The Atlanta Falcons lost their second straight game to fall to 2-4 on the season, but they still have a clear shot at the playoffs if they can win the NFC South. While Sunday's 31-23 loss to the Chicago Bears didn't hurt the Falcons too much in the division standings, it was definitely a setback.
The first-place Carolina Panthers put together a 25-14 victory over an undermanned Philadelphia Eagles team to improve to 3-2. The wasn't the only bad news for Atlanta in Week 6, though.
The New Orleans Saints defeated the New York Giants, 34-27, to pull even with Atlanta in the standings at 2-4 (although the Falcons hold the current tiebreaker).
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 26-19, to fall to 1-5. And while the Bucs would be 100 percent out of the playoff race if they played in any other divison, they're only one game back of the Falcons and Saints going into Week 7.
NFC South standings entering Week 7
- Carolina Panthers (3-2)
- Atlanta Falcons (2-4)
- New Orleans Saints (2-4)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5)
In Week 7, the Falcons will host the San Francisco 49ers, who will be coming off of a short week after appearing on Monday Night Football. It will be former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris' first time in Atlanta since he was fired after the 2025 NFL season finale.
Morris is currently serving as the 49ers defensive coordinator, and he should be plenty motivated to show Arthur Blank and Matt Ryan what they're missing.
The Saints will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in France on Sunday morning. Last but not least, the Panthers will host Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: NFC South: Saints gain ground on Falcons going into Week 7