NFC South standings after Week 6: Saints climb out of last place

The New Orleans Saints climbed out of last place in the NFC South with a win on the road against the New York Giants, and the sorry state of the division means they’re only a win or two out of first place. They haven’t been able to win the NFL’s weakest division six years running but that vulnerability keeps hope alive. Continued struggles by the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers mean the Saints, at 2-4, are still in this thing.

Can the Carolina Panthers hold onto the crown after winning a three-way 8-9 tie last year? They’re in the lead, for now, but the Saints could make things interesting if they learned some things from Sunday’s win. Here’s how the division standings shake out after Week 6.

• Point differential: +23
• Next week: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5)

The Panthers beat the Philadelphia Eagles in London, 25-14.

• Point differential: -11
• Next week: vs. San Francisco 49ers (5-0 pending Monday Night Football)

The Falcons lost to the Chicago Bears at home, 31-23.

• Point differential: -26
• Next week: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) in Paris

The Saints beat the New York Giants on the road, 34-27.

• Point differential: -19
• Next week: at Carolina Panthers (3-2)

The Buccaneers lost in overtime to the Steelers, 26-19.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: NFC South standings after Week 6: Saints climb out of last place