An update on the Falcons' division after Week 9.

Tori McElhaney

Throughout the season, this piece will serve as a check-in on the four teams in the division, tracking their performance and noting the standout players from each game. Teams will be listed in the order of the division standing.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. Even though there were no NFC South matchups this week, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not play a game (it was their bye week), there is still much to discuss about the division through nine weeks.

We're at the halfway point of the season, and the bulk of divisional games happen once the Atlanta Falcons come back from Germany next week. It is going to be a doozy down the stretch, so let's set the stage.

NFC South standings after Week 9

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last game:Bye Week

Offensive standout:N/A

Defensive standout:N/A

Needs improvement:Making sure things keep rolling

The Bucs may be coming off a bye, but they probably needed a break with their next slate of games on deck. It's not an easy path forward, but wins through this stretch for the Bucs will see their playoff odds skyrocket. Their next three opponents are top contenders: The Patriots (7-2), Bills (6-2) and Rams (6-2). All top-10 teams in nearly every power ranking through Week 9, and all gearing up to face the Bucs in the next month.

Telling quote:"I feel good. We played tough, we're 6-2, we can do a lot of things better, obviously. We have to work on fundamentals (and) we have to self-scout as coaches. We have to make sure we do not forget the fundamental part of it, they have to make sure they continue to take care of their bodies. Our confidence is tough, and our confidence is strong, but we have a long way to go. We understand that it is going to be a big second half when we come back, so we have to be ready." Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles.

Vibe check:Rested and recovered

Up next:The Buccaneers host the New England Patriots. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on CBS.

Carolina Panthers

Last game:16-13 win on the road vs. the Green Bay Packers

Offensive standout:RB Rico Dowdle, yet again

Dowdle may be the most surprising entity of the NFC South in 2025. And he continued his highly productive ways by accumulating 130 rushing yards on 25 carries, good enough for a 5.2 yards per carry average. The Packers defense couldn't stop him, and they ultimately paid the price as the Panthers ran the ball consistently and kept the Packers' offense off the field.

Defensive standout:S Tre'Von Moehrig

Though there are a few Panthers defenders this honor could have gone to Jaycee Horn, Christian Rozeboom, Nick Scott, to name a few it's going to Moehrig because of the breadth of plays he made against the Packers. He finished the day with five tackles (two for a loss), an interception, two more passes defended and a handful of plays that won't even show up in a stat sheet.

Needs improvement:Third down conversions

The Panthers were just 4-of-10 on third downs against the Packers. This comes after they were 4-of-11 two Sundays ago against the Buffalo Bills. The offense gets those percentages up along with the success they've seen from Dowdle running the ball and they'll be a tough offense to face.

Telling quote:"I'm really proud of this group. Again, counting on all three phases to execute when we needed them to at the end of the game, to be able to play the style of football that we want to play. Being able to run the ball and play physically challenging, a really good team, and was just really proud of the way we came out of the locker room at the half with the mentality, let's finish." Head coach Dave Canales after the team's upset vs. the Packers

Vibe check:Riding a high

Up next:Carolina plays its second divisional this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on FOX, hosting the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium.

Atlanta Falcons

Last game:24-23 loss on the road to the New England Patriots

Offensive standout:WR Drake London

It was a hat trick of a day for London at Gillette Stadium this Sunday, as he went up and over Patriots defenders for three touchdowns. He finished the day with 118 receiving yards on nine catches, and kept the Falcons in it with some acrobatic grabs.

Defensive standout:EDGE Jalon Walker

Speaking of keeping a team in it, Walker's strip sack that was returned to the New England 6-yard line by James Pearce Jr. flipped the game on its head. Walker would go on to put together his most impactful performance as a Falcon after missing the last two games with a groin injury. He finished the day with two sacks and the aforementioned forced fumble. He also had a clutch pass defended late in the game that was notable, too.

Needs improvement:Third down and running the rock

In each of the team's last three losses, the Falcons' inability to run the ball consistently while simultaneously not being able to convert on third down has kept the offense from reaching its full potential. The Falcons are 8-of-23 on third down conversions in their last three games (25%). They have not rushed for more than 100 yards as a team since Week 6, which coincides with their last win.

Telling quote:"Had an opportunity to win. Obviously, we've got to play better on third down on both sides of the ball. That was the story, when you talk about stats. If you click off a couple of those third downs and you're able to make them manageable and get those things done, that'll allow you to get a couple more running attempt versus a very hard running team. That'll get you closer to the area where you want to be, 25 runs. Hopefully somewhere in the 101-yard rushing, and if you pop a big one, great. If you don't, you just make it manageable for your guys to be able to maintain being able to run the ball so you can keep some of the balance there. It was heading in that direction, we've just got to be able to get some of those things better on third down." Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on the team's loss to the Patriots

Vibe check:The vibes are low

Up next:The Falcons travel across the pond to Berlin, Germany (Olympiastadion) to face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network. It is the first regular-season game to be played in Berlin.

New Orleans Saints

Last game:34-10 loss on the road vs. the Los Angeles Rams

Offensive standout:QB Tyler Shough

Though it took him a quarter to really settle in, Shough performed relatively well in his NFL starting debut. He had a 62.5 completion percentage for 176 passing yards. He had a touchdown, interception and sack. But knowing how much he was under pressure, it could have been a lot worse. Not a bad day for the new Saints quarterback.

Defensive standout:DE Jonah Williams

It felt as though Matthew Stafford picked apart this Saints defense, but he at least was under pressure from time to time by both Chase Young and Jonah Williams, who together combined for two sacks and three tackles for a loss. Seeing as Young has gotten the nod as defensive standout in each of the last two weeks, we'll give a pat on the back to Williams.

Needs improvement:Run game

The Saints could never get anything going with Alvin Kamara against this Rams front. When Devin Neal came in he had a few productive runs and one could argue he should have been given even more opportunities. Alas, the score got out of hand and the Saints couldn't afford to bleed clock. The old cliche is that a young quarterback's best friend is a consistent rushing attack. If the Saints want to better help their young QB, they have to do better than 57 rushing yards.

Telling quote:"They were able to control the game in so many ways. We didn't get enough shots at it. We didn't get enough opportunities. We have to play a lot better. A lot of this comes down to the details and the fundamentals of the football game. Sometimes it's a simple game and we have to play better and give ourselves more opportunities." New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore after the loss to the Rams

Vibe check:Ho-hum

Up next:The Saints will face their next NFC South opponent when they travel to Carolina to face the Panthers this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.

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