A report earlier on Friday morning claimed new owner Josh Harris would wait until the end of the season to make a call on the future of Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera.
The writing seems to be on the wall at this point though after Washington backed up last week’s loss to the lowly Giants with a humiliating 45-10 defeat to the Cowboys.
The Commanders now sit with a 4-7 record and it remains to be seen whether the latest low point in Washington’s season could trigger a change in heart for ownership.
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NFL Wrap: 49ers take charge of NFC West | 03:16
“Harris and the team’s brass still anticipate evaluating Rivera’s body of work after the final game of the regular season (if the Commanders don’t make the playoffs) as they enter a crucial offseason,” NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport wrote earlier on Friday.
“… What’s unclear for the team going into Thursday’s game is if last week’s crushing loss to the Giants, coupled with a blowout loss to the Cowboys (if that were to happen today) would change the plans.
“History has shown that an ugly nationally televised outcome can trigger movement — even if the hope going in was just the opposite.”
The Commanders had just the one touchdown on the ground for quarterback Sam Howell in the loss, otherwise let down by poor playcalling and a defence that could not stop explosive plays.
Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 331 yards and four touchdowns in the win while Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland made NFL history when he intercepted Howell for his fifth pick-6 of the season.
It capped off a dominant Dallas win which saw the Cowboys improve their record to 7-3.
LOVE SHINES AS LIONS’ THANKSGIVING CURSE CONTINUES
Earlier, Jordan Love led the Green Bay Packers to a Thanksgiving Day surprise win as they beat the in-form Detroit Lions 29-22 in the opening of three holiday games.
The Lions had gone into the NFC North divisional clash with an 8-2 record and were heavily favoured against a Packers team with just four wins in the season.
But Green Bay quarterback Love produced his most accomplished performance since taking over from Aaron Rodgers for this season, throwing for three touchdowns and 268 yards as he connected on 22 of 32 passes.
The Packers scored three touchdowns in the opening quarter and went in 23-6 up at half-time with their offense firing and their defence applying pressure to Lions quarterback Jared Goff.
The Packers scored on the first drive of the game, with Love passing short left to Jayden Reed at the end of a five play, 75 yard drive which began with a superb 53 yard pass to Christian Watson with the first play.
The Lions responded immediately though with Goff connecting with Sam LaPorta with a pinpoint pass through coverage into the end-zone.
But Love, who spent three years on the bench as back-up to Rodgers, was in the mood and replied by leading his team on a ten play, 75 yard drive which concluded with a nine yard pass, short right to Tucker Kraft.
The game turned decisively in Green Bay’s direction when Rashan Gary got to Goff, forcing a fumble as the quarterback threw, the loose ball being recovered by Jonathan Owens, who dashed 27 yards for a touchdown.
After a third quarter field goal from Anders Carlson gave Green Bay a 17-point lead at the break, the Lions narrowed the gap in the third quarter with a six yard rushing touchdown from David Montgomery.
But Love produced a 16 yard touchdown pass to Watson and although Detroit scored with 41 seconds remaining, with Goff finding Josh Reynolds in the end-zone, their attempt to retrieve an onside kick failed.
Such was Detroit’s desperation in the final five minutes that head coach Dan Campbell attempted a fake punt on a 4th-and-5 on his own 23, which he later admitted was a “bad call”.
The Lions have now lost every Thanksgiving Day game since 2016.
Love credited the growing understanding on offense for the explosive start that Green Bay’s win was built upon.
“I think just the chemistry we’re building on offense, just the way we work every day throughout the week, it’s helping us come out here and just play fast, start fast, and just get in that rhythm and be comfortable doing it,” he said.
But he also credited the defence for the pressure they put on Goff, particularly Gary who delivered three sacks and two forced fumbles.
“They’re putting up a lot of pressure. RG was at the quarterback every time. They got some big-time turnovers so it was a huge performance by them,” he said.
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