NFC South Opens Season Winless as All Four Teams Drop Week 1 Contests

The NFC South endured a rough opening week, with all four franchises falling in their season debuts — a start that leaves the division searching for its first win of the 2026 campaign.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1)

Tampa Bay fell 33-27 in Cincinnati, a loss made worse by four lost fumbles. The defeat came days after the club committed to quarterback Baker Mayfield with a four-year extension. Mayfield’s afternoon included a fumble returned for a touchdown and no scoring passes, with an average depth of target of just 4.7 yards; a rushing touchdown kept the game within reach.

On defense, Todd Bowles’ unit did manage a pick-six but otherwise struggled, and first-round selection Ruben Bain logged 41 snaps without recording a sack or a pressure. The Buccaneers now return home to face Cleveland, which is coming off a loss of its own.

New Orleans Saints (0-1)

New Orleans dropped a 31-30 overtime heartbreaker in Detroit after failing to convert a two-point attempt that would have decided the game. Quarterback Tyler Shough and the offense sputtered until midway through the third quarter, when touchdowns came in rapid succession. The defense, which started strong, then faltered and could not keep Detroit out of the end zone down the stretch. The Saints next travel to Baltimore to face a Ravens team coming off a commanding win over Indianapolis.

Carolina Panthers (0-1)

Carolina’s season opener was the division’s least competitive showing, a 59-37 home loss to Chicago at Bank of America Stadium in which head coach Dave Canales’ squad could not slow the Bears. The Panthers turn around quickly with a divisional matchup against Atlanta next week.

Broadcast and Market Note

The Buccaneers-Bengals contest was carried on Fox and the Fox One streaming service, part of the network’s NFL package. Shares of Fox Corporation (FOXA), whose Fox Sports arm distributes a national NFL slate, traded at $65.94 in recent activity, up 1.17% from a prior close of $65.18; the company carries a market capitalization of roughly $26.85 billion.

What to watch

• Whether any NFC South club notches its first win in Week 2, with the Buccaneers hosting Cleveland and the Saints visiting Baltimore.
• Carolina’s response in its first divisional game against Atlanta.
• Fox’s NFL viewership numbers through the opening weeks as the season progresses.

Source: original release