Dan Quinn Is Now the Odds-On Favorite to Be First NFL Coach Fired After Another Blown Lead in Week 3
- Dan Quinn of the Atlanta Falcons has moved into the favorite’s position in the betting line on the first NFL coach to be fired
- Quinn is now at a betting line of -200
- The Falcons are off to an 0-3 start to the season
The Atlanta Falcons are the Red Hot Chili Peppers of the NFL: Every Sunday, they give it away, give it away, give it away now.
It would appear that fact of life is about to cost head coach Dan Quinn his job.
After 0-3 Atlanta coughed up a huge lead for the second straight week, Quinn has become the overwhelming -200 favorite in the odds on which NFL head coach will be fired first in the 2020 season.
Odds on First NFL Coach to Permanently Leave Position
| Coach (Team) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Dan Quinn (Falcons) | -200 |
| Adam Gase (Jets) | +300 |
| Matt Patricia (Lions) | +500 |
| Bill O’Brien (Texans) | +900 |
| Mike Zimmer (Vikings) | +900 |
| Doug Marrone (Jaguars) | +1000 |
| Vic Fangio (Broncos) | +1200 |
| Anthony Lynn (Chargers) | +1600 |
Odds as of Sept. 28th, 2020.
Atlanta has surrendered an NFL-worst 108 points this season.
Quinn Charges to Head of Pack
Quinn was third-favorite at +600 following Week 1, behind Adam Gase of the New York Jets and Matt Patricia of the Detroit Lions.
Dan Quinn having a job during 10% unemployment rate nationwide is a crime against humanity.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) September 27, 2020
After blowing a 20-point lead and losing to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2, Quinn jumped over Patricia into second place in this betting market at +200.
This week, following a stunning loss, this one to the Chicago Bears, Quinn’s odds shortened to -200, making him the chalk.
The Way They Lose the Games They Lose
It would be one thing if the Falcons were simply losing because they were a bad team. All evidence points to them losing because they are a badly-coached team.
They blew a 15-point fourth-quarter edge and lost 40-39 to the Cowboys. That was the game in which Atlanta’s kick-return unit stood and watched while the Cowboys scooped up an onside kick.
This is legitimately one of the craziest onside kick mistakes I’ve ever seen in the #NFL. pic.twitter.com/bYk1qoqK7Z
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) September 20, 2020
Yesterday, they squandered a 26-10 fourth-quarter advantage and lost to 30-26 to the Chicago Bears.
The Falcons are the first team in the league’s 101-year history to have blown fourth-quarter leads of 15 points or more twice in the same season. They’re also the first team since 1933 to lose a game while scoring 39 points and committing zero turnovers.
As they sought to protect their lead against the Bears, the Falcons went three-and-out on three successive fourth-quarter drives. Six of those nine plays were passes. The total time of possession for those three drives was 2:58.
Evidently, Atlanta signed All-Pro running back Todd Gurley to not give him the football.
.@Realrclark25 calls the Falcons' last two losses "unacceptable."
"You don't wanna call for people's jobs, but the fact that Dan Quinn keeps getting opportunity after opportunity to fail … it's crazy to me!" pic.twitter.com/iBSonmIREA
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 28, 2020
This isn’t new for a Quinn-coached team. Let’s not forget Super Bowl 51. Atlanta led 28-3 in the third quarter. Even then, Quinn seemed to be of the impression that running the football was not permitted within the rules of the game.
By not churning up clock, the Falcons gave the New England Patriots ample time to rally for a 34-28 victory.
Cast Your Gaze Elsewhere
All signs point to a Quinn firing, just as they did a year ago, when the Falcons started the season 1-7.
He survived then, and he’ll survive now. Here’s why: look at where Quinn is situated in the betting odds on this prop. He’s way out there in the lead.
Jets coach Adam Gase is under more intense scrutiny this week and it's not just the external noise from media or fans. League sources say even w/ injuries, Jets' brass monitoring this week closely, today vs. Colts but perhaps more telling is TNF vs. Broncos. Interesting watch.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) September 27, 2020
What happens when Quinn gets a big lead? The other guy wins. If Quinn were going to be fired this week, wouldn’t it have been done by now?
Gase is poised to get embarrassed at home on Thursday as the 0-3 Jets play host to the 0-3 Denver Broncos. Following that loss will be the ideal time to fire him. There’s a long week for the new coach to implement changes.
Pick: Adam Gase (Jets) +300
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
