It might have solely been Week 8, however the Bucs got here into Sunday understanding their matchup towards the Falcons could be considered one of their largest of the season – if not the most important. In spite of everything, it had main NFC South implications. In its quest to four-peat as division champions, Tampa Bay actually wanted a win in its annual creamsicle sport.
The Falcons got here in seeking to sweep the Bucs, enhance to 4-0 in divisional play and take management of the race by means of eight weeks. For Tampa Bay, a cut up and bettering to 2-1 contained in the division whereas dropping Atlanta to 3-1 would preserve issues alive within the tiebreaker – one thing that got here in useful in each 2022 and 2023.
However head coach Todd Bowles’ group couldn’t get it finished.
It was tight early on at 7-7, however the Falcons went on a 24-10 run between the second and third quarters and a last-ditch comeback try fell quick because the Bucs misplaced 31-26 and dropped back-to-back video games to fall to 4-4.
So, the place do issues stand within the NFC South race by means of Week 8 of the 2024 season? It’s time to interrupt all of it down.
NFC South Replace: Week 8
Falcons QB Kirk Cousins – Picture by: USA At the moment
The spotlight of the NFC South slate in Week 8 was clearly the rematch between the Bucs and Falcons at Raymond James Stadium. After collapsing late and shedding 36-30 in time beyond regulation again in Week 5 at Atlanta, Tampa Bay wanted to win Sunday in its creamsicle sport to even the season sequence and take excessive spot within the division in the meanwhile. But it surely was all the time going to be robust, each due to its struggles with the Atlanta offense and the truth that Mike Evans and Chris Godwin had been each sidelined.
Even with out Evans and Godwin, the Bucs’ offense received going early, getting them out to a 14-7 lead at one level. However the Falcons scored 14 straight and would by no means relinquish their lead from there. They took a 24-17 lead into halftime and went up 31-17 within the third quarter earlier than a late 9-0 run within the fourth noticed Tampa Bay fall quick in a 31-26 closing.
For the victors, Kirk Cousins was dominant as soon as once more. He accomplished 23 of his 29 passes for 276 yards and 4 touchdowns, giving him 785 yards and eight touchdowns in two video games towards Todd Bowles and the Bucs this season. Darnell Mooney was his main receiver on the day, catching 5 of his seven targets for 92 yards and a landing. But it surely was Kyle Pitts proper behind him, because the tight finish caught 4 of his 5 targets for 91 yards and two touchdowns.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and TE Cade Otton – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Three turnovers didn’t assist the Bucs both, however the protection was largely at fault on Sunday given its incapacity to deal with Cousins and the Atlanta offense. Baker Mayfield threw for 330 passing yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions on 37-of-50 passing, with Cade Otton arising enormous within the absence of Evans and Godwin. The third-year tight finish adopted up his first profession 100-yard sport in Week 7 with one other large day in Week 8 as he caught a career-high 9 of 10 targets for 81 yards and two touchdowns.
The freefall continued for the Saints in Week 8 as they misplaced their sixth straight sport after beginning 2-0. This time, it was a 26-8 street loss to the Chargers wherein they failed to attain an offensive landing. New Orleans took a 2-0 lead on a security, however as soon as it fell behind 3-2, they by no means led once more. Dennis Allen’s group was inside 16-8 going into the fourth quarter, however the Chargers scored 10 straight to complete the sport.
The Saints benched Spencer Rattler after he began 12-of-24 for 156 yards. Jake Haener didn’t fare any higher, going 9-of-17 for 122 yards. New Orleans went simply 2-of-16 on third downs within the loss.
With quarterback Bryce Younger again beneath heart, the Panthers began quick and took a 7-0 lead early in Denver. However the Broncos scored the following 28 factors and went on to win 28-14, dropping Carolina to 1-7. Younger went 24-of-37 for 224 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions whereas the Panther protection allowed Denver to go 11-of-17 on third downs and noticed rookie quarterback Bo Nix throw for 284 yards and three touchdowns on 28-of-37 passing.
Up to date NFC South Standings After Week 8:
Atlanta Falcons 5-3 (4-0 within the NFC South)Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-4 (1-2 within the NFC South)New Orleans Saints 2-6 (1-2 within the NFC South)Carolina Panthers 1-7 (0-2 within the NFC South)
Bucs Harm Extra Than Simply Their NFC South Title Hopes In Week 8
Bucs HC Todd Bowles and Falcons HC Raheem Morris – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
The loss to the Falcons in Week 8 definitely harm the Bucs’ possibilities of four-peating as NFC South champions. The most effective that Tampa Bay can end in divisional play at this level is 4-2, and the worst that Atlanta can end contained in the division is 4-2. Given the head-t0-head sweep, Raheem Morris’ group has already captured the all-important tiebreaker within the NFC South race solely eight weeks into the season.
Due to that, the 4-4 Bucs must go on fairly the run over their closing 9 video games and end the common season with a greater win-loss report than the 5-3 Falcons. Listed here are each groups’ remaining schedules:
Tampa Bay: at KC (7-0), vs. SF (3-4), BYE, at NYG (2-5), at CAR (1-7), vs. LV (2-6), at LAC (4-3), at DAL (3-3), vs. CAR (1-6), vs. NO (2-6)Atlanta: vs. DAL (3-3), at NO (2-6), at DEN (5-3), BYE, vs. LAC (4-3), at MIN (5-2), at LV (2-6), vs. NYG (2-5), at WSH (6-2), vs. CAR (1-7)
The purpose is, the Bucs now have little or no margin for error the remainder of the way in which. And this group is clearly imperfect, that means it’s certain to have some slip-ups right here and there even down the stretch when the schedule will get lighter. It’s not unattainable for Tampa Bay to complete with a greater report than Atlanta and make the tiebreaker meaningless. It’s simply that it’s a troublesome hill to climb.
Bucs ILB Lavonte David and Eagles QB Jalen Hurts – Picture by: USA At the moment
Past their NFC South probabilities, the Bucs additionally harm their possibilities of making it to the playoffs for the fifth straight season. With the power of the NFC North, the way in which each Philadelphia and Washington are taking part in within the NFC East (with the surface risk that Dallas ultimately will get it collectively, too) and the gang of rivals within the NFC West, Tampa Bay additionally has little or no room for error so far as the NFC Wild Card race goes.
Proper now, it’s a crowded image. It’ll kind itself out over the following a number of weeks, however the Bucs may have quite a lot of competitors to take care of for a type of closing playoff spots if they will’t overcome the chances and beat out the Falcons within the NFC South. They had been on the surface trying in at first of Week 8, and their loss will solely knock them down some extra.
There’s an extended approach to go, but when Tampa Bay fails to four-peat as division champions and sees its playoff streak finish because of falling quick within the Wild Card race, it’s a must to surprise what that’ll imply for Todd Bowles’ future.
