Week 3 was a challenging one for the Pro Football South, with only three of our eight teams managing to secure a victory. The disparity is becoming clear: while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars appear to be in strong positions for playoff berths, several other teams are already facing an uphill battle to keep their seasons from slipping away. With that in mind, here’s how the division shakes out heading into Week 4.
1. Buccaneers (3-0) The Buccaneers are now 3-0 for the first time since 2005, but their Week 3 victory was far from easy. The New York Jets pushed them to the brink, even taking a brief 27-26 lead after a blocked field goal was returned for a 50-yard touchdown. But, as they have all season, the Bucs showed their resiliency, staging a late-game rally to set up the winning field goal and secure the 29-27 win. This victory gives Tampa Bay a three-game lead in the NFC South, but their undefeated record now faces its first true test of the 2025 season when they host the Philadelphia Eagles, a perennial NFC powerhouse.
2. Jaguars (2-1) The Jaguars have clawed their way back above .500 after a hard-fought 17-16 home victory over a division rival, the Houston Texans. With the Texans struggling to find their footing and the once-dominant AFC South crown looking more like a two-horse race, the Jaguars have positioned themselves as a strong contender. Their primary competition for the division title appears to be the Indianapolis Colts, setting the stage for some crucial head-to-head matchups down the line.
3. Panthers (1-2) Carolina finally entered the win column with an impressive 30-0 shutout victory over the Atlanta Falcons. The Panthers’ defense was dominant, suffocating their division foe and providing a much-needed confidence boost for the team. Their next game is an on-the-road contest with the New England Patriots, a huge opportunity for Carolina to build on last week’s success and prove that their Week 3 performance wasn’t a fluke.
4. Cowboys (1-2) Week 3 was a tough outing for the Dallas Cowboys as they suffered a demoralizing loss to the Chicago Bears. The game became the breakout showcase for the Bears’ rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and new head coach Ben Johnson, as Williams torched the Dallas defense for 298 yards and four touchdowns. The absence of superstar Micah Parsons was felt deeply, and if that trend continues, it could be a sign of more struggles to come for the Cowboys defense. To make matters worse, losing receiver CeeDee Lamb to an ankle injury will put immense pressure on an already struggling offense.
5. Falcons (1-2) After a humiliating 30-0 loss to division rival Carolina, the Atlanta Falcons are already making major changes. The team decided to fire wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard and directed offensive coordinator Zach Taylor to move from the booth to an up-close role on the sideline. While it’s still early in the season, this move signals that more changes can come if the team does not show significant improvement. Things don’t get easier for them, as they’ll take on a familiar face in Week 4 when former QB Marcus Mariota, now starting for the Commanders, comes to town. Mariota is coming off a great performance, having led Washington to a 41-24 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
6. Texans (0-3) The Houston Texans were once again on the losing end of a close contest, falling 17-16 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Their 0-3 start to the season is a major disappointment, especially after winning the division last season. The team is now facing the real possibility of their season slowly fading away before the calendar even turns to October. A victory over the winless Titans in Week 4 is greatly needed to jumpstart any kind of momentum.
7. Saints (0-3) It looks like the preseason analysis done by multiple outlets on the current outlook for the Saints were right. They are on the verge of being one of the worst teams in the NFL for 2025. Their 44-13 beatdown by the Seattle Seahawks was a sign of how far they have fallen as a football team, with a staggering 38 first-half points given up. The team’s special teams unit had a disastrous outing, allowing a blocked punt and a 95-yard punt return for a touchdown, in addition to kicker Blake Grupe missing his third consecutive field goal. First-year head coach Kellen Moore acknowledged the lack of discipline, noting the team has accumulated an NFL-high 31 penalties in just three games. The performance was a far cry from how hard they played against the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers to start the season. Their upcoming matchup with the unbeaten Buffalo Bills may end with different outcomes: a repeat of last week’s blowout defeat to Seattle, or a hard-fought effort that pushes the Bills to the wire. Regardless of the outcome, a fourth-straight loss is in the cards.
8. Titans (0-3) It was a Week 3 to forget for the Tennessee Titans, as they were soundly defeated by the Indianapolis Colts, 41-20, to fall to a disappointing 0-3 record. The Titans struggled to get anything going on offense and have now fallen to last place in the Pro Football South. While the season is still young, the pressure is mounting for this team to find an identity and a win, and their upcoming Week 4 matchup against the equally winless Texans will be their best chance to get on track.
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