last won a regular-season series at Tampa Baylast won a regular-season series at Tampa Bay | Forum

CHARLOTTE, N. Joe Thomas Jersey .C. -- The Carolina Panthers are 1-3, their MVP quarterback has a concussion and their young secondary just allowed Matt Ryan to throw for 503 yards and four touchdowns.Yep, the NFCs best team last season is reeling.The Panthers are 1/3 for the fourth time in six seasons under coach Ron Rivera, but the two-time NFL Coach of the Year said this one feels different.I think we should be better than we are, Rivera said Monday.Carolina has won three straight NFC South titles, but is two games behind the Atlanta Falcons (3-1) one quarter of the way through the season.And now theres a chance they could be without Cam Newton for a while.Newton left Sundays 48-33 loss to the Falcons in the fourth quarter with a concussion and did not return. Rivera said Newtons status for next Monday nights home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is uncertain. The Panthers visit the New Orleans Saints in another division matchup in Week 6 before a bye week.Derek Anderson, who threw two TD passes and two interceptions against the Falcons, would start if Newton isnt cleared from the concussion protocol. Anderson was 2-0 as a starter for Carolina in 2014 with both wins coming against Tampa Bay.Rivera last spoke to Newton after the game at the Georgia Dome and said the quarterback told him, Im fine.But the coach said he hadnt spoken to Newton on Monday and that I have no idea what has come out of the meeting with the doctors.The Panthers return to practice Wednesday.Newton inexplicably slowed down nearing the goal line on a 2-point conversion run on Sunday and took a legal hit from linebacker Deion Jones.Rivera, a former NFL linebacker with the Chicago Bears, seemed to have no problem with the hit, saying If I was playing Id have taken the shot.Even before the injury, Newton wasnt playing particularly smart.He was flagged for a taunting penalty in the first quarter and finished 14 of 25 for 165 yards and a touchdown with a few overthrows.Newton has eight combined touchdowns and six turnovers so far this season. At this point last season, Newton had nine combined TDs and three turnovers -- and the Panthers were on their way to a 14-0 start and a trip to the Super Bowl. His QB rating (80.2) is at a career low and hes only completing 57.9 percent of his passes.The offensive line, which was missing left tackle Michael Oher (concussion) on Sunday, has allowed 13 sacks against Newton, considered to be one of the more mobile quarterbacks in the league.Rivera said the team needs to learn how to better utilize the options they have on offense.Theres plenty of blame to go around though.Carolinas starting defensive ends Charles Johnson and Kony Ealy have yet to get a sack, and its young secondary allowed Julio Jones to pile up 300 yards receiving -- the fourth-most in the Super Bowl era.The Panthers removed the $13.9 million franchise tag from All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman in the offseason and turned to three rookies to help replace him, including starter James Bradberry. That appears to be a huge mistake for a team well under the NFL salary cap.Bradberry was outmatched when lined up against Jones, allowing three completions for 51 yards on Atlantas first possession before leaving for about two quarters with a toe injury.When asked about the Panthers problems in the secondary on the Dan LeBatard Show, Norman responded, You get what you pay for.Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, whose defense had finished in the top 10 in the league the past four seasons, said he expected some growing pains from his young secondary.I would be naive to think that wouldnt have been the case, McDermott said. ... Theres a lot of communication that goes on there, but that is the challenge that goes on as a coach.Still, the Panthers arent used to giving up 597 yards in a game.When asked if he thinks Norman might have made a difference, McDermott said. I havent thought about Josh on our defense since the minute he left. That is how you have to do your job. We have new players in those positions and I have a tremendous amount of confidence in those players and I expect them to do the job at a high level.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Baker Mayfield Jersey . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. Baker Mayfield Youth Jersey . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. http://www.brownsrookiestore.com/Browns-Joe-Thomas-Jersey/ . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The AL West-leading Texas Rangers stumbled again on the road against Tampa Bay.Logan Forsythe homered after missing four games due to back spasms, and the Rays took two of three from the Rangers with an 8-4 victory on Sunday.Forsythe hit an opposite-field, three-run shot off Martin Perez (8-9) during a five-run fourth that made it 6-2. He has six homers in his last 10 games.Its a challenge to recover from a five-run inning, Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. Martin today, kind of the old nemesis, that one inning is a big inning.Drew Smyly (6-11) allowed four runs and five hits over 6 2/3 innings to go 4-0 in his last six starts.Texas has been in first place all year, Smyly said. Theyve got a very good lineup, great pitching and we beat them two out of three.Tampa Bay, last in the AL East, has won six of seven while outscoring opponents 55-18 during the stretch.I think were getting big hits, having more quality at bats with guys in scoring position, Forsythe said.Delino DeShields hit a two-run homer in the third inning and Drew Stubbs had a solo drive in the fifth for the Rangers, who have lost nine (1-9-2) of their last 12 regular-season road series against the Rays. Texas beat Tampa Bay in the 2010 and 2011 ALDS, going a combined 5-0 at Tropicana Field.Perez, 1-8 on the road this season, gave up six runs, five hits and three walks over six innings.They scored some runs but I feel (physically) good, Perez said. Thats part of the game. Just trying to do my best.Steven Souza Jr. put tthe Rays up 8-4 on a two-run homer in the eighth. Jim Brown Jersey. TRAINERS ROOMRangers: RHP Tanner Scheppers (left knee) threw an inning Saturday night for Double-A Frisco.Rays: CF Kevin Kiermaier (left hip tightness) didnt start for the second straight game but entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth. ... RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery), nearing the end of a rehab assignment, starts for Triple-A Durham on Monday night.GOMEZ GOING FORWARDBanister said Carlos Gomez, signed to a minor league contract Saturday, will primarily start in left field. This guy can take over a game, Banister said. The move allows Jurickson Profar to move into a utility role. It has not been determined if the Gomez will join the team from Triple-A Round Rock during a series at Cincinnati that starts Tuesday night.NUMBER GAMERays OF Mikie Mahtook is hitless in 29 at-bats after going 0 for 3. . Souza has homered twice in nine at-bats after hitting one in 158 at-bats. . The Rangers have homered in nine straight games against the Rays. . Texas last won a regular-season series at Tampa Bay May 30-June 1, 2011.UP NEXTRangers: LHP Derek Holland (5-5) is scheduled to make his first start since going on the disabled list June 22 with left shoulder inflammation Tuesday against Reds RHP Dan Straily (9-6).Rays: Rookie LHP Blake Snell (4-5) faces Boston and one-time Tampa Bay ace David Price (11-8) Monday night. ' ' '