’re doing it, we need to be doing it better, bottom line.

“Listen, I love our team. I love the way we work, the way we prepare. But obviously, there are things that need to be corrected so we can get back on track.”

Most assumed the continuity of the Saints, who are coming off back-to-back 13-3 seasons and three consecutive division titles, would give them an advantage in a season of firsts due to COVID-19, including no offseason programs or preseason games. So far that hasn’t been the case. Still, most would still say the Saints are the favorites to finish tops in the NFC South, although Bucs fans might disagree with Tampa Bay currently sitting on top at 2-1.

• Saints GM Mickey Loomis spoke to WWL Radio on Monday and talked about the tough loss to the Packers on Sunday night.

“We knew it was going to be a fight,” Loomis said. “We knew it was two good football teams and it was going to come down to a key play or two late in the game. And man, I thought, and I think we all thought that when we had the fourth-and-1 stop and got that ball back with the score tied that hey, that might be the key play that can propel us to a victory. And then shortly thereafter we turn it over and they get a score.

Saints QB Drew Brees and HC Sean Payton – Photo by: Getty Images

“I think it’s just a matter of paying attention to detail each and every day. We can’t put ourselves in the position of allowing an official to make a judgment – whether it’s a penalty or not a penalty. We’re good enough and we should be able to get to the point where one call isn’t going to make or break the game. Now, when you’re playing a tough opponent like the Packers that can happen. One or two key plays can make all the difference in the game.”

The Saints have a good chance of getting back on the winning track this Sunday as they take on the 1-2 Lions, although Detroit surprised previously unbeaten Arizona last Sunday.

• Penalties have hurt the Saints this year as much as anything. New Orleans has committed 24 penalties for 331 yards through the first three weeks, including eight for 83 yards on Sunday night.