Dolphins’ Brian Flores Becomes New Favorite in NFL Coach of the Year Odds, McDermott a Close Second
- Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins is the +170 favorite to be named NFL Coach of the Year
- It’s the third week in a row that the chalk has changed in this betting market
- Washington’s Ron Rivera (+263) was the previous favorite
When it comes to the NFL Coach of the Year Award, Brian Flores is the latest benefactor from what’s been if not a wide-open race, certainly a pursuit much like the TV listings.
Always subject to change.
Miami Dolphins head coach Flores is the third NFL bench boss to take the favorite’s role in this race in as many weeks. He’s currently listed as the +170 chalk in the NFL Coach of the Year odds.
Previously, Ron Rivera of the Washington Football Team was the +263 favorite. The week prior to that, Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers was listing as the +193 chalk.
2020 NFL Coach of the Year Odds
| Coach (Team) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Brian Flores (Dolphins) | +170 |
| Sean McDermott (Bills) | +220 |
| Kevin Stefanski (Browns) | +450 |
| Ron Rivera (Washington) | +750 |
| Andy Reid (Chiefs) | +1000 |
| Mike Tomlin (Steelers) | +1300 |
| Matt LaFleur (Packers) | +1600 |
| Sean Payton (Saints) | +2000 |
| Frank Reich (Colts) | +8500 |
Odds as of Dec. 28th at FanDuel.
Neither of those two coaches currently rate among the top three contenders with a week to go in the NFL regular season. Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott (+220) and Kevin Stefanski of the Cleveland Browns (+450) are the second and third choices in this betting market.
Flores has Dolphins Flourishing
In his handling of the Dolphins, Flores is part football coach, part baseball manager. When it comes to his quarterback, he’s not afraid to pull out the big hook and go to his bullpen.
Tua Tagovailoa is the future of the franchise under center. For the present time, though, when the rookie first-round pick finds the going to be rough, Flores will quickly hand the keys back to journeyman veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick.
#Dolphins HC Brian Flores on going to Ryan Fitzpatrick: “If we need to go to a relief pitcher in the 9th, it’s what we’ll do.”
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 27, 2020
He came off the bench again Saturday to work a little of his FitzMagic and lead Miami to a huge 26-25 verdict over the Las Vegas Raiders. It was a victory that clearly places the Dolphins in the driver’s seat for an AFC Wild Card playoff spot with a week to go.
The Dolphins (10-5) scored 13 points over the final four minutes of the game under Fitzpatrick’s leadership. It was a bold decision to make with the season on the line.
Miami is 10-3 over the past 13 games and 4-1 in the last five. Wins over the past two weeks knocked both the Patriots and Raiders out of playoff contention.
Bills Ending Long Drought
Interestingly enough, to 100% ensure playoff participation for the Dolphins, they’ll need a win on Sunday at Buffalo against the AFC East champion Bills. That means the top two favorites for NFL COY will be coaching against each other in the final game of the regular season.
Tom Pelissero said on NFL Network that Bills HC Sean McDermott and GM Brandon Beane were the winners in a poll of 22 GMs for coach of the year and executive of the year
— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) December 24, 2020
Despite leading the Bills to their first division title since 1995, McDermott has flown below the radar in the NFL COY odds much of this season. A week ago, he was at +550. One week earlier, bettors could’ve accessed +1200 odds on him winning the award.
Buffalo (11-3) still has something to play for against Miami. The #2 seed in the AFC is up for grabs. If the Bills win out – Monday against New England and Sunday against the Dolphins – it’s theirs.
Stefanski At Surprisingly Short Odds
A couple of weeks ago, the Cleveland Browns and first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski were sitting pretty at 10-3. A loss to the Baltimore Ravens wasn’t unexpected.
Just inexcusable from Kevin Stefanski today. He’s been awesome this year. Truly. But letting Baker throw it 53 times without his top 4 wide receivers is coaching malpractice. Chubb & Hunt had a combined 15 carries. He tried to outsmart the room. It backfired. Brutal.
— Jordan Strack (@JordanStrack) December 27, 2020
A follow-up loss to the New York Jets, though, when the Browns still sat with a chance to win the NFC North, that’s entirely unacceptable. A rule of thumb – you can’t lose to the Jets and be named NFL COY.
Realistic Contenders
Going 1-3 down the stretch and blowing both the #1 and #2 seeding in the AFC torpedoed any chance of Tomlin winning NFL COY. Likewise, Rivera’s compelling case fell apart via consective losses to the Seahawks and Panthers and the Dwayne Haskins fiasco.
In 2019, Carolina fired Ron Rivera after he lost to Dwayne Haskins.
In 2020, Ron Rivera fired Dwayne Haskins after he lost to Carolina.
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) December 28, 2020
The NFL COY likely comes down to what happens in Buffalo on Sunday. If McDermott and the Bills put Miami out of the playoffs, he gets the award. If Flores pushes the Dolphins into the postseason, he’s the winner.
Pick: Brian Flores (Miami Dolphins) +170
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.
