NFL NFC South Standings 2026
NFC South standings for the 2026 NFL season. The Carolina Panthers lead the division at 3-3.
The Atlanta Falcons sit half a game back. Inside the division, the records so far are the Panthers 1-1, the Falcons 1-1, the Buccaneers 1-0 and the Saints 0-1. The Buccaneers have the best point differential in the division at +11.
One of the four teams is in playoff position today, the Panthers at No. 4. The Buccaneers are the defending champions after winning the NFC South at 8-9 in 2025. The Panthers magic number to clinch the NFC South is 11.
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | GB | HOME | AWAY | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | DIFF | STRK | L5 | PROJ | MAGIC | NEXT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Carolina PanthersCAR |
3 | 3 | 0 | .500 | - | 1-2 | 2-1 | 1-1 | 3-2 | 159 | 166 | -7 | L1 | 3-2 | 9 | 11 | @ GB Thu 10/29 |
| 2 |  Atlanta FalconsATL |
3 | 4 | 0 | .429 | 0.5 | 1-3 | 2-1 | 1-1 | 3-2 | 171 | 173 | -2 | W1 | 3-2 | 7 | E11 | @ TB Sun 11/1 |
| 3 |  Tampa Bay BuccaneersTB |
2 | 5 | 0 | .286 | 1.5 | 0-4 | 2-1 | 1-0 | 2-2 | 162 | 151 | +11 | W1 | 2-3 | 5 | E10 | vs ATL Sun 11/1 |
| 4 |  New Orleans SaintsNO |
2 | 5 | 0 | .286 | 1.5 | 0-4 | 2-1 | 0-1 | 1-3 | 162 | 194 | -32 | L1 | 1-4 | 5 | E10 | vs CLE Sun 11/8 |
- #
- Place in division
- W
- Wins
- L
- Losses
- T
- Ties
- PCT
- Winning percentage
- GB
- Games behind division leader
- HOME
- Home record
- AWAY
- Away record
- DIV
- Division record
- CONF
- Conference record
- PF
- Points for
- PA
- Points against
- DIFF
- Point differential
- STRK
- Current streak
- L5
- Last 5 games
- PROJ
- Projected final wins at the current rate
- MAGIC
- Magic number: any combination of leader wins and second-place losses that clinches the division (E = elimination number; 0 = out of the division race)
- NEXT
- Next game
- x
- Clinched playoff berth
- y
- Clinched wild card
- z
- Clinched division
- *
- Clinched division and home-field advantage
- e
- Eliminated from playoff contention
- ▲ ▼
- Moved up or down since the last games
- Playoff cutoff (conference view)
Standings are updated with the completion of each game. Ties count as half a win. Clinch tags use wins-only maths and appear once a spot is mathematically settled.
NFC South clinch watch
Panthers3-3Magic number11Falcons3-4 · 0.5 GBElimination number11Buccaneers2-5 · 1.5 GBElimination number10Saints2-5 · 1.5 GBElimination number10Magic number = any combination of leader wins and second-place losses that clinches the division. Elimination number = how much a chaser can still lose before the title is out of reach.
NFC South Teams
Carolina Panthers3-3 · NFC No. 4Next: @ Packers, Thu, Oct 29 8:15 PMAtlanta Falcons3-4 · NFC No. 9Next: @ Buccaneers, Sun, Nov 1 1:00 PMTampa Bay Buccaneers2-5 · NFC No. 13Next: vs Falcons, Sun, Nov 1 1:00 PMNew Orleans Saints2-5 · NFC No. 14Next: vs Browns, Sun, Nov 8 1:00 PMNFC South Games
Results
Upcoming
Recent NFC South Champions
Tampa Bay Buccaneers8-9 · -312024Tampa Bay Buccaneers10-7 · +1172023New Orleans Saints9-8 · +752022Tampa Bay Buccaneers8-9 · -452021Tampa Bay Buccaneers13-4 · +158NFC South title history
Since 2021 the NFC South has been won by 2 different teams. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the most titles in that span with 4. The strongest champion was the Buccaneers in 2021 at 13-4.
A division title is worth a home playoff game: every division winner is seeded 1 to 4 regardless of record.
📋 Full NFC standings → 🏆 Playoff picture →
NFC South FAQ
Who is leading the NFC South?
The Carolina Panthers. They are 3-3 as of October 26.
Which teams are in the NFC South?
The Carolina Panthers, the Atlanta Falcons, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints.
How far back is second place in the NFC South?
The Atlanta Falcons trail the Carolina Panthers by half a game.
How many NFC South teams are in playoff position?
One as of October 26: the Panthers at No. 4.
When is the next NFC South game?
Falcons at Buccaneers on Sunday, November 1, Week 8.
Who won the NFC South last season?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, at 8-9 in 2025.
Who has won the NFC South most often recently?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with 4 titles in the last 5 seasons.
How is the NFC South winner decided?
Best winning percentage over the regular season. If two teams tie, head-to-head record decides first, then division record, then record in common games and conference record.
Does the NFC South winner make the playoffs?
Yes. Every division winner is seeded 1 to 4 in its conference, regardless of record, and hosts a Wild Card game unless it is the No. 1 seed.
What does GB mean?
Games behind the division leader. A half game means the teams have played a different number of games.
Updated · last result change Oct 25