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After Bad Loss in Week 2, Panthers Ron Rivera Favored to Be First Coach Fired

David Golokhov

by David Golokhov in NFL Football

Updated Apr 3, 2020 · 9:46 AM PDT

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera
The Carolina Panthers have started 0-2 and now head coach Ron Rivera is on the hot seat. Photo by Jeffrey Beall (Wiki Commons) [CCLicense]
  • Carolina has started the season 0-2 and head coach Ron Rivera is on the hot seat
  • Jacksonville head coach Doug Marrone could be first fired as the Jags have looked awful on both sides of the ball so far
  • Houston and Bill O’Brien could be headed for divorce unless he can get the Texans back to the playoffs

The Carolina Panthers took one on the chin last Thursday as they came up short at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (20-14). With Carolina now 0-2, head coach Ron Rivera finds himself squarely on the hot seat.

Is he a good bet to be the first head coach canned or is there another candidate that presents better value?

Next NFL Coach To Get Fired

Coach (Team) Odds
Ron Rivera (Panthers) +350
Dan Quinn (Falcons) +400
Jay Gruden (Redskins) +500
Doug Marrone (Jaguars) +550
Matt Patricia (Lions) +900
Bill O’Brien (Texans) +1200
Pat Shurmur (Giants) +1500
Mike Tomlin (Steelers) +2500
Anthony Lynn (Chargers) +2500
Freddie Kitchens (Browns) +3000
Vic Fangio (Broncos) +3000

*Odds taken on 09/18/19.

Panthers Start Season With Back-To-Back Losses

The Panthers are winless but some wonder if coaching is the reason why. That’s especially true in the loss on Thursday Night Football when, on a fourth-and-one with the game on the line, the Panthers ran a bizarre shotgun snap to Christian McCaffrey instead of just leaning forward on a sneak with Cam Newton.

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The reason I don’t see Rivera as being on the hot seat is that the Panthers have lost two one-score games to two teams that could be good. We know the Los Angeles Rams (their Week 1 opponent) are among the best, and Tampa Bay could be improved too.

Rivera also won’t catch all of the blame here as it looks like Newton isn’t fully healthy.

With a schedule of Arizona, Houston, Jacksonville and Tampa Bay (in London) coming up, the Panthers have a good chance to rebound. And besides, the last time this team started 0-2, they finished the year 12-4. Rivera’s odds have shortened from +1500 the last time odds were posted, but I think he’ll be fine.

Marrone’s Seat Is Hotter

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone is on his last legs. He was 10-6 in his first year with the team but dropped sharply to 5-11 last season and has already started 0-2. What’s worse is that he’s without quarterback Nick Foles for the foreseeable future and he just got into a sideline fight with Jalen Ramsey, the team’s top player.

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The Jaguars might now move Ramsey, which could help the locker room but won’t improve on-field results. The Jags offense is, again, subpar, ranking 18th in total yards, 20th in points (19.0 per game), and 20th in DVOA.

Marrone hurt himself by going for two and failing Jacksonville’s Week 2 loss in Houston. Nobody will remember their valiant effort. It will merely be remembered as another loss.

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The upcoming schedule isn’t very forgiving either as the Jags host the Tennessee Titans this week, then go to Denver and Carolina. This team is staring down the barrel of an 0-5 start. The schedule will get easier later but with the defense crumbling, Ramsey wanting out and the offense underwhelming, Marrone’s fate could be sealed soon.

O’Brien A Good Long-Shot Play

The Houston Texans are all-in for this season and, if head coach Bill O’Brien can’t deliver, he’s likely to be a goner. It feels like he’s been hanging by a thread for a couple of years but last season, the Texans took advantage of a soft schedule to get into the playoffs. Nobody mistook them for a Super Bowl contender, though.

This year, the Texans went out and traded for Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills and Duke Johnson. If O’Brien can’t get this team to the playoffs, it will be seen as a coaching failure.

The early results aren’t great as the Texans lost at New Orleans in Week 1 and nearly lost at home to Jacksonville in Week 2.

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With the Panthers, Falcons, Chiefs, Colts, Ravens, and Patriots coming up, the hot seat under O’Brien will get warmer unless he do better than .500.

What’s The Best Bet?

I like Marrone to be the first head coach fired as the Jags might feel like they can salvage the 2019 campaign and build for 2020 if he’s gone.

O’Brien is a longer shot but he’s starting to get into the conversation – especially after near debacles in back-to-back weeks. He’s closer to getting canned than the odds suggest.

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