First NFL coach fired odds entering Week 2: Bears' Matt Nagy, Vikings' Mike Zimmer now atop list after ugly season-opening losses
The first NFL coach fired this season could well be from the NFC North.
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Entering Week 1 of this NFL season, the Denver Broncos' Vic Fangio was the betting favorite via SportsLine oddsmakers to be the first coach fired/to leave his position. However, the Broncos looked pretty good in winning their opener by two touchdowns at the New York Giants. Two teams that didn't look great in Week 1 were the Bears and Vikings from the NFC North, and now Chicago's Matt Nagy and Minnesota's Mike Zimmer are the betting favorites to be the first coach fired.
For some very confusing reason, Nagy continues to hitch his wagon to quarterback Andy Dalton even though it's pretty obvious that the Bears are much more dangerous offensively with rookie Justin Fields under center. Once again, Nagy's offense was inept in Week 1 as Chicago lost 34-14 at the Los Angeles Rams. Dalton didn't have a TD with one pick and a rating of 72.9. In brief action, Fields was 2-for-2 for 10 yards and rushed for a score. Yet it will be Dalton starting again this Sunday in Chicago's home opener against Cincinnati, Dalton's former team.
The Bears were supposed to lose their opener as 8-point road dogs, but the Vikings were 3-point favorites in Cincinnati and lost 27-24 in overtime. Minnesota looked quite disorganized with a whopping 12 penalties for 116 yards (a handful more were declined). The Vikings were flagged for false starts and offensive holding 11 times, which was their most such penalties in a single game since at least 2000. Then a fumble by Dalvin Cook set up Cincinnati's winning field goal.
One headline in the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Monday read: "Have the Vikings already tuned out Mike Zimmer this season?" Things may not get better this Sunday with Minnesota a 4-point underdog at Arizona. Lose that, and 0-4 looks very possible with Seattle and Cleveland up next.
The New York Giants clearly have no issues firing coaches early – Ben McAdoo lasted just 28 games from 2016-17 and Pat Shurmur lasted two seasons from 2018-19. Joe Judge has jumped into the third-favored role on this prop after New York's 27-13 home loss to Denver.
Judge embarrassed himself by throwing a challenge flag in the third quarter after Broncos tight end Albert Okwuegbunam scored on a 4-yard touchdown catch when he dove at the pylon. Judge apparently doesn't know that all scoring plays are automatically reviewed and it cost his team a timeout.
Judge called it "emotional" reaction to the game officials not informing him why the replay officials had determined it was a touchdown: "I was looking for feedback from the officials. It looked to me on the Jumbotron and some feedback I got from up top watching the replay, that he may have stepped in the white. I was screaming for the officials. They're supposed to get some feedback from what they're hearing."
Needless to say, Twitter had a field day with Judge's gaffe. The Giants are 3-point underdogs Thursday night at Washington.
Urban Meyer probably won't be fired by the Jacksonville Jaguars, but could he ask out of his contract to take the suddenly open USC job?
Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Who will be the first NFL coach fired/leave his position?
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