The lead in the NFC South division is on the line on Thursday night as the New Orleans Saints meet the Carolina Panthers. It’s not much of a division this year, with the Panthers atop it at 3-4-1 and the Saints at 3-4.

The Saints keep giving hints that they’re pulling themselves together. They knocked off the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, with Mark Ingram rushing for a career-high 172 yards. In his last five games against the Panthers, Saints QB Drew Brees had three times thrown four or more touchdown passes.

The Panthers have numerous problems in their offensive line and protecting quarterback Cam Newton will be an issue.

Thursday Night Football moves exclusively this week to NFL Network after being shared through the first half of the season with CBS. Not a big football fan? CBS now counters with The Big Bang Theory. Newton and Brees? Or Leonard and Sheldon?

SUNDAY GAMES WE’LL BE WATCHING!

 
Denver Broncos (6-1) at New England Patriots (6-2): Peyton Manning and Tom Brady meet for the 16th time in their illustrious careers. This marks the first time in NFL regular-season history that two quarterbacks who both have 150 or more career wins square off. Manning has thrown two or more TD passes in 13 consecutive games, tying the NFL record. The Patriots have won 13 in a row at home.

Arizona Cardinals (6-1) at Dallas Cowboys (6-2): This is a battle of two first-place teams, neither of which was expected to reside at the top of their divisions. The Cardinals have won three in a row and they’re off to their best start since going 7-0 in 1974. Cowboys QB Tony Romo is battling a bruised back.

Washington Redskins (3-5) at Minnesota Vikings (3-5): Overall, not a sexy matchup. But QB Robert Griffin III is expected to return to the starting lineup for Washington after dislocating his ankle in Week 2 and that adds star power.

Today’s question

Which games will you be watching, and why?

Answers in the comment box, please.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .