Through three weeks of the 2026 NFL season, the NFC is starting to take shape, and Week 4 brings the calendar into October for all 32 teams. That’s the point where clubs have to stop floating along and start revealing what they really are.
The conference looks deep, even if there isn’t a true giant at the top just yet. There are plenty of competent teams in the mix, and that should sort itself out in the weeks ahead. For now, the NFC hierarchy is still being built on what these teams have shown so far in 2026.
At the bottom, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are alone in winless territory at 0-3. That already makes things bleak, and it gets worse with Baker Mayfield expected to miss about that same stretch after suffering a dislocated thumb. It’s not hard to imagine Tampa sliding to 0-6 with no first win in sight, because this has been a bad team across the board.
Change could be coming for the franchise, especially with Mayfield sidelined. Right now, the Buccaneers don’t seem to have much of an identity, and the outlook points toward a losing season.
Just ahead of them, the Atlanta Falcons finally got on the board in Week 3, and they did it in convincing fashion with a blowout win. That result has to feel like a step forward, but the bigger question is whether Michael Penix Jr. can stay on the field and show something the rest of the way.
If Penix does, the Falcons have enough talent on both sides of the ball to get back into the NFC South race. But in 2026, so much of their season is going to depend on what he brings to the table.
In Other News...
Falcons DT Maason Smith Has Extra Motivation In Saints Return
The Falcons head into Monday Night Football with a meaningful NFC South game on deck and a setting that carries a lot more weight than the usual division trip. Atlanta has played better lately behind key contributions from Michael Penix Jr. and Bijan Robinson, and the visit to New Orleans comes with the added backdrop of the 20th anniversary of the Saints' return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.
For Maason Smith, the night brings a personal layer the Falcons will be watching closely. The defensive tackle will play in his hometown for the first time as an NFL player, and the building itself carries its own history for him after he tore his ACL there while at LSU. It is the kind of return that can sharpen a player's focus, and it gives Atlanta another reason to be locked in for a game that matters in the division. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons QB Picture Just Got More Interesting After Penixs Packers Win
Michael Penix Jr. has given the Falcons a little more clarity under center after his win over the Packers, locking in at least a second straight start as Atlanta keeps sorting out its quarterback picture. The move comes with Tua Tagovailoa still working back from an oblique injury, and the former Week 1 starter has already settled into a backup role while supporting Penix in the meantime.
Tagovailoa is expected to remain the primary backup when the Falcons head into their next game against the Saints, which adds a layer of stability even as the depth chart remains in motion. For Atlanta, the immediate question is no longer just who starts next week, but how the team manages the balance between Penix's momentum and Tagovailoa's return to full availability. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Add Intrigue To Linebacker Battle With Former Vikings Defender
The Falcons are adding another name to an already crowded linebacker room, reportedly bringing in Brian Asamoah II as they continue sorting out the back end of the roster. Asamoah comes with experience from time with the Vikings and Bengals, and his path in Atlanta will likely start with special teams work while he tries to carve out a defensive role.
What makes the move interesting is the competition he is stepping into. Atlanta already carries five linebackers, including two rookies who have settled in as regular contributors, so there is not much obvious room to give away. That kind of setup usually turns every practice rep into a test, and Asamoahs arrival gives the Falcons one more player trying to force his way into the conversation. [Read more 🡒]