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Carolina Panthers: How hot is Ron Rivera’s seat?

By Martin McConnell

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 03: Head coach Ron Rivera of the Carolina Panthers calls for a time out during the second half of a NFL game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 3, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The New Orleans Saints won the game 31 - 21. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 03: Head coach Ron Rivera of the Carolina Panthers calls for a time out during the second half of a NFL game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 3, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The New Orleans Saints won the game 31 - 21. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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Following the Panthers’ fifth straight loss of the season, Ron Rivera is starting to feel the pressure. So just how hot is the seat of the head coach of the Carolina Panthers?

The Carolina Panthers were looking like a Super Bowl contender just a month and a half ago. They were hot on the trail of the New Orleans Saints and were, at the very least, looking like a contender to make noise in the playoffs. Ever since then, they’ve lost five straight, most recently in a 26-20 defeat to the Cleveland Browns.

Now, the Browns are much improved this season, but you can easily make an argument that the Panthers are the more talented team. With Cam Newton and Christian McCaffrey at the helm, Carolina’s offense should have explosive capabilities. The team just isn’t executing at the level they should be, and the attention and blame are quickly turning to head coach Ron Rivera.

Rivera took over in 2011, and along with Cam Newton, had led the Panthers to some successful season. Under Rivera, the Panthers have had four playoff berths, most notably a Super Bowl appearance in 2015 which ended in a defeat to the Denver Broncos. It’s not like this is anything to sneeze at, but it might be time for a change in Carolina.

Rivera may have run his course for the Panthers. Following a five-game skid, he needs to refocus the Panthers and make an effort to save his job. The last three games of this season might determine whether or not Rivera keeps his head coaching position in 2019. Mr. Rivera, the pressure is solely on you.

The Panthers have to make a push here. At 6-7, they’re not totally out of the playoff race yet. In the next three weeks, the Panthers will play the Saints twice, with the Atlanta Falcons at home in between them. They certainly have an uphill climb, but it’s a climb they have to make in order to feel good about keeping Rivera.

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Three weeks of game-planning could save or take away Ron Rivera’s job. These are the most crucial games of his career, perhaps even more important than Super Bowl 50 for the Panthers. Rivera has just under a month to erase this five-game losing streak and take hold of the Carolina Panthers for another year.

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