NFC South Week 8 review: Saints keep pace with Bucs, add Kwon Alexander

Let’s catch up on what happened around the NFC South in Week 8.

The NFC South has become a two-team race. While the Panthers have a lot of moxy and the Falcons remain talented offensively, it’s clear that it will either be the Buccaneers or the Saints winning the division this season.

Let’s catch up on what happened around the NFC South in Week 8.

Buccaneers (6-2) beat Giants (1-7), 25-23 

True contenders have to be able to win ugly. Tampa checked that box this week. Despite a bad start against the lowly Giants, the Bucs rallied back on Monday Night Football at MetLife Stadium to improve to 3-2 on the road this year. Tom Brady threw two more touchdown passes, one each to Rob Gronkowski and Mike Evans.

Brady now has a 20/4 touchdown/interception ratio for the season.

Meanwhile, Tampa’s ferocious defense totaled five tackles for a loss, 10 quarterback hits, two interceptions and three sacks on Daniel Jones. Next up, they have a huge showdown with the Saints on Sunday Night Football.

Saints (5-2) beat Bears (5-3), 26-23

Remember, New Orleans actually beat the Bucs in Week 1 and they’re only technically in second place because of an early bye. The Saints still look vulnerable, though. It took overtime to beat the overrated Bears this week and they’re still without star wide receiver Michael Thomas. Maybe that’s part of the reason they traded for 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander, who could add a critical element to their defense if they can fix his issues. Pairing him with Demario Davis can help the Saints keep pace with the Bucs, who now have the league’s top linebacker duo. Alexander would have been a good target for the Panthers, as would have Avery Williamson of the Jets, but he’s been dealt to the Steelers.

Panthers (3-5) lost to Falcons (2-6), 25-17

A trade in the next few hours could dramatically change the outlook for the second half of the season – especially if general manager Marty Hurney can swing a deal for a defensive playmaker with a talent for forcing turnovers. It’s starting to look unlikely, though as several of their best potential options have already been traded. If this is the roster they want to roll with for the rest of 2020, Sunday’s game against the Chiefs will give the front office a good idea of where they stand compared to the NFL’s most-loaded team.

Falcons (2-6) not dealing stars

Given how this season has gone so far, you could make a case for the Falcons to continue the rebuilding that began by firing Dan Quinn and Thomas Dimitroff and start trading away their star players. Atlanta is resisting that idea, though. Reports indicate that the Falcons will not be trading Matt Ryan or Julio Jones, who posted 137 yards on seven catches Thursday night and turned Donte Jackson into a meme.

This is probably the right idea. With a (much, much, much) improved defensive unit, the Falcons could still be a contender before the Ryan/Jones window closes. Next up, they’ll host the Broncos.

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