Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera survives a house fire

Just two days after his team defeated the Arizona Cardinals in a NFC wildcard play-off, the Panthers coach was forced to evacuate his home early on Monday morning - Eastern Standard Time - after a fireplace was left to smoulder overnight.

No-one was injured with Rivera claiming he was woken up by a smoke alarm.

"You should have it," the 52-year-old said, according to the Panthers' website.

"Fire alarms and smoke detectors do save lives. We are very fortunate."

Rivera explained that his brothers had been watching football at his house on Sunday with a fire lit.

"They're football junkies and they were watching football all day. They had the fireplace on for quite a few hours," he said.

"When we got done that night and when I got home and watched the end of the game and shut it down and went to bed it, it somehow just smouldered and kicked into high gear later on."

The fire was the second close call for a key Panthers individual in the past month, after quarterback Cam Newton survived a car crash in December. "You can't make this stuff up," Rivera said.

Carolina will face reigning NFL champions the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday in an NFC divisional play-off.