Panthers suffer more injuries on defense

"The situation that has to happen is we've got to find a way to not to worry about losing again and worry about winning again," Rivera said. "I think that's part of our problem — when something bad happens the wind goes right out of our sails."

Injuries forced the Panthers to start Jordan Senn at middle linebacker. Senn started the season fourth on the depth chart at that spot and was kept around primarily for his special teams ability.

McDermott, who came to Carolina after being let go by Andy Reid in Philadelphia, said he still has faith in the guys in the defensive meeting room. He said the struggles aren't from a lack of effort. A lack of experience and knowledge of the defense perhaps, but not a lack of effort.

But like Rivera he refuses to blame the problems on the mounting injuries.

"It's the hand you're dealt," McDermott said. "That's what we deal with in this league. I trust those guys in that room to make plays and they haven't given up. We're building something here — something more than what most people see. And we have to continue to build. That core of what we're building will carry us through this time and we'll use it next year to look back on and say, 'hey, remember where we were.'"