BrownsAround the South: the NFC South after Week 1
All four NFC South teams are 0-1 after Week 1 of the 2026 season. The Buccaneers lost 33-27 at Cincinnati, the Falcons lost 20-13 at Pittsburgh with Cooper Rush starting for an injured Tua Tagovailoa, the Panthers gave up 59 points at home in the highest-scoring Week 1 game in NFL history, and the Saints erased a 21-point deficit before losing 31-30 in overtime at Detroit. Atlanta hosts Carolina in the season's first NFC South game in Week 2, while New Orleans travels to Baltimore and Tampa Bay hosts Cleveland.
Standings
| Team | W | L | T | PF | PA | Streak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Panthers | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 59 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 31 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 33 | L1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 20 | L1 |
Atlanta Falcons0-1
L 13-20 at Pittsburgh Steelers
Right guard Chris Lindstrom is in the concussion protocol, and his clearance will decide whether he plays Week 2. Defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand is out for the season with a quad injury, and Michael Penix Jr. still has no firm return date from the ACL tear he suffered against Carolina in November 2025, with Week 2 or Week 3 mentioned as a target.
Full Falcons reportCarolina Panthers0-1
L 37-59 vs Chicago Bears
Wide receiver Jalen Coker rolled his left ankle in the first quarter against Chicago, played through it and still finished with 8 catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns. He wore a walking boot on Monday as a precaution, called it minor and expects to practice and play in Week 2.
Full Panthers reportNew Orleans Saints0-1
L 30-31 at Detroit Lions
Alvin Kamara is working back from a sprained MCL suffered in an August joint practice with Dallas, with an original four to six week recovery timetable that puts his Week 2 or Week 3 availability in question. Travis Etienne Jr. has taken on a larger early-season workload in the meantime.
Full Saints reportNFC South questions
Who is in the NFC South?
The NFC South has four teams: the Atlanta Falcons, the Carolina Panthers, the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
What are the NFC South standings after Week 1?
All four NFC South teams are 0-1 after Week 1 of the 2026 season. The Buccaneers lost 33-27 at Cincinnati, the Falcons lost 20-13 at Pittsburgh, the Panthers lost 59-37 at home to Chicago, and the Saints lost 31-30 in overtime at Detroit.
When do the Bucs play their NFC South rivals in 2026?
Tampa Bay plays Atlanta in Week 8 (November 1, home) and Week 16 (at Atlanta, date not yet set), Carolina in Week 7 (October 25, at Carolina) and Week 12 (November 30, home, Monday Night Football), and New Orleans in Week 15 (December 20, home) and Week 18 (at New Orleans, date not yet set).
Who is the Atlanta Falcons' starting quarterback?
Cooper Rush started Atlanta's Week 1 game. Tua Tagovailoa, signed in free agency after his release by Miami, is dealing with an oblique injury, and 2025 starter Michael Penix Jr. is still working back from a torn ACL, so the job remains unsettled.
Who is Carolina's starting quarterback in 2026?
Bryce Young is Carolina's starting quarterback, now in his third season under head coach Dave Canales with new offensive coordinator Brad Idzik calling plays.
Who is the Saints' quarterback in 2026?
Tyler Shough is New Orleans' starting quarterback, entering his second NFL season as the team's unquestioned starter under head coach Kellen Moore.
Sources: ESPN, September 13, 2026, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, September 14, 2026, PFF, September 13, 2026, ESPN, September 13, 2026, NewOrleansSaints.com, September 13, 2026, AtlantaFalcons.com, September 15, 2026, AtlantaFalcons.com coaching staff, Panthers.com coaching staff, NewOrleansSaints.com coaching staff, ESPN, Saints QB depth chart.
See the full 2026 schedule, the Buccaneers injury report and the depth chart.