NFC South Notebook: New Orleans Saints running away with division

The Saints have a 2.5-game lead in the NFC South.

About seven weeks ago when New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees injured his thumb in Week 2, the NFC South looked wide open. Every team was 1-1 except the Carolina Panthers, who were 0-2 but proceeded to win the next four games to get back into the race.

At the halfway mark of the season, though, it's not much of a race. The Saints enter this week 7-1, which is 2.5 games in front of the 4-3 Panthers. The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers can't even combine to reach Carolina's four-win total, as they are 1-7 and 2-5, respectively.

With New Orleans' roster, it can't be a huge surprise the Saints are ahead in the division, but the way it happened is frustrating. Despite Brees missing five games, the Saints haven't lost since Week 2 because Teddy Bridgewater led them on a five-game winning streak. Brees returned last Sunday to throw for 373 yards and three touchdowns against the Cardinals to extend their streak to six.

Also in Week 8, the Falcons, Panthers and Buccaneers all lost, giving the Saints more breathing room. The Panthers are favored by 3.5 at home against the Titans this Sunday, but if Tennessee should win, New Orleans will take a three-game lead in the division. The Saints, like the Falcons, have a bye.

Atlanta and Carolina each have two games remaining against New Orleans, giving them an opportunity to make up ground, but the Falcons are out of the race already, and the Panthers would have to sweep the Saints just to move within half a game of New Orleans at this point.

Brees isn't going to win the passing title this season, but unless something unforeseen happens, he will lead the Saints to a third straight NFC South crown.