It was a rough night for the Washington Commanders in the Week 5 edition of Thursday Night Football. The Chicago Bears snapped a 14-game losing streak with a relatively easy 40-20 win over the Commanders at FedEx Field.
The Commanders looked flat and unprepared Thursday, digging themselves a 27-3 hole that they were unable to recover from even as the offense played much better in the second half.
Buy Commanders TicketsThroughout the game, Washington fans were all over the Commanders, particularly head coach Ron Rivera and defensive Jack Del Rio. Why do these slow starts continue to happen each year? How can it be avoided?
After Washington dropped its third consecutive game, fans took to Twitter — or X — to vent their frustrations, particularly with Rivera and Del Rio.
Here are some of those reactions.
Ugly stat
Since Ron Rivera took over in 2020: Washington has been outscored 295-180 in the first quarter of games. And they have been outscored 744-492 in the first half of games. That’s not good.
— Eric Sully (@CommandersRealm) October 6, 2023
No more Snyder to deflect from the on-field product
Without Snyder as a scapegoat, Ron Rivera's entire operation has been exposed. The deeper issue….Ron should have never been given this much control.
— Disco (@discoque5) October 6, 2023
There have been a few
14 losses in a row and you come in on a short week, on the road and absolutely DOMINATE.
This is by far – the most embarrassing and humiliating loss of the Ron Rivera era and it's not even close.
Josh Harris has his first signifcant decision to make. #Commanders #Bears
— Chris Russell AKA the 🐓🐓! (@Russellmania621) October 6, 2023
Kicking the field goal was a critical moment
Ron Rivera handed momentum back to the Bears when he kicked the field goal.
Absurd to see your QB put everything on the line to get the first down and you just kick it when you need two yards.
Riverboat Ron isn’t a thing anymore.
— Jordan (@wshingtontoday) October 6, 2023
Warren Sharp
Ron Rivera and Josh McDaniels digging their teams out of a hole pic.twitter.com/bJoVMSxKGW
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 6, 2023
These fans want change
If I woke up tomorrow and Ron Rivera was finally fired it be a dream come true. 4 years in the making. Enough is enough. Fire this mid ass coach already. #FireRonRivera
— Russell (@RussellDMV) October 6, 2023
FIRE RON & JACK IMMEDIATELY.
Josh Harris is going to do it anyway. Make a statement and do it now. The stadium is sold out with fans. We are getting our asses kicked in prime time to a team who has lost 14 straight. Hold ‘em accountable & show the fans you aren’t fucking around
— Washington Window (@WasWindow) October 6, 2023
Fire Ron into the sun. No one else can run the defense. This is the result of what Ron built. Fire the person responsible.
— Zim (@Zim489) October 6, 2023
This fan wants therapy
Fire Ron Rivera, Fire Del Rio, Cut the DBs, Cut Joey Slye, Change the name, and pay for my therapy https://t.co/rrITKzKBoE
— Brice (@Zaxxonville_lol) October 6, 2023
No more Riverboat Ron
RIP Riverboat Ron. pic.twitter.com/7cLaKwIyuO
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 6, 2023
We thought we were getting Riverboat Ron, instead we got this…😑 #HTTC pic.twitter.com/lkMItnj8rQ
— Howellelujah Hive (@huffman_dave) October 6, 2023
2023 calling Ron Rivera "Riverboat Ron"
Gambling Twitter: pic.twitter.com/kXFF3n6LVB— P (@ptothetam) October 6, 2023
Perspective
Your regular reminder the #Commanders had Shanahan, McVay, LaFleur, and McDaniel in the building but opted to let them walk so they could have Gruden and Riverboat Ron, who just let a tanking team drop 27 on them IN A HALF at home on national TV LMAOOOOpic.twitter.com/xtD769eyiA
— Neil C (@RealNeilC) October 6, 2023
More from Warren Sharp
Your regular reminder the #Commanders had Shanahan, McVay, LaFleur, and McDaniel in the building but opted to let them walk so they could have Gruden and Riverboat Ron, who just let a tanking team drop 27 on them IN A HALF at home on national TV LMAOOOOpic.twitter.com/xtD769eyiA
— Neil C (@RealNeilC) October 6, 2023
Al Galdi
The #Commanders' defense has been pumped full of draft capital & salary-cap space & is in a 4th season under Jack Del Rio. An atrocious defensive performance like this against the 0-4 & injury-ravaged Bears is unacceptable. And is the kind of thing that gets people benched/fired.
— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) October 6, 2023
More on Jack Del Rio
What an embarrassing Prime Time loss by Washington to the Bears at home
SHAME on coach Rivera for not having this team both physically and mentally prepared to play this football game. They came out flat and laid an egg
Shame on Del Rio and his “Vaunted” defense who gave up 40
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) October 6, 2023
Can’t give up 37 to the Bears and coach the defense next week. Can’t. Jack Del Rio, see ya
— Eric Nathan (@BarstoolNate) October 6, 2023
