Heading into Thursday’s Thanksgiving clash with the Dallas Cowboys, Ron Rivera appeared safe until at least the end of the season as the Washington Commanders head coach. However, after a 45-10 thrashing to Dallas, Washington’s owner Josh Harris could get forced to make a more immediate decision surrounding Rivera.
When asked about his job security, Rivera dismissed any concerns.
“I’ve told you before, I’m not worried about anything,” Rivera said after the 35-point loss to the Cowboys. “All I’m going to do is do my job and see how things go. That’s the only thing I can do.”
The Commanders drop to a 4-8 record and have lost eight of its last ten games. Washington has lost five divisional games, getting swept by the Philadelphia Eagles and the woeful New York Giants. The Commanders were also embarrassed during a Thursday Night Football loss to the hapless Chicago Bears earlier in the season.
A 13.5-point underdog, the Commanders were trailing 20-10 at the start of the fourth quarter. Yet, a chain of events led to the Cowboys scoring 25 unanswered in the final frame, including a record-setting pick-six for Dallas cornerback Daron Bland to cap the scoring.
Washington’s defense has been an eyesore this season. Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio is facing scrutiny about his unit’s struggles. They yielded 431 yards and 38 points to the Cowboys’ defense.
The Commanders have yielded 31 or more points in six of its eight losses. They gave up 29 in a defeat against the Seattle Seahawks.
Ron Rivera declined to answer if he would make coaching staff changes.
Harris initially may prefer to give Rivera the entire season to prove himself, but the losses may force his hand. With nine days before the team’s next game, Harris has ample time to pull the plug on Rivera’s tenure.
When Rivera got hired as Washington’s head coach, former owner Dan Snyder infamously stated, “Happy Thanksgiving” in the press conference. Potentially firing Rivera after this week’s loss could be another “Happy Thanksgiving” for Commanders fans.
