Ron Rivera’s answer to press conference question is a fireable offense (Video)

Ron Rivera apparently didn’t realize the Commanders could be eliminated on Sunday, which is almost as embarrassing as his QB decision-making.

It was not a good day for Ron Rivera and his argument to remain the head coach of the Washington Commanders.

Washington got stomped, 24-10, by the Browns in a game that is likely to cost them the playoffs.

Quarterback Carson Wentz threw three interceptions in place of the benched Taylor Heinicke, who had fans chanting his name.

And the head coach didn’t even realize his postseason hopes could be ended by the result of the Packers matchup with the Vikings.

Ron Rivera didn’t know the Packers could eliminate the Commanders

“If you guys are eliminated today by what happens at four o’clock, is [rookie QB] Sam Howell in consideration,” a reporter asked the head coach.

Rivera stared, blinking, before responding, “We can be eliminated?”

The most generous read on Rivera’s answer is that he was being sarcastic. However, that would be a strange moment to use sarcasm. It didn’t seem like it was.

Of course, that means the head coach of the Commanders was ignorant of the fact that a Packers win would make the final game of the regular season meaningless. Yikes.

There are a million things for an NFL head coach to keep track of each week. Sometimes things slip through the cracks. But knowing whether or not you’re going to be alive in the playoff hunt by the end of the day should be a big enough nugget to stay in your brain.

It was an embarrassing moment but it wasn’t the most embarrassing part of Rivera’s day. Giving the blessing to start Wentz over Heinicke was even more questionable. Heinicke may not be a perfect quarterback but his 5-3-1 record compared to Wentz’s 2-4 record going into the game speaks for itself. This wasn’t the time to make a QB change and Wentz proved that by tossing three interceptions.