Falcons holding on to first NFC South lead in six years

Before Sunday's wild Carolina Panthers win, the Atlanta Falcons had accomplished something rare. They were in first place in the NFC South. It's the first time the franchise has held such a place since the 2016 season, the one that led them to an NFC title and a Super Bowl berth. 

Sunday's 37-34 roller coaster with the Panthers put Atlanta at 4-4 and leading its division, a sign of how much the team has surpassed expectations during what was assumed to be a rebuilding year. 

There are a lot of things you can do to pinpoint why the Falcons have emerged this season, and there are a lot of things you can pinpoint as to what could hold the team back from keeping its lead. 

The Falcons are like many NFL teams this year. They're not perfect, but they're finding ways to win games they probably shouldn't. In the grand scheme of things, the Falcons are set up well for future success with a good coach in Arthur Smith, an emerging general manager in Terry Fontenot, and gobs of cap space coming the team's way in 2023. 

If they find a long-term solution at quarterback and continue to bolster the trenches, the team's potential seems boundless in an ever-changing NFC. 

Though, the team's performances in 2022 so far suggest that you just never know what you'll get from the Falcons week after week. It'll be on the "Dirty Birds" to maintain some consistency, with the NFC South by no means a settled case with roughly a half-season left to go.