[8:27 PM] Saints @ Panthers

What will be the GAME RESULT?

New Orleans Saints (4-5)

@ Carolina Panthers (3-6)

• The line for this game is Carolina by 3.5 points.

• The New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers won’t have long to stew following heart-wrenching defeats as the NFC South rivals tangle on Thursday night at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. The Saints fell on the wrong end of history on Sunday when they saw an extra point returned for a defensive two-point conversion in a 25-23 setback to Denver while the Panthers let a 14-point fourth-quarter lead evaporate in a 20-17 loss to Kansas City.

• Brandin Cooks enjoyed a career day in his previous encounter with Carolina, highlighting his career-high 173-yard performance with an 87-yard touchdown. The lengthy score began a string of four touchdowns in the last five games for the 23-year-old Cooks, who leads the team with six TDs and 694 yards receiving. Fellow wideout Michael Thomas leads rookies in catches (51), receiving yards (613) and touchdown receptions (five), but was held to his lowest yardage total (40) on Sunday and also lost a pair of fumbles – his first two of the season. Willie Snead, a former member of the Panthers’ practice squad, had two touchdowns on Sunday, marking the first time he reached the end zone since the first two weeks of the season.

• Newton has plenty of weapons at his disposal as he tries to exploit a Saints defense that is yielding an NFL fourth-worst 400.6 yards per contest. Kelvin Benjamin looks to atone after his costly fumble led to the Chiefs’ game-winning field goal with another strong outing versus New Orleans, against which he reeled in eight receptions on 14 targets in the first meeting. Fellow wideout Devin Funchess had a touchdown reception on Sunday against Kansas City and also had a 17-yard catch for a score in the first encounter with the Saints. Greg Olsen had six catches for 94 yards in the first meeting with New Orleans and leads all tight ends with 50 receptions and 712 yards receiving.

• Carolina RB Jonathan Stewart rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns against New Orleans last month, but has been limited to 81 yards on 28 carries over his last two games.

• New Orleans RB Mark Ingram has recorded four touchdowns in his last three road contests.

• The Saints are a plus-2 in turnover ratio while the Panthers are minus-7 (fourth-worst in NFL).

StreakSmarts Pick: Carolina Panthers

Confidence: 5/10