FLOWERY BRANCH — The last time the Falcons won the NFC South was in 2016, when they went to Super Bowl 51.
The Falcons, who are in sole possession of first place in the division with 10 games to play, face the Titans (2-4) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. The Falcons defeated the Buccaneers 16-13 on Sunday to improve to 4-3.
“It was definitely a big win for me and the team as well,” said cornerback A.J. Terrell, who had never won a game against the Bucs in Tampa. “Definitely for the division. We are trying to make that push. We just have to keep stacking (wins).”
Terrell, who was drafted in the first round of the 2020 draft, has never been in first place in the NFL.
“It’s good for sure,” Terrell said. “Definitely something that we’ve been trying to do during the whole season is trying to become 1-0 each week. If we just keep doing that, everything will take care of itself. We’ve still have a long season ahead.”
The Falcons’ $130 million-plus renovated defense has been the key while the offense continues to find its identity.
The defense ranks in the top 10 in scoring (19 points per game, ninth), yards (28.5.4 per game, third), rushing yards (95.2 per game, eighth) and passing yards (190.1, seventh).
“We really, like, are starting to (come together),” safety Richie Grant said. “We’ve got a goal, and we are trying to attack that every week. We’ve got a goal, but it’s nowhere near done. We still have a lot to clean up, but I’m proud of how we are playing right now.”
Linebacker Nate Landman stepped into the starting lineup after Troy Andersen was lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle. He led the Falcons in tackles with 12 against the Bucs.
Landman concurs with Grant about the defense still having room to improve.
“Mistakes were made during that game (against the Bucs) that we need to improve on,” Landman said. “Definitely, there are next-level steps that we can take to be an even better defense. Help the offense more. Help special teams more. Little details that we are going to focus on this week, whether that be attacking the football more, better in coverage, better in our gaps. The whole game of football we can all improve.”
The Bucs are in second place at 3-3, followed by the Saints (3-4) and the Panthers (0-6).
The Falcons have a chance to build a lead over their next four games. After the Titans, the Falcons host the Vikings on Nov. 5 and are at the Cardinals on Nov. 12 before they get a bye week. After the bye they host the Saints on Nov. 26.
The Bucs are set to play the Bills on Thursday, at the Texans on Nov. 5, at home against the Titans on Nov. 12 and at the 49ers on Nov. 19.
The Saints, who have lost four of their past five, are set to play at the Colts on Sunday, at home versus the Bears on Nov. 5, at the Vikings on Nov. 12 and at the Falcons on Nov. 26. The Saints will be rested coming off their bye week when they face the Falcons.
The Panthers would need to have a major turnaround to climb back into the race.
Over the next four games, the Falcons have the weakest schedule. Their opponents are 9-18 (.333), the Bucs’ are 14-12 (.538) and the Saints’ are 12-16 (.428).
Another key for the Falcons will be winning on the road. They snapped an eight-game road losing streak with the win over Tampa Bay.
“Every opportunity we continue to work when you’re taking a team on the road, you have to find a way to win,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said. “We were able to do that (against Tampa Bay). However it played out, what you have to give our guys credit for is it’s a resilient group.”
The Falcons overcame three turnovers in the red zone to beat the Bucs on a field goal at the buzzer. The Falcons want to show that toughness and eliminate their miscues on the road.
“They don’t flinch in pressure moments, whether on defense or going down to cover a punt or certainly on offense,” Smith said. “That’s a couple of games now that we’ve won, even with this young group, handling situational football pretty well.”
The Falcons know they must clean up several areas to hold first place and create a bigger lead.
“We know we haven’t been perfect, but two out of the last three (games), we’ve been able to execute in two-minute, get down there and have (kicker Younghoe) Koo take us home in the last second,” Smith said.
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