Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera recently succumbed to a football epiphany that has transformed him from one of the NFL's most conservative coaches to a man suddenly adopting the nickname -- if not the persona -- of a riverboat gambler. What's interesting in Carolina's 62-point differential over the past four games is the dichotomy between Rivera's newfound aggressiveness and quarterback Cam Newton's sudden willingness to manage the game rather than uncorking wild downfield passes when the situation demands otherwise. Source: NFL.com DaBears22's Take: Newton has really stepped it up this year and Rivera's 'epiphany' couldn't have come at a better time. Long as Newton continues to play well and the defense is stout, Panthers could be looking at locking up a playoff spot.
