Updated NFC South Standings for Week 7

Here's where the Saints sit in the NFC South standings after Week 7.

Week 7 of the NFL season will complete with the Minnesota Vikings hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night football. After a 31-24 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, the New Orleans Saints sit at 3-4 and losers in four of five games. 

Despite poor play, the Saints still sit in the thick of the NFC South race. Here are the updated standings in the division. 

1. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3)

3. New Orleans Saints (3-4)

4. Carolina Panthers (0-6)

Believe it or not, the Saints average the most points of any team in the division with a paltry 19 points per contest. They are also the only team in the division with a plus point differential at +6. New Orleans has surrendered 18.1 points per game, second only to the Buccaneers (17) in the NFC South. 

The Saints have a 1-1 divisional record and are 1-2 against NFC opponents. Atlanta is 2-0 within the division and 3-2 in the conference. Tampa Bay has a 1-1 record in the division and is 3-3 in the NFC. Winless Carolina is 0-2 against South opponents and 0-5 in the conference. 

Here is the remainder of the Saints schedule. All are Sunday games unless otherwise noted. 

Oct. 29 - at Indianapolis Colts 

Nov. 5 - vs. Chicago Bears 

Nov. 12 - at Minnesota Vikings 

Nov. 19 - BYE

Nov. 26 - at Atlanta Falcons 

Dec. 3 - vs. Detroit Lions 

Dec. 10 - vs. Carolina Panthers 

Dec. 17 - vs. New York Giants 

Dec. 21 (Thurs) - at Los Angeles Rams 

Dec. 31 - at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Jan. 7 - vs. Atlanta Falcons 

Sep 18, 2023; Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (6) is tackled by New Orleans Saints safety Marcus Maye (6). Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

While the remaining schedule looks favorable, the Saints actually need to take care of business on the field. This is especially true in division games and opponents within the conference. Of their remaining 10 games, nine are against NFC teams with four against NFC South rivals.

No matter how much help they get by division opponents losing, New Orleans has been unable to take advantage. 

We saw a similar scenario play out in 2022. Tampa Bay won an awful NFC South with an 8-9 mark. New Orleans stumbled to a 7-10 finish, going 5-8 in the NFC and just 2-4 in their division.