Rivera not ready to say if last two weeks will determine Commanders quarterback in 2023

Ron Rivera wants to get to the playoffs, not talk about 2023 right now.

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera has a big decision to make ahead of Sunday’s Week 17 game against the Cleveland Browns.

Will he start Taylor Heinicke or Carson Wentz at quarterback?

Wentz replaced Heinicke in the fourth quarter of last week’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers after a pair of turnovers from Heinicke in the second half. Up until that point, Heinicke played one of his better games of the season against the NFL’s top defense.

In Wentz’s first action since Week 6, he played well in limited duty. The 49ers immediately pressured him, and Wentz made good decisions with the football, taking what was available to him instead of making a costly mistake. He ended his drive with a beautiful touchdown pass to Curtis Samuel.

After the game, Rivera was noncommital on the starter for Week 17. When Rivera spoke with the media Tuesday, he said he still hadn’t decided.

Rivera has likely already decided on his starter and, for competitive reasons, is waiting until as late as possible to make his decision known. Many believe Rivera will turn back to Wentz.

Washington is currently a half-game ahead of three teams [Detroit, Green Bay, Seattle] for the NFC’s final playoff spot. If the Commanders win their last two games, it doesn’t matter what the other teams do.

Rivera was asked Tuesday if the next two games will play a critical role in determining who Washington’s quarterback will be in 2023. Rivera was focused on the immediate future.

“Well, I think what happens in the next two weeks is gonna have a high impact on this football team right now,” Rivera said. “I mean, that’s what I’m really more concerned with right now is getting into the playoffs. We have a football game that we gotta win, so we’re gonna focus all the attention on that.”

He’s right. Rivera wants to make the playoffs, and he wants to show his team he believes in them. Whomever he decides to start, it’s because he thinks it gives the Commanders the best chance to win.

Heinicke is a free agent after the season, while Wentz has two years remaining on his contract. However, he has no guaranteed money left, and Washington can release him without penalty. If Wentz plays the final two games, whether Rivera admits it or not, he’s likely playing for his Washington — and NFL future.

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5 takeaways from the Bears’ 17-7 loss vs. the Rams

From missed FGs to finishing with a potential quarterback controversy, there was a lot to unpack in the Bears’ 17-7 loss to the Rams.

A de facto game to see who remains in the playoff hunt on Sunday evening took place as the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams squared off in primetime. After a back and forth game, the Rams landed the final blow, scoring a touchdown in the final few minutes to secure the win 17-7, effectively ending the Bears playoff hopes as they fall to 4-6.

It was the same old story for coach Matt Nagy’s squad. The offense continued to sputter when the team needed a spark, and their defense played well enough to keep the team in the game until the final minutes when Rams coach Sean McVay and quarterback Jared Goff orchestrated a 4 minute drive that resulted in a touchdown.

From starting out with two missed field goals to finishing with a potential quarterback controversy, there was a lot to unpack in this game. Here are my five takeaways from the Bears loss.

1. “Benching” quarterback Mitchell Trubisky was a cowardly move by Matt Nagy

You can call it a hip injury, but I’m calling it a benching. Down 10 points and following the Rams’ final touchdown, Trubisky was removed from the game in favor of backup quarterback Chase Daniel. The team sent out a memo, saying he was dealing with a hip injury and Nagy explained in his press conference he hurt it in the second half, but Trubisky says the injury occurred in the first half.

Those reports do not add up and the situation did not pass the eye test after seeing Nagy talk with his quarterback on the sideline and watching Trubisky walk off the field when the game ended. I could end up being wrong, but I’m not buying the injury. I saw a coach attempt to save his skin by playing his backup and a dejected (potentially former) starting quarterback look like someone told him his dog had died.

Benching Trubisky does nothing at this point in the season except raise more questions and create unrest in the locker room. Trubisky didn’t light it up tonight, but until the final couple of drives, he played alright and was plagued by drops from his receivers. Still, in my opinion, the decision to remove Trubisky with three minutes to go was the wrong move, and I’m not buying the injury excuse.

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