Ron Rivera has said that the NFL's plans to expand the playoffs should be "seriously considered".
The league's commissioner, Roger Goodell, has previously suggested that two more teams could be included in the post-season in the future, expanding the playoffs from 12 to 14 sides.
The Carolina Panthers head coach, who led his side to the playoffs for the first time since 2008 this season, told NBC Sports: "[We] don't have a good record coming off the bye so I think so I think that our best thing is to stay and keep playing and stay focused.
"But I would have just because in all honesty I have been on a team that had a winning record that didn't go to the playoffs as both a coach and as a player, and it's very frustrating to take a step back and look around and say, 'Man, we were 10-6 and didn't get into the playoffs'.
"That is a tough pill to swallow, so I think there are a lot of good reasons for it. I would love to see it seriously considered this year we will go from there."
In order for changes to be made to the playoffs, 24 of the 32 team owners must vote in favour of the proposals.
Sian Cowper
