4 pivotal matchups that will decide Panthers at Bucs in Week 18

Matt Rhule vs. Bruce Arians

Matt Rhule has had an interesting tenure in the NFL and that is putting it mildly. Without getting into the many reasons that fans and former players alike are calling for the firing of the embattled head coach, there is one very simple reason he might be replaced.

Second-half adjustments.

In every game this season, no matter the end result, the Carolina Panthers have come out of the locker room sluggish and uninspired. An indictment of Rhule’s ability to both inspire and adjust to what the opponent is doing.

The Panthers have consistently taken early leads and even had them all the way into half-time only to see everything fall apart in the third quarter. This is a worrying trend that needs to be resolved and Sunday will be the last chance against one of the best coaches in the league, Bruce Arians.

Good coaches gameplan effectively and then change that plan based on how the opponent reacts – it’s the very basics of being an effective leader in the NFL. Something Rhule has not been able to master as of yet.

Even when the head coach does change things up, it’s often the wrong decision. As evidenced by the team completely going away from an effective rushing attack against the New Orleans Saints last Sunday.

Rhule’s seat is no longer hot, it is on fire. The only way to cool that down is to go toe-to-toe with the best and outthink them.

We don’t expect to win this game, but just keeping it competitive after half is enough to give fans at least a little hope to carry through the offseason. And that might be the only thing that can save Rhule in Carolina.