In a sense, the Atlanta Falcons lost twice on Sunday. First they turned the ball over four times in a row against the Los Angeles Chargers The other defeat came in Charlotte, where the Panthers lost their chance to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in overtime.
The Buccaneers are now tied with the Falcons at 6-6 in the NFC South standings. Based on the direct tiebreaker, Atlanta is still technically in the lead. The New Orleans Saints lost to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13 and were 4-8 on the season.
NFC South Standings: Week 14
| Pos | team | Record | Division record | Next opponent |
| 1 | Hawks | 6-6 | 4-1 | @Vikings |
| 2 | privateer | 6-6 | 2-2 | against Raiders |
| 3 | Saints | 4-8 | 2-3 | @Giants |
| 4 | Panthers | 3-9 | 1-3 | @Eagles |
All four teams have lost 2-3 in their last five games, so it's hard to imagine any of them topping the table in their last five games. The Bucs have an easier schedule, but considering the Falcons beat them twice, everything is uncertain.
The Falcons will travel to Minnesota to play the 10-2 Vikings in Week 14, while the Buccaneers host the Las Vegas Raiders at home. Carolina and New Orleans are virtually out of contention.
