Ron Rivera has bizarre explanation for kicking field goal while down 26

The Carolina Panthers got steamrolled during Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, and Ron Rivera didn’t make matters much better afterwards.

Speaking with reporters following the 29-3 loss, the Panthers coach defended his decision to kick a field goal while down 26 early in the fourth quarter, saying it was done to avoid the shutout, per The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue.

Trailing 26-0 with 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Panthers marched down to the Falcons’ 13-yard line. On fourth down though, Rivera opted to have Joey Slye kick a 31-yard field goal, which he made.

While Carolina could not get anything going on offense (quarterback Kyle Allen threw four interceptions on the day), the decision to kick there made it seem like Rivera had given up on the game and was just trying to save face. Granted, maybe this isn’t too surprising with how awful Rivera has been on fourth-down playcalls this season.