The NFC South title was up for grabs heading into Week 17 but we’ll need the final week of the NFL season to decide the winner.
The Falcons put themselves behind the 8-ball with a costly 37-17 loss to the Bears, and the Saints kept their NFC South title hopes alive with a crucial 23-13 win over the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay.
The Bucs entered the contest with a chance to clinch the division, riding a four-game win streak. The Saints’ stout defense kept Tampa Bay’s surging offense silent, holding its opponent scoreless until the final quarter. They forced four turnovers with two interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries, while Derek Carr played a mistake-free game with 197 yards and two touchdowns.
The win brings both the Saints and the Buccaneers to an even 8-8 record, while the Falcons sit one game back at 7-9 heading into Week 18. Who does each team close the season against and who owns the tiebreaker to have an edge for the division crown? The Sporting News takes a closer look below.
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NFC South standings
| Rank | Team | Record | Div. Record | Tiebreaker |
| 1. | Buccaneers | 8-8 | 3-2 | Wins tiebreaker over NO on win pct. in common games |
| 2. | Saints | 8-8 | 3-2 | |
| 3. | Falcons | 7-9 | 3-2 | |
| 4. | Panthers | 2-14 | 1-4 |
The Buccaneers remain in first for the time being despite their Week 17 loss to the Saints.
Tampa Bay defeated New Orleans in their first matchup back in Week 4, canceling out the head-to-head aspect of the tiebreaker. Since they both have the same record against NFC South opponents, the tiebreaker falls on whoever has the better record in common games and the Buccaneers hold that edge.
Buccaneers path to win NFC South
Because the Buccaneers own the tiebreaker, they face a win-and-in situation against the last-place Panthers on the road in Week 18. If Tampa Bay defeats Carolina, it wins the NFC South and earns a home game in the first round of the playoffs.
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Saints path to win NFC South
The Saints’ only path to an NFC South title is a win over the Falcons in New Orleans and a Buccaneers loss to the Panthers in Week 18.
That scenario would make the Saints the only nine-win team in the division.
Falcons path to win NFC South
Atlanta didn’t help its case with a loss to the Bears in Week 17 but it still has a realistic chance to win the division.
If the Falcons defeat the Saints and Tampa Bay loses to the Panthers, Atlanta will win the NFC South.
In that scenario, all three teams battling for the crown will be 8-9 and the Falcons (4-2 vs. NFC South teams) would have a better record against the division than both the Buccaneers (3-3) and Saints (3-3).