Panthers HC Matt Rhule: ‘I’m not trying to show anybody anything’ vs. Saints

Despite the New Orleans’ Saints recent stranglehold on the NFC South, there will be no extra motivation for the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

When speaking with reporters on Friday, head coach Matt Rhule shot down any possible notion of the Panthers wanting to prove something to the Saints in their Week 2 matchup. He believes his team’s focus on winning is consistent, no matter the opponent.

“I’m not trying to show anybody anything,” Rhule said on the thoughts of this showdown being a statement game. “We have a competitive group of guys. They wanna go win. Nothing in the past carries over to the future.”

The past, particularly the last four years, has seen New Orleans clinch the division crown every season dating back to 2017. Their four-peat, if you will, on the NFC South is the first such streak in the history of the division’s current alignment.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, the Saints also have a stranglehold on . . . them. New Orleans has won eight of their last nine meetings, including four straight victories at Bank of America Stadium.

But, as Rhule stated, the past won’t matter this week.

“Obviously, the Saints are a great team. They showed that last week. We’re just completely focused on Sunday, playing our best game.”