NFC South Standings After Week 7: A Hellish Abyss From Which There Is No Return

Let's check in on the NFC South, shall we?

NFC South Standings

Carolina Panthers: 3-3-1
New Orleans Saints: 2-4
Atlanta Falcons: 2-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 1-5

That is one awful division, friends. The Panthers have at least mixed bursts of competence with their embarrassing losses, which is more than you can say for the Saints, Falcons and Buccaneers. The Bucs are probably dead in the water at this point at 1-5, but given the state of the South, it's possible that any of these teams could win it. The question is whether a team will finally take off and start playing well, or if the division winner is going to wind up with 7 or 8 wins.

The Panthers have Cam Newton and some talented defensive pieces, and they also have the lead. That's enough to project them as the favorites to take the crown, with the Falcons (if they can play offense with their current line) and the Saints (if they can get the defense together) in the mix. Lot of ifs there.

If you're hanging your hope on anything, hang it on the fact that the Falcons are still very much mathematically alive in the division race. For many reasons, I would hope that wouldn't make Arthur Blank think twice of  This is as bad as I can remember the NFC South being through seven weeks, I'll say that.

Your thoughts on how the South shakes out?