11-07-2022, 08:13 PM
Washington's Ron Rivera owned a 190-8 advantage in games as an NFL head coach, yet he still got schooled by Kevin O'Connell and his "situational masters" in the Vikings' 20-17 victory at Washington on Sunday.
Rivera's decision to challenge the spot on Taylor Heinicke's 9-yard run on second-and-10 with 1:41 left in the third quarter was a huge mistake.
There was no evidence to overturn, and the benefit wasn't worth the risk of losing a second timeout after having blown one before running a failed fourth-and-1 play earlier.
Down to one timeout, Rivera could only watch as O'Connell toyed with the clock and the Commanders in the closing minutes. Offensive coordinator Scott Turner needed a quicker pass or a run on that momentum-killing fourth-down stop.
The final coaching-related blunder — getting flagged for hitting the long snapper with 1:52 left — sealed the loss because Rivera had only one timeout left
https://www.startribune.com/mark-craigs-five-things-ron-rivera-kirk-cousins-danielle-hunter-vikings-commanders/600222720/
Rivera's decision to challenge the spot on Taylor Heinicke's 9-yard run on second-and-10 with 1:41 left in the third quarter was a huge mistake.
There was no evidence to overturn, and the benefit wasn't worth the risk of losing a second timeout after having blown one before running a failed fourth-and-1 play earlier.
Down to one timeout, Rivera could only watch as O'Connell toyed with the clock and the Commanders in the closing minutes. Offensive coordinator Scott Turner needed a quicker pass or a run on that momentum-killing fourth-down stop.
The final coaching-related blunder — getting flagged for hitting the long snapper with 1:52 left — sealed the loss because Rivera had only one timeout left
https://www.startribune.com/mark-craigs-five-things-ron-rivera-kirk-cousins-danielle-hunter-vikings-commanders/600222720/