The spiral of misery continues ever onward for the Washington Commanders.
On Sunday, the Commanders dropped to 7-8-1 on the season after a rough 24-10 loss at the hands of the Cleveland Browns. Head coach Ron Rivera went back to Carson Wentz at starting quarterback instead of Taylor Heinicke for the Week 17 matchup and the results were pretty disastrous. Wentz went 16-for-28 with three interceptions, no touchdowns, and was booed relentlessly by the remaining Washington fans in the stands after the game.
It may have been a tough year for the Commanders, but the team was surprisingly still in the playoff hunt entering Sunday. A win against the Browns could have helped their case, but unfortunately the loss took things out of their hands. After the game, however, Rivera was generally stunned to learn the Commanders could be eliminated from the playoffs later that day if the Green Bay Packers won their game.
Here's the video.
I am absolutely gobsmacked that Rivera didn't know that the Commanders could be eliminated today.
How does this happen in the modern NFL?
Did this impact his decision to start Wentz?I'm so confused right now. pic.twitter.com/9BNCr26mxm
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) January 1, 2023
I get that NFL playoff elimination scenarios are confusing but as the head coach of a team still in the mix, it definitely feels like your job to know what would get your team eliminated. Also, considering how tenuous the Commanders playoff chances were going in, why did they even start Wentz in the first place?
Rivera later clarified his postgame comments and stated he only focused on the Commanders winning the game and didn’t consider other alternatives.
Ron Rivera clarified his postgame remark about not knowing they could be eliminated. Said he was frustrated by the question; said he didn't know they could be eliminated because he thought they would win & only focused on what would happen IF they won. Didn't consider alternative
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 1, 2023
NFL fans ripped into Rivera for his cluelessness about the Commanders elimination scenarios.