Ron Rivera was looking for a spark on Sunday from Carson Wentz but what he got was the Commanders playoff hopes going up in flames.
The decision to start Wentz at quarterback backfired horribly for Rivera and the Commanders, as he tossed three interceptions while completing 16-of-2 pass attempts for 143 yards with a passer rating of 37.7 in a 24-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
With the Detroit Lions defeating the Chicago Bears on Sunday, the Commanders fell out of the seventh spot in the NFC wild card race and will be eliminated if the Packers defeat the Vikings.
The patience fans had for Wentz was thin as the quarterback struggled almost immediately, tossing an interception on his third pass attempt of the game.
Commanders fans at FedEx Field were chanting for Taylor Heinicke in the first quarter, who was benched in favor for Wentz after winning the starting job from him earlier this season during a period when Wentz was injured.
Wentz replaced Henicke in the fourth quarter of last week’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers after committing two consecutive turnovers. He completed 12 of 16 pass attempts for 123 yards and a touchdown in the final quarter for Washington, earning the starting nod from Rivera with the team’s playoff hopes on the line.
But garbage time stats against and starting a game with the playoffs on the line are two different things and Wentz was not ready for the moment as fans on social media roasted him and head coach Ron Rivera as the two may be on their way out in DC after Sunday’s game.
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