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NFC South Is NFL's Most Mediocre Division

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won the last three NFC South titles.

At 3-1, they have the early lead in the division again and can strengthen their edge as they face their closest competitors—the 2-2 Atlanta Falcons and the 2-2 New Orleans Saints—in Weeks 5 and 6.

But no team from the NFC South has advanced past the divisional round of the playoffs since the wild-card Bucs won the Super Bowl after the 2020 season.

Tampa Bay can establish itself as one of the top early contenders in the NFC by winning Thursday night in Atlanta and 10 days later in New Orleans. But a loss in either or both of the games would create a logjam of mediocrity that has been a feature of the division in recent seasons.

While the Carolina Panthers, 1-3 after going 2-15 a year ago, appear to be facing an ongoing rebuilding project, the Falcons, who last made the playoffs in 2017, and the Saints, who last made the playoffs in 2020, both made significant off-season moves designed to help them unseat the Bucs and emerge as contenders.

But so far the results have been average.

Both teams hired highly regarded assistants to be their offensive coordinators, Atlanta grabbing former Rams quarterback coach/passing game coordinator Zac Robinson and New Orleans importing former 49ers offensive passing game specialist Klint Kubiak.

The Falcons, who at 7-10 finished two games behind the second-place Saints last season, went even further to help out first-year head coach Raheem Morris by signing free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract.

But Atlanta averaged less than 17 points per game in losing two of its first three, though it did beat the Saints 26-24 last Sunday without scoring an offensive touchdown.

New Orleans was as impressive as any team in the NFL in the first two weeks, beating the Panthers 47-10 and the Cowboys 44-10, but the loss in Atlanta was preceded by a 15-12 home loss to the Eagles. The Saints, who visit the undefeated Super Bowl champion Chiefs on Monday night, have outscored their opponents 127-70, tying the undefeated Vikings for the largest scoring margin in the NFL, but they have just a breakeven record (and a to-game losing streak) to show for it.

As for the Bucs, they are coming off a 33-16 victory against the Eagles and have two other impressive wins, handing both the surprising Commanders (37-20) and the Lions (20-16) their only losses. 

But two weeks ago Tampa Bay was handled easily at home by the Broncos 26-7.

The upcoming back-to-back divisional road games will be a good gauge for the Bucs, whose game at Detroit has been their only game away from home.

Perceived contenders such as the Cowboys, Eagles, Packers, 49ers and Rams are off to surprisingly slow starts, while the Commanders, Vikings and Seahawks appear to be stronger contenders than generally was expected.

Meanwhile, in the NFC South, unless and until someone demonstrates otherwise, continued mediocrity is the only label that sticks.

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Right-handers for Giants, Brewers out to cap successful July with win

Jul 22, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA;  San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp (65) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn ImagesJul 22, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp (65) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images

A pair of young right-handers attempting to complete an unbeaten month of July will go head-to-head Tuesday night when Logan Henderson and the Milwaukee Brewers take on Landen Roupp and the host San Francisco Giants in the continuation of a three-game series.

The Giants opened the set with a 3-0 victory Monday, getting brilliant pitching from Tyler Mahle and a two-run homer from Grant McCray.

Roupp (7-8, 3.93 ERA) will attempt to successfully follow in Mahle’s footsteps as he looks to continue the form that led to a fast start this season before a two-month slump.

The 27-year-old began the season 5-1 through the end of April, but then started 11 consecutive losses, seven of which went on his record, in May and June.

The third-year major-leaguer has regained his winning form in July, however, going 2-0 with wins against the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. He took a no-decision against the Kansas City Royals in a 5-4 win last Wednesday. He has allowed just three runs and nine hits in 21 innings.

Roupp’s earlier skid reached its greatest depth when he suffered through his worst outing of the season in a 16-2 loss at Milwaukee on June 1, charged with eight runs in four innings. The loss ran his career record against the Brewers to 0-2 with a 7.16 ERA in five games, including three starts.

