CHARLOTTE -- The Carolina Panthers didnt expect to be in the same situation as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a quarter of the way through the season.One of them will take a step in the right direction in Monday nights game at Bank of America Stadium.Four games doesnt make a season. We have been in this situation before, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. This is a challenge. We have to accept this challenge. We have to take it one game at a time, and thats the approach.Both teams hold 1/3 records.While the Buccaneers are in a rebuilding phase with a first-year coach, the Panthers are the defending NFC champions.I think we should be better than we are, Rivera said. Weve had some opportunities that we havent taken advantage of.Tampa Bay is playing back-to-back games against last seasons Super Bowl participants after a home loss to the Denver Broncos. Adding to the task is several injuries that have created uncertainties.Somebody needs to rise up anytime another guy is down, Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter said. We have high expectations for everybody.The tricky part for the Panthers is preparing to be without quarterback Cam Newton, who was placed in the NFLs concussion protocol after a late-game hit last week in Atlanta and was officially ruled out on Saturday.Derek Anderson will make his third start for Carolina since joining the team in 2011. He was 2-0 in his other two starts, both against the Buccaneers in 2014 when Newton was injured.Anderson finished last Sundays game, completing 17 of 23 pass attempts for 172 yards and two touchdowns. He completed 49 of 74 pass attempts for 501 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in his other two starts for the Panthers.Were going to do what we do, play who we play, Carolina coach Ron Rivera said after Saturdays practice. Weve done this before. Its that next man up mentality. Weve done it before.Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston hasnt been immune from hits that have drawn concerns as well.Jameis is taking some hits that we would like him not to take because he is trying to extend some plays, Koetter said.If Winston is sharp, he might uncover some cracks in the Panthers, who have defensive issues to sort through.The Panthers were torched by Atlanta receiver Julio Jones, who gained 300 yards, in last weeks game in a defensive meltdown that was disturbing.We tried to take some things away, Rivera said. A lot of these young guys are starting to learn how to play.This weeks task for the Carolina defense comes with Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans, whos one of two players in the NFL ranking in the top 10 in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.The trouble for Tampa Bay has been turnovers. The Buccaneers are minus-9 in turnover ratio and thats not a formula thats working.We cant put our defense in that position, Koetter said. That is killing us right now.Koetter said Winston is his own harshest critic and he expects an appropriate response.Jameis is such a competitive guy, he said. He is always trying to make a play when sometimes there is no play to be made. ... We cant force the football. He has got to be able to cut our losses. Theres nothing wrong with punting.But until rushing attack improves from 82.5 yards per game, there are going to be some tough spots for Winston.Were not running the ball efficiently enough, Koetter said. Were not being productive enough in the run game and were having to rely too much on our pass game.The Panthers are perplexed because they have the same personnel in many areas from a year ago when they lost only once during the regular season. Rivera called for patience to some degree, pointing out its a process.Its learning to play with all the tools we have, he said.Tampa Bay officially ruled out only wide receiver Cecil Shorts III due to a hamstring injury and likely will be missing other key players as well.The Bucs are expected to be without their top two running backs in Doug Martin (hamstring) and Charles Sims (knee), who are listed as doubtful.In addition, Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (calf) was listed as doubtful on the Bucs final injury report Saturday. Defensive end Robert Ayers (ankle), who had 9.5 sacks last season, has missed the last two weeks and also is listed as doubtful.Injuries are a rough part of this game, coach Dirk Koetter said Saturday. Theyre no fun, especially for the players. The rules are the rules. Theyre the same for everybody and were gonna be ready. The guys that we put out there, theyre gonna play their tails off.McCoys potential absence complicates matters for the Buccaneers defense.He usually is going to draw a double team, Koetter said.The Buccaneers added defensive tackle John Hughes since the Denver game to provide depth for a banged-up front.Both teams have lost to Denver. Tampa Bays victory came at Atlanta, where the Panthers lost last week.The Panthers have won the last six matchups with the Buccaneers, including at home in last seasons regular-season finale. Theyll meet in this seasons finale in Tampa, Fla. Detroit Red Wings Gear . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No. Red Wings Jerseys China . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. https://www.cheapredwings.com/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Detroit Red Wings Shirts . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. Cheap Red Wings Jerseys . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has pencilled in hotshot rookie Bevan French and the versatile Clinton Gutherson as his fullback and five-eighth for the 2017 season.Both players were outstanding in Mondays NRL win over St George Illawarra, with French grabbing a hat-trick of tries and Gutherson enjoying arguably his best game in the halves.Frenchs three tries takes him to an impressive 16 tries in just 12 games.His third was one out of the box, taking a sharp catch from a low-trajectory Brad Takairangi kick from out wide to light up the final game at Pirtek Stadium before it gets rebuilt.Less than a month after missing out on bringing home star fullback Jarryd Hayne, Arthur revealed French would start next year in the No.1 jumper.Gutherson is also all but certain to partner suspended playmaker Corey Norman in the halves.Definitely (French will) be our fullback next year, Arthur told Triple M.We get a bit of time to work with him in the pre-season. Having two halves that are 93-94 kilos, and good size... weve based our season on the back of defence.With Gutho there and Normy, hopefully wee can work through our pre-season to look to play more football and put some more points on.ddddddddddddArthur was full of praise for the pair post-game.(French) and Clint Gutherson, every time you tell them something, they make sure they go out of their way to try and improve it, he said.And while ever they keep doing that, theyll have a long time in the game and a long time at this club.(Gutherson) gives himself every chance to get better. Hes the first in to do video, hes the last off the training paddock all the time.Mondays win comes after five players either signed or re-signed with the club during the week, with more expected to be announced in the near future.It was continually reported that we were a basketcase, but were not. Were a strong club. Were going to make sure we move forward, Arthur said.The fact that they all want to stay... the players sell a team and a club. Theyre the ones who talk, theyre the ones who help you recruit other players. ' ' '