It seems like we lived in an entirely different world just a week ago.
Although they were struggling, Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still appeared to be the class of the NFC South. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints seemed to be fighting for second place while the one-win Carolina Panthers, who had traded away their best player, were headed straight towards the 2023 draft’s No. 1 overall pick.
Well, with Tampa’s third straight loss on Thursday night, the division has just been turned on its head—showing how fast things can change in this crazy league.
It is now official, following that Bucs loss to the Baltimore Ravens, that the top spot of the NFC South will be on the line this Sunday. Interim head coach Steve Wilks and the 2-5 Panthers will be fighting with the 3-4 Falcons for first place in the division.
We will see how the rest of the year plays out, but it has become clear—in a short period of time—that Wilks may be pushing for a solidified spot within the organization. Heck, he may even be making a run at being considered the South’s top coach soon.
In a weak division, consistency and scheme become uniquely important. And after what happened in Week 7 against Tampa Bay, Wilks may be the coach to do just that. The team is also clearly fighting for their coach, a type of motivation that can quickly swing momentum and efficiency in your favor.
With the Panthers possessing the division’s most consistent defense, what could be a dominant running game and a stable direction from the sideline, they might be in a position to actually steal this thing.
What comes after that will be addressed at a later time. But for now, it’s Steve Wilks’ time to shine.
