Panthers coach Ron Rivera not ready to give in

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, amid a 1-5 start and the firing of general manager Marty Hurney earlier this week, is focusing on making sure his team takes advantage of opportunities in the future, according to an interview in a report from ESPNChicago.com on Friday.

As the Panthers get set to face the 5-1 Chicago Bears on the road this Sunday, Rivera, in a radio interview, said the time for change is now.

"We're in one of those situations right now where we've had opportunities, we just haven't capitalized on those opportunities," Rivera said in the report. "So we have to find the answers to it. If we continue to give ourselves a chance, eventually you're going to win them, but you can't wait forever. Something has to happen now."

The former defensive coordinator in Chicago, Rivera was backed by Bears head coach Lovie Smith.

"We know that Ron and the rest of the staff is an excellent coaching staff with a lot of good players," Smith said in the article. "And yet you go through some times like this. You just keep working on what you believe in, which Ron and their crew will do. We just hope they don't get it right this week. They'll be fine in time."