Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (1) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter. Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Where Buccaneers stand in NFC South after big win over Texans

Originally posted on Tampa Bay Buccaneers on SI
By River Wells | Last updated Sep 16, 2025 10:48 AM ET

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on a journey to win a fifth-consecutive division title in 2025. And while both of their wins so far have been close affairs, they're starting off their season exactly how they'd hoped with two straight wins.

The Buccaneers defeated the Houston Texans 20-19 on a Rachaad White touchdown with six seconds left, getting a bit of revenge for the two teams' 2023 match-up where the Texans scored the game-winner on a throw from C.J. Stroud to Tank Dell... with six seconds left. Fun parallels aside, it was a big win for the Buccaneers, as it gave them a bit of leeway in the NFC South race.

Buccaneers get a one-game cushion over Falcons

Here's what the NFC South looks like as it stands:

The Atlanta Falcons are Tampa Bay's closest competitor at the moment (and probably will be for the rest of the season, unless anything drastic changes). They won their game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football, moving to 1-1 on the year. The Buccaneers would have been in first place in the NFC South anyway had they lost against the Texans — they beat the Falcons in the first game of the season, giving them the early tiebreaker — but the extra win puts them a game out from the Falcons regardless, solidifying an early NFC South lead.

The Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, meanwhile, remain struggling. Both of them have lost their first two games of the season, with the Panthers dropping their road game to the Arizona Cardinals and the Saints falling at home to the Brock Purdy-less San Francisco 49ers. The Buccaneers won't see either team for a while, playing the Saints in Week 8 for the first time and then the Panthers all the way in Week 16.

The Bucs will play the 0-2 New York Jets at home next Sunday in Week 3. The Falcons and Panthers are set to play each other during Carolina's home debut, and the Saints will make the long trip to Washington to face off against the Seattle Seahawks.