ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

New Orleans Saints (4-4) at Atlanta Falcons (5-3), 1 p.m. ET
Since joining the Saints in 2006, quarterback Drew Brees has put up big numbers against most teams. But the numbers have been particularly big against the Falcons.

In four games against Atlanta, Brees has completed 91 of 133 passes (68.4 percent) with seven touchdowns, one interception and a 107.6 passer rating. In six of eight games this season, Brees has thrown for at least 300 yards.

Atlanta's defense might not have looked like much of a challenge at the start of the season, but this unit has come on strong. The Falcons are coming off a shutout of the Raiders. Granted, it was the Raiders, but shutting out any NFL team is a pretty major accomplishment these days. The Falcons are 3-0 at the Georgia Dome.

But the Falcons still haven't won a game against an NFC South opponent. To change that, they're going to have to find a way to defend Brees better than they have in the past.

Carolina Panthers (6-2) at Oakland Raiders (2-6), 4:15 p.m. ET
Talking to a member of the Panthers' organization the other day, I was more than a little surprised when he started saying how "worried'' Carolina is about the Raiders. I worry about them, too, but that's mainly because they seem to be the last company in America that still has an overhead projector.

Yes, I understand it's the classic formula for a trap game. The Raiders still have some talent -- unless they cut the rest of it before Sunday -- and they had to be embarrassed by last week's 24-0 loss to Atlanta.

But if the Panthers are half as good as I think they are, they have no excuse to not win this game. Same goes for next week when they play Detroit. The final six games on Carolina's schedule are difficult.

If they can just do what they're supposed to do these next two games, they'll be 8-2 and, at that point, they can start worrying about those last six games.