6 Panthers who need to step up over the last 7 games

If they’re going to defy those odds and make the postseason this year, they need these six individuals to step up over their final seven games.

HC Ron Rivera

Ron Rivera
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The problem: defensive scheme, selective aggression

Winning football games isn’t just on players, though. They need to be put in a position to succeed by their coaches and lately Rivera has been letting them down. His decision to punt on fourth and three to end the first drive against Green Bay set exactly the wrong tone just a week after he inspired the Panthers by getting back to his Riverboat Ron ways. Rivera has also been inconsistent about using analytics and his 3-4 defensive scheme simply isn’t working when it comes to stopping the run. Nobody has more to prove over these last seven games than Rivera.

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