Saints not overlooking Panthers

Following last year’s playoff victory over the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Cameron Jordan said he needed to get Cam Newton a wine bottle for beating him three times in one year.

On Monday, the two teams play head-to-head for the first time since.

Several weeks ago, this stretch of the schedule looked like it was going to decide the NFC South, but things have changed.

New Orleans has won 11 out of its last 12 games, having already wrapped up the division in week 14. Meanwhile the Panthers have dropped five games in a row, but the Saints aren’t letting that get to their heads leading up to their first of two games against the Panthers over the next three weeks. New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins said, “We’ve got to go out and take care of this one on Monday night and then we’ll worry about the last two. I think the last thing you want to do is start looking ahead and worrying we’ve got to win these three games, that’s how you let one slip. Carolina isn’t going to give this game to us. They’re a talented team with a lot of talented players, a lot of prideful players. So they’re not going to allow us to come out to their field on a Monday night and just have the game.”

The Saints and Panthers will kick things off at 7:15 p.m. on Monday Night Football.