No concerns with Cam Newton throwing downfield

— With all the talk Monday about consistency and execution, the topic of leading the league in penalties was inevitable.

The Panthers were flagged seven times for 65 yards Sunday. Of that group, Rhule took exception with a pair of them, saying there was no evidence of Michael Jordan moving before he was called for a false start, and that the Washington guard “flinched his hand” before defensive tackle Derrick Brown was called for offsides.

The more bothersome ones were the holding calls on Jordan and right tackle Taylor Moton, along with the two unnecessary roughness calls on Juston Burris and Donte Jackson’s neutral zone infraction on a field goal. Along with the run defense issues, Rhule described it as “just really undisciplined football.”

“I think once you get the reputation, it’s kind of on you,” Rhule said of the penalty problems. “Some things, tough calls went against us, but the officiating’s the officiating, we’re not going to complain about it, play through it. What’s really bothering me is the holds on offense. . . .

“Our level of focus has to be significantly higher, especially at home. Our level of focus as a team, at home, is not anywhere near where it has to be. I feel like I have to do a better job as a head coach of getting us locked in at home games. We’re about everything else other than just playing the football and the play right in front of us. It’s time for us to make that step.”