Lions’ Matt Patricia Overtakes Adam Gase as the Favorite in Odds to Be Next NFL Coach Fired After Week 11

• The Detroit Lions’ Matt Patricia is now the odds-on favorite to be the next NFL coach to be fired
• The Lions were shut out for the first time since 2009 last week when they were blanked 20-0 by the Carolina Panthers
• Patricia has a 13-28-1 record in three seasons in Detroit

Matt Patricia has a new distinction among NFL coaches and it is not a good one.

The Detroit Lions’ boss has overtaken the New York Jets’ Adam Gase as the favorite to be the next coach fired. In fact, Patricia is the odds-on favorite at -145.

Odds to Be Next NFL Coach Fired

Odds as of Nov. 24.

In late October, Patricia was just the fourth choice to be fired after Gase, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Doug Marrone, and the Minnesota Vikings’ Mike Zimmer.

When the season began, Gase was favored to be the first coach to get the ax while Patricia was next at +350.

Now the oddsmakers believe Patricia has the hottest seat of all.

Hitting Bottom

The Lions have lost three of their last four games to fall to 4-6. That has all but extinguished their hopes of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

While Detroit has surpassed last season’s win total of three, Patricia is just 13-28-1 in three years on the job.

Things seemed to hit bottom last Sunday when the Lions were blanked 20-0 on the road by the Carolina Panthers despite being three-point favorites. It was the first time Detroit had been shut out since 2009.

The Lions had never been shut out with Matthew Stafford at QB until today. The last time they were shut out was in 2009 with Daunte Culpepper at quarterback.

Only the Saints, Ravens, Panthers, Steelers, Vikings and Jaguars had longer active streaks without being shut out. pic.twitter.com/cPbaZ2WZ7d

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 22, 2020

The Lions managed just 10 first downs and 185 total yards against a Panthers defense that gave up 46 points to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a week earlier. Furthermore, Carolina was without quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and running back Christian McCaffrey.

In fairness to the Lions, quarterback Matthew Stafford played with an injured thumb and running back D’Andre Swift (concussion) and wide receivers Kenny Golladay (hip) and Danny Amendola (hip) all missed the game.

If I was Matthew Stafford I would request a trade after this game

— Joel (@NobodyEpic) November 22, 2020

Still, it was a game the Lions needed to win to entertain any hopes off grabbing one of the NFC’s three Wild-Card playoff berths.

More Bust Than Playoffs

There was plenty of speculation that Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn were going to be fired at the end of last season.

Management decided to give the duo a third year. However, the mandate was to either make the playoffs in 2020 or at least contend for a postseason berth.

And Patricia has made the Lions’ decision to fire Jim Caldwell following the 2017 season look quite dubious.

The Lions have had 16 men coach the team for 10+ games since 1957.

NONE OF THEM have a higher win percentage than Jim Caldwell (.563).

Jim Caldwell was let go to hire Matt Patricia (.321 win %) pic.twitter.com/a6KJismfus

— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) November 23, 2020

The Lions have been spinning their wheels all season, neither winning nor losing more than two games in a row.

Detroit also ranks near the bottom of the NFL in most major statistical categories including 22nd in scoring offense (22.7 ppg), 25th in total offense (342.9 ypg), 26th in scoring defense (28.7 ppg) and 27th in total defense (397.4 ypg).

On The Firing Line

Gase has relinquished his top spot in the first coach to be fired sweepstakes even though his Jets are 0-10. They are the NFL’s lone winless team this season.

New York is trying to avoid becoming just the third team in league history to have a 0-16 season, joining the 2008 Lions and 2017 Cleveland Browns.

Jets fans are waiting for Gase to go.

Actually, with the hiring of Adam Gase, the Jets have been officially eliminated from the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/QJjr1DTyKg

— George Magalhaes 🇺🇸🇵🇹 (@gmags1199) November 23, 2020

Marrone’s Jaguars have lost nine games in a row since opening the season by upsetting the Indianapolis Colts.

The last time Jacksonville had a nine-game losing streak, Gus Bradley was fired as coach in 2016. However, Marrone held onto his job even though his team was drubbed 27-3 by the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers last week.

It would seem if Gase and Marrone were to be fired during the season that it would have happened by now. So, perhaps ownership is willing to ride out the season with both men before assuredly making changes on Black Monday.

Despite all the speculation, there has been no indications that Patricia is about to be boxed by the Lions. So, betting on the bearded coach at -150 provides no value.

Don’t Sleep On Lynn

In looking for value, the Los Angeles Chargers’ Anthony Lynn seems worth a bet. The Chargers almost blew an 18-point lead in the second half last week before holding off the Jets 34-28 at home.

NFL Coaches I would fire:
Anthony Lynn
Adam Gase
Vic Fangio
Zac Taylor
Doug Marrone
Mike McCarthy
Matt Nagy
Matt Patricia

NFL Interim Coaches I would fire:
Romeo Crennel
Raheem Morris

— Alberto Bergamini (@PercentBerg) November 24, 2020

The Chargers are just 3-7 despite quarterback Justin Herbert being the favorite to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Furthermore, all seven losses have been by eight points or less. That is a sign of some bad luck – and poor coaching.