How every NFC South team but the Falcons fared in Week 6

It’s common knowledge in sports that, if you take care of your own business, you don’t have to worry about anybody else as far as the standings are concerned.

While this is entirely true, getting some help along the way is never a bad thing. This column will be completely dedicated to the results of the other three NFC South teams throughout the season, and hopefully we’ll be able to bask in their failures together.

With the New Orleans Saints on a bye week and Atlanta facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the only other NFC South team to focus in on was the Carolina Panthers. Here’s how they fared in Week 6:

Washington Redskins 23, Carolina Panthers 17

This was certainly a surprising scoreline to witness in Week 6. The Redskins, who were beat down in more ways than one on national television last week, faced Carolina with a banged up unit and came away with a bounce-back win.

Alex Smith didn’t have a spectacular day — completing just 58.3% of his passes and throwing for only 163 yards — but he threw two touchdown passes and didn’t turn the ball over. Adrian Peterson had a strong game on the ground, rushing for 97 yards on 17 carries. The 23 solid but unspectacular points Washington’s offense scored was just enough.

On the other side of the ball, Cam Newton threw for 275 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Greg Olsen accounted for 48 of those yards in his return from injury, while Christian McCaffrey had a season-low 66 yards from scrimmage. Devin Funchess was Newton’s most effective target, accounting for a team-high 74 receiving yards and a touchdown catch.

Carolina found themselves down 20-9 in the fourth quarter and tried to make a late comeback for the second straight week, even having one final possession to try and win it, down 23-17 in the game’s late stages. Newton drove them down to the Washington 16-yard-line but from there turned it over on downs.

Oh, also it was former Panthers All-Pro CB Josh Norman who got the interception of Newton, and who forced another fumble in this game.

NFC South Standings after Week 6

1. New Orleans Saints (4-1 overall record; 1-1 divisional record) - Next at Ravens

2. Carolina Panthers (3-2 overall record; 0-1 divisional record) - Next at Eagles

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3 overall record; 1-1 divisional record) - Next vs. Browns

4. Atlanta Falcons (2-4 overall record; 2-1 divisional record) - Next at Giants (MNF)