Jackson Chourio’s two-run double and Brice Turang’s two-RBI triple, hit consecutively, were the big blows against Roupp in the earlier head-to-head in Milwaukee.

Henderson (4-1, 3.05) has had a similar month. Like Roupp, he is 2-0 with a no-decision in July. The Brewers have won all three Henderson starts, games against the St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Marlins and New York Mets.

In just his second major-league season, the 24-year-old Henderson went winless in his first three starts in 2026 before going unbeaten in his past five. He has allowed just six runs and 11 hits in 15 1/3 innings in July.

His July starts followed almost a six-week layoff due to back soreness. But he watched closely, especially the games of hard-throwing staff ace Jacob Misiorowski, who clearly inspires him.

“It never gets old, and he’s taking it up a notch every start,” Henderson told reporters recently. “I feel privileged to have a front-row seat every game.”

Henderson never has faced the Giants.

One player Henderson definitely won’t see will be Giants slugger Casey Schmitt, who strained his right knee rounding first base after a hit in the second inning of the opener and had to be removed from the game.

The Giants announced after the game that Schmitt, whose hit raised his average to .271, would undergo an MRI on Tuesday.

San Francisco manager Tony Vitello said after the game that he feared Schmitt could miss “significant” time.

“He’s a little bummed out. He loves to play every day,” Vitello told reporters after the win. “Scary moment for him. He was really struggling just to move around. Heart’s got to go out to him and you hope for the best.”

– Field Level Media

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French legend Zinedine Zidane to coach national team

Jul 26, 2024; Paris, FRANCE;  Zinedine Zidane during the Opening Ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games along the Seine River. Mandatory Credit: Andrew P. Scott-Imagn ImagesJul 26, 2024; Paris, FRANCE; Zinedine Zidane during the Opening Ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games along the Seine River. Mandatory Credit: Andrew P. Scott-Imagn Images

Zinedine Zidane, who led France to the 1998 World Cup championship, has been named the next coach of the French men’s national team.

He replaces Didier Deschamps, 57, who had been at the helm since 2012. Deschamps said in January 2025 that he intended to retire at the end of the 2026 World Cup, in which France lost 6-4 to England in the third-place match.

The deal with Zidane, announced Tuesday, is for four years, and he officially will begin his job on Aug. 1. His staff is expected to be revealed in September.

Zidane, 54, entered coaching after his playing days, and his Real Madrid teams won three consecutive Champions Leagues finals (2016-18) and two LaLiga titles.

He resigned from his job in Madrid five years ago and has not coached since, long projected as the successor to Deschamps.

“For me it’s a continuity, a dream,” Zidane said. “I had some offers during the five years I was away to take charge of a club but I turned them all down for the France team. It was the only thing I wanted to do.”

And Zidane said he is ready to get to work.

“I have so many emotions, I am ready for the challenge,” he said. “That’s what motivates me.

“Today I have the opportunity to be in charge of this team and I will give everything so that this team can win.”

Zidane will make his coaching debut with the national team on Sept. 25, when he leads France against Turkey in their first match of this UEFA Nations League schedule.

–Field Level Media

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Luca Van Assche beats Alexander Blockx in Portugal for first title

Jul 31, 2024; Washington, DC, USA; Luca Van Assche (FRA) hits a forehand against Andrey Rublev (not pictured) on day five of the Mubadala Citi DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn ImagesJul 31, 2024; Washington, DC, USA; Luca Van Assche (FRA) hits a forehand against Andrey Rublev (not pictured) on day five of the Mubadala Citi DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Luca Van Assche of France secured his first ATP title when he posted a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Belgium’s Alexander Blockx on Sunday in the Estoril Open final in Portugal.

Van Assche, 22, converted 8 of 13 break points and overcame eight double faults to win in two hours and 24 minutes on the clay surface. He is the ATP’s 10th first-time winner this year.

Blockx, 21, had seven aces and seven double faults while playing in his first title match. He rallied from a 3-0 hole in the third set to tie it 5-5 before Van Assche closed it out by winning two straight games.

The championship match was the first between players born in 2004 or later.

–Field Level Media

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