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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Panthers coach Ron Rivera is hoping a bye week and some in-depth self-scouting will help the defending NFC champions salvage what is quickly becoming a lost season.Carolina (1-5) is marred in a four-game losing streak following a 41-38 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, a game in which his young secondary was shredded for the second time in the last three weeks.Oh, yeah. It really is a big challenge, Rivera said Monday. ... The easiest thing to do is quit, but shoot, weve got 10 games to play. Atlanta lost (Sunday). So heck, were not in a bad spot. What weve got to do is take care of our business and doing the things were capable of. That starts now.Big challenge might be an understatement.The Panthers are three games behind the Falcons (4-2) in the NFC South -- and 0-3 in division play. Theyve matched the worst record through six games for teams coming off a Super Bowl appearance, joining the 1987 New York Giants, 1999 Atlanta Falcons, 2002 St. Louis Rams and 2004 Panthers, who also started 1-5.Rivera encouraged players to get away from football following their practice on Tuesday.The Panthers are obviously frustrated as evidenced by Cam Newtons brief postgame interview Sunday -- which he ended after about one minute.During their time off, the coaching staff plans to do extra self-scouting to figure out how a team that went 17-2 last season and reached the Super Bowl has fallen off course.Hopefully we get some answers, Rivera said.The biggest focus will be the teams pass defense, which is allowing 282 yards per game and has surrendered 13 touchdowns through the air since jettisoning All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman.The Panthers have failed to generate much of a pass rush with their starting defensive ends Charles Johnson and Kony Ealy combining for one-half sack this season. That, combined with a young secondary that has been riddled by injuries and lacks game experience, has led to some poor results.Atlantas Matt Ryan threw for 503 yards and Drew Brees put up 465 against the Panthers, the two biggest totals by an opposing quarterback in the franchises 22-year history. Both threw for four touchdowns.Well, thats probably the biggest disappointment is we havent had the production we would have liked out of the front, Rivera said. The front has done a nice job. Weve done a good job stopping the run. But (the run defense) is not whats killing us.Rivera said the Panthers will look at ways of being more creative on defense to get additional pressure on opposing QBs.The problem with blitzing more is it leaves Carolinas young cornerbacks -- the Panthers have three rookies on the roster -- exposed more in coverage. Carolina has already given up eight passes of more than 40 yards, second most in the NFL.Rivera said the Panthers are seeing more double teams on defensive tackle Kawann Short, more play-action on first and second down and more chipping on their defensive ends on third down.There are some things weve got to be able to do to counter that stuff, Rivera said.The Panthers were counting on third-year defensive end Ealy to have a big season after he came on strong at the end of last season and had three sacks, a forced fumble and an interception in the Super Bowl. But Ealy has been completely shut down this season, and Rivera acknowledged the team hoped he would be further along in his progression as a player.Right now, for a six-game stretch youd like to see a little more production, Rivera said. Its not like hes not trying. Its tough because of the way people approach us now and look at us.Defensive end Wes Horton said Monday the biggest difference from last years defense that finished in the top 10 in the league overall and first in takeaways is the lack of communication and consistency.There are flashes where were doing well and other times when guys just arent in the right place, Horton said.If nothing else, the bye should also help the Panthers get healthier.They played Sunday without three starters: cornerbacks James Bradberry (toe) and Robert McClain (hamstring) and left tackle Michael Oher (concussion). Defensive tackles Vernon Butler (ankle) and Paul Soliai (foot) also sat out with injuries.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Hydro Flask Cyber Monday . All of the scoring came in the final 20:04. Lucic scored on a power play at 15:46 of the third period, when he tipped a shot over Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen for a 3-1 lead. Swell Black Friday Sale . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. http://www.waterbottleblackfriday.com/ . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. Swell Black Friday . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. Cheap Hydro Flask . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The NFL suspended Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson for 10 games for what the players agent tells The Associated Press stems from his client using marijuana to relieve the effects of Crohns disease.The Bills announced the league notified them on Tuesday of Hendersons suspension for violating the leagues substance abuse policy.Its Hendersons second suspension this year after he served a four-game ban to start the season.Hendersons agent, Brian Fettner, called the leagues decision heartbreaking, and added he cannot appeal the suspension because the NFL doesnt allow an exemption for medical marijuana use.His situation is unique, but the drug policy doesnt line up with the uniqueness. Its disappointing, Fettner said.The reality is, the NFLs position has been if you need medical marijuana then youre too sick to play, he added. But thats just not the case for Seantrel Henderson.Henderson will sit out the final five games of the season, and the suspension will carry on either into the playoffs or next season.Buffalo (6-5) plays at Oakland (9-2) on Sunday.The Bills also made several roster moves by placing defensive tackle Corbin Bryant and receiver Walt Powell on the season-ending injured reserve list. Bryant has missed three games with a shoulder injury, and Powell hurt his left ankle in a 28-21 win against Jacksonville on Sunday.Buffalo filled the two roster spots by promoting defensive tackle Deandre Coleman and receiver Dezmin Lewis from the practice squad.Henderson was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease a year ago and had two operations on his intestines last offseason. Doctors removed a section of diseased tissue in January, and Henderson then had his intestines reattached in April.ddddddddddddeveral studies have found marijuana can be an effective treatment for Crohns. In New York, the states medical marijuana program specifically lists patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease as being potentially eligible to obtain medical marijuana.Henderson previously acknowledged testing positive for the drug at the NFL combine in 2014 and said positive tests led to him being suspended several times in college.His only appearance this season came against Cincinnati on Nov. 20, and he was inactive against Jacksonville last weekend.Henderson was excused from practice last week to attend to the birth of son, Seantrel Jr.Buffalo selected Henderson in the seventh round of the 2014 draft out of the University of Miami. He earned the starting job at right tackle as a rookie and started 26 games before being diagnosed with the disease.Fettner called the NFLs reasoning to ban marijuana murky because it is legal in numerous states across America. He also questioned why the league doesnt consider marijuana to be an effective treatment in certain cases.Theyll give you painkillers by the bottle, which are far, far worse than cannabis, Fettner said. For some reason, the NFL isnt there yet.He said Henderson hasnt given up on continuing his playing career, but acknowledged his client faces a weighty decision.The reality of it is, its a question of personal wealth and pain management, Fettner said.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '