The Falcons are off to a 4-0 start against the NFC South for the first time in a decade

Since the NFC South's inception in 2002, the Falcons have been undefeated only twice in their first four division games.

In 2014, the Falcons started 4-0 against the division. Despite an overall record of 6-10, Atlanta was a strong contender in the division this year. The Falcons won all but one of their wins against division opponents. Unfortunately, that year only saw a division loss in the season finale, preventing the Falcons from making the playoffs.

The Falcons' first 4-0 start against the NFC South came in 2010. Atlanta finished that season 5-1 in the division and secured first place in the NFC with a 13-3 record, but the team lost in the division divisional round of the playoffs. Atlanta has since had a Super Bowl and NFC Championship run, but neither of those seasons included a 4-0 start against division opponents.

Sunday's win moves the Falcons to 5-3 on the year, while the Buccaneers fall to 4-4. Atlanta is in the driver's seat of the division almost halfway through the season, and the Bucs, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers have all suffered two division losses so far. With two wins against Tampa, the Falcons hold the tiebreaker in case both teams end the season with the same record.

If the Falcons continue on this path, they will be well on their way to winning the division and securing their first playoff berth since 2017.

“Outrun the South” has been a motto for this team since before the season began, even before the Falcons even added quarterback Kirk Cousins. Eight weeks into the year, they overtake the rest of the group.

Atlanta will face its next NFC South opponent on November 10th when it travels to New Orleans to face the Saints. Then the Falcons close out the season – and their divisional schedule – against the Panthers at home in Week 17. With another win, they increase their undefeated record to 5-0, which Atlanta last achieved in 2014.

And even though Atlanta hasn't entered this territory in a while, the Falcons aren't satisfied just yet.

“We have to go out there, keep pushing and keep pushing,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said. “That has to be the mentality in Atlanta.”