Everyone said the same thing about Ron Rivera after the Washington Commanders’ 34-31 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.
The Commanders were down 31-24 after an A.J. Brown touchdown with 1:43 left. Washington responded by driving down the field, and Sam Howell capped it with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jahan Dotson as time expired to make it 31-30.
Washington then had an option: kick an extra point to tie the game and go to overtime, or attempt a two-point conversion to win.
Rivera chose to kick the extra point, which tied the game and sent it to OT. Washington went three-and-out in OT and punted, while Philly moved into field goal range and won on Jake Elliott’s 54-yard kick.
Fans everywhere were saying the same thing: why didn’t Rivera go for two? Moreover, people were wondering what happened to “Riverboat Ron”?
Rivera earned the nickname “Riverboat Ron” by making bold gambles when he was the Carolina Panthers, such as going for it in short-yardage situations, or attempting two-point conversions.
This was the exact type of situation where “Riverboat Ron” would have gone for two. Yet Rivera chose to go to overtime against the defending NFC champions, leaving everyone befuddled.
The Commanders going on to lose the game further cemented what a miscalculation that was by Rivera.
There was even talk that Rivera no longer deserved the “Riverboat” nickname after that choice.
Washington is now 2-2 this season, while Philly is 4-0.
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