Could Commanders fire Ron Rivera before season ends?

Head coach Ron Rivera suggested before his Washington Commanders fell to 4-7 via this past Sunday's loss to the lowly New York Giants he realizes new team owner Josh Harris could go in a different direction this coming offseason. 

It appears Harris may not wait that long to make a change. 

"Commanders coach Ron Rivera did not help his already shaky job status with the six-turnover loss to the Giants on Sunday," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noted Wednesday morning. "Even before that game, some people in the building had openly wondered whether change could come during the Week 14 bye." 

As of late Wednesday morning, oddschecker listed the Commanders as 12-point underdogs for the Thanksgiving Day game at the 7-3 Dallas Cowboys. Washington hosts the Miami Dolphins on Dec. 3 after the 7-3 Dolphins play at the 4-6 New York Jets this Friday. 

The Commanders have gone 26-34-1 under Rivera since 2020. 

"While I've talked to people who think team owner Josh Harris might not want to make an in-season change, falling to 4-9 would cement a fourth consecutive losing season without a winning record for Rivera," Fowler added. "That's tough for any coach to overcome." 

It's worth mentioning that offensive coordinator and assistant head coach Eric Bieniemy could take over for Rivera as soon as Dec. 4 and possibly audition for the full-time job through Week 18. The Commanders have also been linked in rumors with a potential offseason move for New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick even though it's not known if Patriots owner Robert Kraft will part ways with Belichick in January. 

On Monday afternoon, Peter Alexis of oddschecker listed Rivera third among the betting favorites at +300 odds to be the next NFL coach fired. How Rivera's players react to possibly competing to save his job over the next couple of weeks could ultimately determine if he's still employed through Washington's bye.