As week 15 of the 2014 NFL season approaches, it is becoming more and more evident that the team that wins the NFC South will do so with a non-winning record.

Currently, the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons are tied for first-place, each with 5-8 records, followed by the Carolina Panthers at 4-8-1, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 2-11.

Obviously, the Buccaneers have no shot. The best that they can do is to finish at 5-11, plus they'd lose a tiebreaker against any of the other teams, as they're 0-4 in the division and 1-8 against NFC foes.

The Panthers are only one-half game back, and probably have the most favorable schedule, with home games against Tampa Bay and Cleveland, and a road match-up with the Falcons.

The problem for Carolina is the uncertainty of quarterback Cam Newton following his auto accident on Tuesday. If Newton is out for a week, or longer, that would obviously hurt the Panthers' chances.

Carolina is 2-2 in the division, with wins over Tampa Bay and New Orleans, and losses to Atlanta and New Orleans, while standing 4-6 in conference play.

Atlanta, based on their division and conference record, have the edge in the tiebreaker. The Falcons are a perfect 4-0 against the NFC South, including a win over the Saints, two over the Buccaneers, and one over the Panthers, while standing 5-5 against conference competition.

The Falcons have home games remaining against Pittsburgh and Carolina, with a road match-up against New Orleans.

The Saints, who have lost four of their last five, are 2-2 against divisional foes, including wins over Tampa Bay and Carolina, and losses to Atlanta and Carolina.

New Orleans will play road games against Chicago and Tampa Bay, and a home tilt against Atlanta to close out the year.

If it comes down to the Saints and Falcons for the division title, New Orleans would likely have to win in their final home game of the year between the two on December 21. A win by the Falcons would not only give them a one-game lead, but also clinch the tiebreaker advantage, meaning that for the Saints to win the division, they would have to win their other two games against Chicago and Tampa Bay, and Atlanta would have to lose their other two games.

This week, the Falcons host the Steelers on Sunday at noon, while the Panthers host the Buccaneers on Sunday at noon, and the Saints travel to take on the Bears on Monday night.

 

 

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