In the American Football Conference all four teams that comprise the East Division have winning records. That is equally uncommon as a division with four teams having no team with a winning record.
That could be the case after this weekend's National Football League action in both the NFC and AFC South Divisions. The leader in the NFC South is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have a one game edge over both the seven wins and eight losses compiled by the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints.
In the AFC South Division, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans all own records of eight wins and seven losses and they don’t play each other this weekend so all three could lose and still be tied at 8 and 8.
Oh yeah, this is going to generate some intense football over the next two weekends while the NFL lands the 14 teams that will advance to the postseason. The league eliminated eight teams from postseason possibilities over the first 16 weeks of the 2023 campaign, and will drop ten more squads from Super Bowl consideration over the next two.
The Jaguars were in a prime spot to claim the top seed in the AFC four weeks ago, but now have dropped four straight games and are looking to hang onto a playoff spot. In the NFC South, no team has taken control of this division since the start of the season. When one pulls ahead, the division acts like a barrel of crabs where the others will pull one down before it can escape.
The Buccaneers, Falcons and Saints have all taken their turn at the top of their division race. Currently, on the heels of four straight wins, the Buccaneers have risen to the top. This week, they host the New Orleans Saints with a chance to eliminate Dennis Allen’s team from a postseason possibility.
If rosters are compared it can be argued that the Saints have the best in the NFC South. But talent on paper is as useless as a losing lottery ticket if the team doesn’t perform on the field. And the Saints have stumbled more often this year than a drunk leaving a bar after closing. In fact, if they don’t crack the playoff field this season, Head Coach Allen is clearly on the chopping block.
So, what do the Saints and Buccaneers have to play for this weekend?
With a win the Bucs wrap up the division. Even if they only tie the Saints, if that is coupled with a Falcons loss the Saints advance to the playoffs. Atlanta is in Chicago and an underdog at Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears.
Oh yes, the Buccaneers really want this win.
If the Saints don’t get the upset road victory in Tampa they are out, kaput, done for the year and Allen faces a possible firing squad.
The Saints need this win.
In a division that has not seen any team take a major step away from the pack, coupled with the need versus want edge, the Saints survive for at least another week while ending the Buccaneers four game winning streak.
Qoxhi Picks: New Orleans Saints (+2½) over Tampa Bay Buccaneers