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The Athletic Power Rankings - NFC South

Zod

By Zod,
in Carolina Panthers

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Zod Grand Master

Zod

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2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)

Previous rank: 2

Week 1 result: Beat the Cowboys, 31-29

Overreaction: That pass defense, so good down the stretch on the way to the Super Bowl, let Dak Prescott throw for 403 yards on (checks notes) one million screen passes. Four turnovers by the offense is one more than they had in any game last year, and if it weren’t for missed kicks and terrible red-zone efficiency, the Cowboys might have pulled off a huge upset. — Auman

Reality check: We saw lapses from the Bucs’ secondary at times last year, too, and they figured it out. Losing Sean Murphy-Bunting is a setback, but for now, I have faith in that group, especially when facing less-dangerous passing offenses than it saw in Week 1. — Jones

 

5. (tie) New Orleans Saints (1-0)

Previous rank: 17

Week 1 result: Beat the Packers, 38-3 (in Jacksonville)

Overreaction: Drew who? Jameis Winston had five touchdowns and zero interceptions in his first Saints start. In 70 starts with the Bucs, he had one game with more than four TDs and no picks. But if the Saints can beat Green Bay by 35 without Michael Thomas and David Onyemata and Wil Lutz and such, maybe they can challenge the Bucs for another NFC South title after all. — Auman

Reality check: Fair reaction! The Saints were one of the biggest surprises of Week 1, and that just makes the NFC South all the more interesting. — Jones

 

23. Carolina Panthers (1-0)

Previous rank: 24

Week 1 result: Beat the Jets, 19-14

Overreaction: Sam Darnold! Robby Anderson! Against the Jets, no less. It’s only the sixth time in his 39 career games Darnold has accounted for multiple touchdowns without any interceptions. The defense took a shutout late into the third quarter, so maybe things are on the rise in Matt Rhule’s second season with Carolina. Perhaps they catch the Saints overconfident? — Auman

Reality check: Darnold gets somewhat lucky in that he’ll face a Saints team without Marshon Lattimore. But I don’t think his streak of games without a turnover lasts long. — Jones

 

29. Atlanta Falcons (0-1)

Previous rank: 26

Week 1 result: Lost to the Eagles, 32-6

Overreaction: Ouch. People thought Philadelphia was a bottom-five team, and it dominated Atlanta. The Falcons totaled 77 net yards on their final nine drives after peaking with two field goals to open the game. Can they miss Julio Jones that much? Can Mike Davis be a starting-caliber running back? Are they going to be picking in the top five again next spring? At least Kyle Pitts had four catches for 31 yards. Sigh. — Auman

Reality check: Somehow, the Falcons’ offense was even worse on a second viewing than it was live. Just really rough all around. Sorry, Atlanta. — Jones

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