The NFC South division faced an unusually challenging start to the 2026 NFL season, with all four teams suffering defeats in their opening games. This marked only the eighth time since the AFL-NFL merger that every team in a single division lost in Week 1, a scenario last seen with the NFC North in 2021.
The Carolina Panthers, who won the division last year despite posting a losing record, fell 59-37 to the Chicago Bears. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were defeated 33-27 by the Cincinnati Bengals. The New Orleans Saints lost a close game in overtime, 31-30, to the Detroit Lions. The Atlanta Falcons were held to just 13 points in a 20-13 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Despite the setbacks, offensive struggles were not a common thread among the teams. Collectively, the NFC South scored a combined total of 107 points across the four games, the highest for a division in a week when all teams lose since the 2023 season when the NFC North teams combined for 100 points in Week 2. Three of the teams managed to score more than 30 points individually, highlighting that while the offenses performed strongly, defensive shortcomings may have contributed to the uncharacteristic losses.
The results underscore a challenging start for the division that is seeking to rebound after a season in which Carolina clinched the playoffs with a sub-.500 record in a non-strike year. As the NFL season progresses, the NFC South teams will aim to rebound from Week 1’s setbacks.