- What a difference one win can make. During the Falcons five game losing streak, the team wasn’t inventing new ways to lose. They were consistently losing each week with a faltering offensive line and a lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. One win against the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers at least changed the story for a week. The Falcons were able to record four sacks on the day and the offensive line was able to keep QB Matt Ryan clean enough to put up 27 points. While it’s premature to talk about the Falcons as a division contender, they are still 3-0 against the rest of the NFC South. Do they have a chance to be the best of the worst division in football? Sure. But let’s talk about that if they can earn another road win against the Panthers.
- The first place Saints have to be one of the most confusing teams in the NFL. I was under the belief that they were a team who was primed to make a run in November. After beating the Packers at home and getting a road win at Carolina, the Saints looked ready to take control of the NFC South. But then the San Francisco 49ers happened. The Saints, who had won their last 11 home games, suddenly find themselves at 4-5 with the Bengals, Ravens, and Steelers up next. They look like the best team in a bad division but I believe they are probably the 8th best team in the conference. The turnover prone Saints once again lost that battle in finishing -2 against the 49ers. The final turnover was obviously the difference in the game. I also can’t ever recall anyone being called for offensive pass interference in an end-of-game Hail Mary situation.
- I believe that Tampa coach Lovie Smith’s job is safe. His team is at least playing hard (unlike his former team in Chicago) but there are some aspects of the team that are more troubling than the 1-8 record. The Bucs are sloppy when it comes to penalties, ranking 10th in the league in penalties on the season. Smith’s team can’t be talent needy and sloppy. It’s like the movie Casino. You can have one or the other, but you can’t have both. Having both leads to a 1-8 record. Smith currently has a four year deal with a fifth year option. Moving on from him will cost the Buccaneers 15 million over the next three years. That’s why I believe he’s the coach in Tampa no matter how sloppy this thing gets.