"Less than 24 hours after a season-ending 45-17 loss at New Orleans, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said "you better believe" he and his staff will use the lopsided loss to the playoff-bound Saints as a key teaching point as they look toward next season.

The loss, Rivera said, showed how much work is ahead for the Panthers, who improved from 2-14 to 6-10 this season. As players left Bank of America Stadium on Monday to begin their offseason, they left with a mixture of optimism and realism."