NFC South 2026-27 Preview: Simulations Split Tampa Bay and Atlanta, and the Division Favorite Keeps Changing
Posted: 9/2/2026 12:30:35 PM
The NFC South spent a decade as the NFL’s “anybody can win it at 8-9” division. In 2025 the bottom stayed familiar even when the top changed. Tampa Bay went 10-7 and led the division in scoring at 29.5 points per game. Atlanta went 8-9 and tied the Bucs at 4-2 inside the division. Carolina and New Orleans both went 5-12. Carolina also allowed 31.4 points per game, the worst defensive number in the league. ESPN’s NFC South roundtable still frames 2026-27 as a four-team scramble with rookie stars, quarterback questions, and enough rivalry heat to make every second meeting matter.