NFL’s New Coaches Expected to Fare Better in Week 2

• Coaches new to their teams went 0-7 in Week 1 of the NFL season
• Last season, new NFL coaches were a solid 3-2 in Week 1
• Two of last season’s new coaches – Sean McVay (Rams) and Sean McDermott (Bills) – guided their teams to postseason berths

Seven NFL head coaches made their debut last week at the helm of new teams, and in this case seven wasn’t a lucky number. All seven newbies went down to defeat. 

Will the newcomers put up a goose egg again in Week 2? Sportsbooks don’t think so. The sportsbook is offering an over/under prop wager on the total wins accumulated by the new coaches this week.

How Many NFL Teams with a New Coach Will Win in Week 2?

*Odds taken on September 12th, 2018

Taken To The Matt

Last season, it was good to be a new NFL coach named Sean. Sean McVay guided the Los Angeles Rams to an 11-5 mark and the NFC West title, their first postseason appearance since 2004. The Buffalo Bills went 9-7 under Sean McDermott to earn an AFC wildcard spot, Buffalo’s first playoff action since 1999, ending the NFL’s longest postseason drought. 

In Week 1, it was bad to be a new NFL coach named Matt. Matt Patricia’s Detroit Lions were throttled 48-17 by the New York Jets. Meanwhile, Chicago coach Matt Nagy watched Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hobble off the field with a knee injury while the Bears assembled a 20-0 lead. Then Nagy watched Rodgers return and rally the Packers to a 24-23 win.

Mixed Signals

Patricia set franchise coaching records for the most points surrendered and the widest margin of defeat suffered by a new Lions coach in a season opener. The Jets insisted that they were able to easily decipher Patricia’s play-calling signals from his days as defensive coordinator of their AFC East rivals the New England Patriots.

If that’s the case, imagine the field day former Patriots QB Jimmy Garoppolo of the 49ers will enjoy against the Lions on Sunday in San Francisco.

Chucky’s Nightmare

Back in charge of the Oakland Raiders for the first time in a decade, Jon Gruden – nicknamed Chucky due to his resemblance to the homicidal doll of the same name from the Child’s Play horror films – looked very much like a coach about a decade behind the times as the Raiders were drubbed 33-13 by the Los Angeles Rams. 

Come to think of it, Chucky hasn’t made a relevant movie in about a decade, either.

Week 2 NFL Games Involving New Coaches

*Odds taken on September 12th, 2018

NFL Week 2 Expectations

Nagy and the Bears are the chalk at Soldier Field against a Seahawks team that fell by three at Denver. The Broncos sacked Seattle QB Russell Wilson six times, so you know Chicago DE Khalil Mack is already salivating.

For a fellow who is supposedly an offensive genius and with Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley at his disposal, Pat Shurmur’s New York Giants could only muster 15 points at Jacksonville, and will face another tough test at Dallas. You could see the Titans winning one for Mike Vrabel, but not if Blaine Gabbert is at QB for the injured Marcus Mariota.

Stay away from the Raiders. The Broncos have won 12 straight September home games and are 5-0 in Week 2 over the past five years.

Stay away from the Raiders. The Broncos have won 12 straight September home games and are 5-0 in Week 2 over the past five years. On the flip side, pity Frank Reich. The Colts are 0-5 in Week 2 over the past five years. The Lions haven’t won at San Francisco since 1975. And Steve Wilks and Arizona also look to be in tough. The Rams have covered the last two times they were a double-digit point favorite.  They went 2-0 against the Cardinals last season, winning by a combined score of 65-16. 

Best Bet: Under 2.5 (-115)