1. Atlanta's pass rush is unexplainably bad
This was already known heading into this week with the bye a needed respite for Atlanta Falcons fans sitting and watching any quarterback carve up their defense. At this point, you could put a fan in the backfield against the Falcons and they are going to have time and a clean enough pocket to find the open man. This pass rush is historically bad and the only team within shouting distance of Atlanta drove this point home.
The Carolina Panthers were in the conversation for the worst pass rush in the league. Still, the Falcons had a decided lead based on the last weeks of the season. It seemed the Panthers might be back into the conversation tasked with facing Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
A fair take that played out completely differently than expected with Carolina putting Patrick Mahomes on the ground five different times. Half of Atlanta's season total in sacks was gotten by one of the worst teams in the league in one game. There is no more defending the pieces that Terry Fontenot has put into place or how they are being used. This is a historically embarrassing pass rush.
2. The conference remains wide open
Wins from Seattle and Dallas have furthered the question mark of how the playoff picture is going to take shape in the NFC. What is clear is that it is the Eagles and Lions far ahead of the pack and everyone else remaining a question mark. There isn't one team in the conference you can take completely off the board outside of the Giants and Panthers.
Atlanta and Tampa should remain focused on the division with that being their best path into the playoffs. However, with Sunday's results, it is no longer off the table that either team works their way into playoff contention for the final wildcard spot.
The Vikings and Packers appear to have two of the spots locked up with a handful of teams racing for the final spot. It appears it will come down to the Seahawks, 49ers, Bucs, Falcons, Cardinals, and Rams with two of these teams finding a way in via division wins and the remainder fighting for the last spot.
It serves as a reminder of how much is left to be decided and what Atlanta has ahead of them even with the frustrations the franchise had going into the bye.
3. Tampa isn't going away
Despite the Falcons sweeping the Bucs in the season series this division race is very much alive. The Saints and Panthers have both played themselves out of position but the Bucs survived the tough part of their schedule. There aren't many losses to be found on Tampa's remaining schedule putting all the pressure on the Falcons out of the bye.
While the Bucs are playing the Panthers the Falcons will be taking on a Chargers team sure to be focused after a tough game against Baltimore. Atlanta follows this matchup with a road matchup against the Vikings. Two expected playoff teams while the Bucs are taking on the tomato cans of the league.
The good news for the Falcons is they should be able to maintain the division lead simply by splitting the next two games. If you can do that you have a great trio of games left against the Panthers, Raiders, and Giants that should all be wins. Ten wins should get you a NFC South title and hosting a first-round wildcard game. Atlanta's path is there simply needing to take care of the league's worst teams and finding a way to win one of the three remaining games.
4. Bryce Young appears to have figured things out
Yes, the Carolina Panthers lost to the Chiefs but there is no question the game was a moral victory. A great Kansas City defense was unable to stop Bryce Young from moving the ball up and down the field consistently. The one downside for the Panthers was the fact they were forced to settle for field goals early in the game.
However, the offense fought back and found a way for a late game tying touchdown and two-point conversion. It was easily the best moment of Young's career and a warning to the rest of the South. A quarterback who looked completely lost at this level appears to have figured things out for a franchise that did little to help him.
This isn't great news for the rest of the division who had been relying on Carolina's inability to get the position right. It isn't simply one week either with the team having won back-to-back games before this past week's loss. Bryce Young looked like the quarterback we watched for the bulk of his college career flying around the field and making plays.