The NFC South tightened up in Week 6, and the Falcons are still right in the middle of it despite taking another hit.
Atlanta dropped its second straight game Sunday, falling 31-23 to the Chicago Bears and slipping to 2-4. That result didn’t blow up the division picture, but it did open the door for the teams chasing them.
New Orleans took advantage. The Saints beat the New York Giants 34-27 to move to 2-4 as well, pulling even with Atlanta in the standings. The Falcons still hold the current tiebreaker, but the margin is gone.
Carolina remains in front after a 25-14 win over an undermanned Philadelphia Eagles team. The Panthers improved to 3-2 and kept the top spot in the division.
Tampa Bay also lost ground. The Buccaneers fell 26-19 to the Pittsburgh Steelers, dropping to 1-5. That kind of record would end the discussion in most divisions, but in the NFC South, the Bucs are still just one game back of Atlanta and New Orleans heading into Week 7.
Here’s how the division looks going into the next round of games:
Carolina Panthers (3-2)
Atlanta Falcons (2-4)
New Orleans Saints (2-4)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5)
Atlanta’s next test is a big one at home against the San Francisco 49ers, who are coming in on a short week after appearing on Monday Night Football. It’ll also be former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris’ first trip back to Atlanta since he was fired after the 2025 NFL season finale.
Morris is now the 49ers defensive coordinator, and the source notes that he should be plenty motivated to show Arthur Blank and Matt Ryan what they’re missing.
The Saints head overseas next, taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers in France on Sunday morning. Carolina closes out the week by hosting Tampa Bay on Sunday afternoon.
In Other News...
Falcons Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Quarterback Depth
Michael Penix Jr. gave the Falcons a spark in the loss to the Bears, throwing three touchdown passes in a 31-23 defeat, but the aftermath made it clear the team still wanted more certainty behind center. Atlanta moved quickly to address its quarterback room, adding a veteran with a long league rsum after he was recently let go by Philadelphia.
The addition gives the Falcons another experienced option as they sort out their depth at the position, and it comes with some immediate roster housekeeping attached. Atlanta is also parting with Desmond Ridder, a move that underscores how seriously the team is taking the need for stability as it looks to regroup after the Chicago loss. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Backup QB Spot
The Falcons made a notable adjustment behind Michael Penix Jr., adding a familiar veteran presence to the quarterback room as they look to stabilize the depth chart. Atlanta is keeping Tua Tagovailoa in the backup mix, but the move brings in Andy Dalton, whose experience is expected to give the team a steadier option behind the rookie starter.
The roster change also means Cooper Rush is out after being moved off the 53-man roster to make room, a clear sign Atlanta wanted a different kind of insurance at the position. For a team trying to keep its quarterback situation organized, the switch suggests the Falcons value Daltons track record and voice in the room as much as whatever he might be asked to do on game day. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Have A Return Game Problem They Can't Ignore
Atlantas return game has become a problem the Falcons can no longer treat as a one-off. In the loss to the Bears, rookie Zachariah Branch put the ball on the ground twice in special teams action, and those mistakes fed directly into a game the Falcons let slip away while their larger issues continued to pile up.
Branchs miscues came in different phases of the return game, the kind of errors that can change field position in a hurry and give an opponent life. For a team already dealing with broader struggles, the pressure now is not just to clean it up, but to decide how much trust to keep placing in that part of the roster going forward. [Read more 🡒]