The Panthers’ season continued to unravel on Sunday when their comeback effort against the Saints fell short in a 41-38 loss that left the defending NFC champs with a 1-5 record on the year.
That makes four losses in a row for the Panthers, but they’ll have at least a one week reprieve from the losing. The Panthers have a bye in Week Seven, something that coach Ron Rivera said comes at the “perfect time” for a team that’s hurting physically and mentally six weeks into the season.
Rivera said he wants his players to “come back refocused and ready to roll” by getting away from football as much as possible.
“I’m going to bring the guys in and we’re going to work the first two days next week and then we’re going to get them out of there,” Rivera said, via the Charlotte Observer. “I told them I want them to get away from it, don’t read anything, don’t watch anything, don’t listen to anything. Just get yourselves ready to come back focused in and start right back to work the following Monday.”
The Panthers will hope to get players like cornerback James Bradberry and tackle Michael Oher back from injuries and clearer heads can’t hurt, but the issues that have plagued the team so far this season aren’t likely to disappear when they get back to work ahead of a Week Eight visit from the Cardinals.