Panthers and Saints face off with NFC South lead at stake

Carolina and New Orleans will play for first place in the NFC South when they meet at the Superdome. Both teams carry 3-5 records into the matchup, with the winner set to earn a fourth victory and move atop the division.

The Falcons and Buccaneers are each 3-6. Since the NFL’s 2002 divisional realignment, this is only the second season in which no team in a division has exceeded three wins through nine weeks. The NFC East was in that position in 2020.

NBC Sports research shows a split in the Saints’ scoring: their first-half average of 7.0 points ranks third lowest in the NFL, while their 16.1-point average across second halves and overtime ranks third highest.

Carolina has dropped three consecutive games following a 3-2 start. Turnovers have marked a sharp divide in its results: the Panthers committed none across their three victories but recorded 12 across their five defeats.