The nature of the NFC South meant that even at 1-5 two weeks ago, the Bucs still had a chance to get back in the race, especially with back-to-back games against the Panthers and Falcons in Weeks 7 and 8. The thought at the time was that if Tampa Bay won those two games, not only would the team be 3-5 with some positive momentum, but it would also have a 2-0 record within the division. That could go a long way in a close race.

Now, with all that said, was there much belief that the Bucs would take advantage of the opportunity in front of them? Did anyone (maybe outside of Pewter Report’s Matt Matera) actually think this team, with its anemic offense, would be able to string together back-to-back wins against its divisional foes, both of which had secured far better wins early on in 2026 and appeared ready to compete with each other for the division crown? No one could blame you if you didn’t think the Bucs could do it.

But they have. First, they dominated in all three phases on their way to a 43-13 road win over the Panthers in Charlotte last week. Then came Sunday, when the Bucs returned home and finally won in front of their fans at Raymond James Stadium, shutting out the Falcons 16-0 while posting a franchise-record 324 rushing yards.

Bucs RB Kenny Gainwell – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

And now, suddenly, Tampa Bay has life in the NFC South race.

After losing to the Bucs at home last week, the Panthers lost again four days later in a Thursday Night Football contest against the Packers at Lambeau Field. That dropped Carolina to 3-4 on the year, and it opened the door for Atlanta to take first place in the NFC South with a win in Tampa on Sunday.

Instead, Tampa Bay took care of business against Atlanta. As a result, the Falcons fell to 1-2 against the NFC South and 3-5 overall, which has them in third place. Meanwhile, the 3-5 Bucs are now 2-0 against the division and sit in second place, only a half-game behind the 3-4 Panthers. The 2-5 Saints, meanwhile, had a bye in Week 8 and remain in last place, though they’re only a game back of the division lead themselves.

What a division.

NFC South Standings Through Week 8

Carolina Panthers — 3-4 (1-1 vs. NFC South)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 3-5 (2-0 vs. NFC South) — 0.5 games back
Atlanta Falcons — 3-5 (1-2 vs. NFC South) — 0.5 games back
New Orleans Saints — 2-5 (0-1 vs. NFC South) — 1.0 game back

Bucs OLBs Rueben Bain Jr. and David Walker and Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

The calendar officially flipped to November on Sunday, and this will be a fascinating month within the NFC South as the race continues to take shape heading into Thanksgiving week, December and eventually the home stretch of the 2026 season.

Up next for the 3-5, second-place Bucs is one of their toughest games yet, a primetime road game against the 5-2 Bears next Sunday night. Winning at Chicago will be a tall task for Tampa Bay, though Week 9 presents challenges across the board for the rest of the teams throughout the division. The 3-4, first-place Panthers will play the 5-2 Broncos, though that game at least comes at home and after a 10-day mini-bye.

The 3-5, third-place Falcons have a long trip to Madrid ahead of them. There, they’ll take on the 5-2 Bengals. And for the 2-5, last-place Saints, it’s a home game against the 5-3 Browns. November will be grind for all four teams throughout the NFC South, and it should set up an interesting finish to this race.

November Schedules In The NFC South:

Panthers: vs. Broncos (5-2), at Saints (2-5), vs. Ravens (4-4), at Bucs (3-5)
Buccaneers: at Bears (5-2), BYE WEEK, at Lions (5-2), vs. Panthers (3-4)
Falcons: vs. Bengals (5-2), vs. Chiefs (5-1), BYE WEEK, at Vikings (6-1)
Saints: vs. Browns (5-3), vs. Panthers (3-4), at Bears (5-2), at Bengals (5-2)

Bucs Have Two Key NFC South Wins, But They’ll Need More

The Bucs are off to a great start with their six-game NFC South schedule given that they’ve now banked wins against the Panthers and Falcons to get out to 2-0 within the division. Those wins are crucial considering the team was 1-5 and may end up needing any and all tiebreakers it can get when it comes to deciding this division. But as big as these wins have been in Weeks 7 and 8, Tampa Bay has to stay hungry for more.

Obviously, any wins Todd Bowles and Co. can pick up outside the division along the way will help both with their overall record and in determining their record within the conference. The Bears game in Chicago next week and the Lions game in Detroit in Week 11 are both important. But then comes a massive rematch with the Panthers on Monday Night Football in Week 12.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and Panthers QB Bryce Young – Photo by: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

A Panthers win in that game means a split of the season series and costs the Bucs a head-to-head tiebreaker in the event that the two teams are even at the end of the season. But a victory in that game would secure a sweep and a tiebreaker for Tampa Bay, plus it would keep the team a perfect 3-0 within the division.

The remaining NFC South games come later in December and into January, with the Bucs first seeing the Saints at home Dec. 20 before a rematch with the Falcons the following week in Atlanta. Then, Tampa Bay’s regular season finale in Week 18 comes at the Superdome against New Orleans.

So, there’s still a long road ahead both in the big picture and within the NFC South slate. But there’s no denying that given their 1-5 start to the year, the Bucs are suddenly in a better-than-expected place in their quest for a fifth division title in the last six seasons.