After missing a golden chance to create some separation in the NFC South last week, the Bucs badly needed a win in Week 6 to avoid falling to .500 overall and 0-2 in divisional play. What should’ve been a good 10-day break between Weeks 5 and 6 ultimately came with a whole lot of adversity, as the team had to adjust its schedule and get to New Orleans early in the week with Hurricane Milton heading toward the Tampa Bay area.

It was an unusual week of preparation, but the fact remained that the Bucs needed a win over the Saints on Sunday. Otherwise, their hopes of four-peating as NFC South champions would’ve taken a tough hit — even if it’s only mid-October.

After trailing 27-24 at halftime, Tampa Bay’s offense scored 27 second-half points while the defense pitched a second-half shutout. That got Todd Bowles’ team the win it needed to get back on track and even its record at 1-1 in divisional play.

So, where do things stand in the NFC South race through Week 6 of the 2024 season? It’s time to break it all down.

NFC South Update: Week 6

Bucs RB Sean Tucker and C Robert Hainsey – Photo by: USA Today

Week 6 featured two NFC South matchups, with the first coming in New Orleans as the Bucs took on the Saints during the 1:00 window.

It was one of the wilder games in recent memory for Tampa Bay, as an opening-drive touchdown, a defensive score by Antoine Winfield Jr. and a Chase McLaughlin field goal gave the team a 17-0 advantage through one quarter.

But the Saints came roaring back with 27 points in the second half, highlighted by a Rashid Shaheed punt return touchdown and the first career passing touchdown for rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler. Sean Tucker’s first career touchdown kept the Bucs in it, though, and the visitors trailed 27-24 at halftime after an insane first 30 minutes.

The second 30 minutes were all Tampa Bay. The defense finally got some pressure on Rattler and intercepted him twice while holding the Saints scoreless. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers offense got an explosive, 55-yard touchdown from Baker Mayfield to Chris Godwin while the run game — carried by Tucker and Bucky Irving — went wild on New Orleans to the tune of 277 yards rushing and a pair of scores.

The Bucs won it in the end, dropping a 50-burger on the Saints in a 51-27 thrashing. That got Tampa Bay to 4-2 on the year, while it dropped New Orleans — once 2-0 — to 2-4.

Falcons RB Tyler Allgeier Photo by: USA Today

In the 4:00 p.m. window, the Falcons and Panthers squared off in Carolina. Atlanta fell behind early, but came right back and took a 22-10 lead on a pair of Bijan Robinson touchdowns and a touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins to Drake London.

The Panthers got within 22-17 on a touchdown pass from Andy Dalton to Xavier Legette and stayed within 25-20 in the third quarter, but the Falcons put the game away from there with a couple of Younghoe Koo field goals and a Tyler Allgeier touchdown.

Atlanta ran for 198 net yards in the win, with Allgeier running for 105 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries and Robinson scoring twice in addition to running for 95 yards on 15 carries.

Updated NFC South Standings After Week 6:

Atlanta Falcons 4-2 (3-0 in the NFC South)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-2 (1-1 in the NFC South)
New Orleans Saints 2-4 (1-2 in the NFC South)
Carolina Panthers 1-5 (0-2 in the NFC South)

🤫 pic.twitter.com/6ZIP3EkAN3

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 13, 2024

Bucs Are Coming Up On A Shot At Revenge

Falcons WR KhaDarel Hodge – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

While the Bucs and Falcons just met in Atlanta in in Week 5 in a game that saw the hosts come back late to win in overtime, the two teams are set to meet again in Tampa very soon.

Todd Bowles and Co. first have a Monday Night Football contest against the 4-2 Ravens in Week 7, while Raheem Morris’ squad plays host to the Seahawks the day before. But Week 8 will bring a chance at revenge for Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay hosts Atlanta on Oct. 27, which will be the team’s Creamsicle Game. The team badly needs to take down the Falcons in the rematch, as dropping that game and getting swept in the season series would be a significant disadvantage as they look to win the NFC South again.

Tampa Bay and Atlanta have split the season series in each of the first two seasons under Bowles, and it’ll hope to do so again. The divisional race feels primed to go down to the wire for the third straight year, and both head-to-head and divisional records could prove crucial.

First, the Buccaneers have to focus on the Ravens and hope to get themselves to 5-2 with a big Monday night win. But soon after that game goes final, it’ll be on to the rematch against the Falcons.