NFL fans called out Ron Rivera for kicking a weak field goal when the Commanders had the Bears reeling

After a sparkling 27-3 first half, the Chicago Bears started to let the reins go a little bit against the Washington Commanders Thursday night. With nothing to lose at the start of the second stanza, Washington marched right down the field and captured a two-point conversion to narrow the margin to 27-11.

Then, with an opportunity to really make the Bears sweat, Washington found itself with a perfectly attainable fourth-and-short at the end of the third quarter. Against one of the NFL’s worst defenses, the obvious decision was to go for it and try and make it a one-score game late in the third quarter. Chicago clearly had no answer.

But Ron Rivera was interested in only playing it way too safe. He kicked a field goal to make a two-possession game … a two-possession game.

That “Riverboat Ron” nickname feels long dead and gone.

This just isn’t how a modern coach should approach football. You are never guaranteed red-zone trips. If there are just under 20 minutes in the game, it’s time to put the foot on the gas. If the other team’s players are spiraling, that’s when you step on their throat.

No one evidently relayed this message along to Rivera.