The best game of Week 6 might just be the first game of Week 6. Two of the NFC’s hottest teams will throw down in Charlotte when the 4-1 Philadelphia Eagles face the 4-1 Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football. The broadcast begins at 8:30 p.m. ET and broadcast live on NFL Network/CBS (live stream).

Cam Newton’s resurgence has the Panthers atop the NFC South standings, and two recent wins have proven they aren’t just a paper tiger. Carolina notched road wins over Super Bowl 51 champion New England and 2016 playoff participant Detroit to make its claim as a 2017 contender. The Eagles behind the play of second-year passer Carson Wentz, need a win Thursday to dispel the ghosts of last season’s disappointing finish.

Time, TV channel, and streaming info

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
• TV: NFL Network/CBS
• Streaming: Amazon Prime
• Odds: Carolina is favored by 3.5 points.

Eagles at Panthers news:

• It took 21 games, but the Panthers look like they’re back to contender status.

Newton threw for 355 yards and three touchdowns — with nearly half that output going to tight end Ed Dickson -- to lead Carolina to its second straight road win over a 2016 playoff team. Through five weeks, the Panthers are now 4-1. With Newton back to the familiar form that led his team to Super Bowl 50, it’s easy to peg this team as a contender in a season where parity appears to rule the roost.

• The Eagles’ win over the Cardinals gave us the best touchdown celebration of the season.

• Ed Dickson wasn’t slated for a starring role, but after Greg Olson’s broken foot, he’s earned an “A” grade.

This week’s top 5 is filled with players who rarely get the juicy stats. Instead it’s when they aren’t being talked about means they are playing well. I’m referring to usual blocking TE Ed Dickson, DT Star Lotulelei and CB James Bradberry.

• The Eagles are preparing to play Thursday’s game without starting right tackle Lane Johnson.

Lane Johnson suffered a concussion during the Eagles’ Week 5 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. It seems unlikely he’ll suit up for Philadelphia’s Week 6 game against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football.

• Nelson Agholor’s third-year revival rolled on with a soul-stealing juke of rookie safety Budda Baker.

Is Cam Newton’s resurgence for real?

Newton appeared to be limited by a shoulder issue in the Panthers’ first three games, but has turned it around in two important victories over the Patriots and Lions. Look at the stark contrast between his splits:

So which Newton will show up against the league’s 25th-ranked passing defense? The Eagles have given up 7.2 yards per pass so far this season, so there will be plenty of opportunities for the former MVP to shine.

Eagles at Panthers prediction:

Five of our eight experts took the Panthers to win in their Week 6 picks. OddsShark’s computer agrees.

The good, bad and ugly from Sunday’s action