Carolina Panthers change it up, keep players closer during playoff bye week

The Carolina Panthers have a bye this week, but they won’t be getting much of a break.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera is trying to make it like a normal week while Carolina waits to learn its opponent in the divisional-round game at Bank of America Stadium on Jan. 17.

Players were at the facility Monday for meetings rather than getting a so-called “Victory Monday” following their 38-10 win against Tampa Bay in the regular-season finale.

After a day off Tuesday, the Panthers will practice Wednesday through Friday before a free weekend.

“We’re going to use this week very wisely. We’re going to do it a little bit different than we have in the past,” Rivera said. “We’re going to try to keep the guys around as much as possible.”

The Panthers struggled after bye weeks during Rivera’s first four seasons. They were 0-5 in such games, including a 23-10 playoff loss to San Francisco in the divisional round two years ago.

But the Panthers beat Seattle 27-23 in Week 6 after a bye this season. Carolina also won at New Orleans after a “mini-bye” following the Thanksgiving game at Dallas.

The Panthers won’t know their playoff opponent until Sunday.

If Seattle beats Minnesota, the Seahawks will come to Charlotte as the lowest remaining seed vs. the top-seeded Panthers. If the Vikings win, the Panthers will face the Washington-Green Bay winner.

Rivera said the fact the Panthers have played all three teams makes preparations a little easier.

“We’re going to look at us, we’re going to do some self-scouting and look at who our potential opponents (might) be as we go forward,” he said.

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 5:42 PM with the headline "Carolina Panthers change it up, keep players closer during playoff bye week."