The Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were locked in a three-way tie for the NFC South entering Sunday's games when the one-win Carolina Panthers decided to crash the division party.
The Bucs and Saints, who secured wins over the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants, respectively, remain tied for the division lead at 7-7 and took a one-game lead over the Falcons.
The Falcons' hopes to win the division title -- and a wild-card berth -- took a hit heading after the loss to the league-worst Panthers, while the Saints and Bucs both control their own destinies.