Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Eight coaches debuted with teams as the 2019 NFL kicked off. Some fared far better than others. With Vic Fangio’s first game as Denver head coach left for Monday night. For an idea on how rough opening weeks can be, teams with new head coaches went 0-7 in Week 1 in 2018, the worst record by a group of new head coaches in NFL history, per NFL Research. The previous worst was on 0-6 Week 1 in 2001. Thus far in 2019. the new coaches are 1-5-1.
Kliff Kingsbury
The Arizona Cardinals and Kliff Kingsbury opened against the Detroit Lions in the desert. Not the toughest of foes, right? Kingsbury and Kyler Murray had three quarters of growing pains. Murray wasn’t accurate. He was sacked, had passes swatted as Arizona fell behind by 18. FOX color commentator Mark Schlereth said for the first three quarters to call the Air Raid offense “Garbage, would be an insult to garbage.” Then, Murray magic came to life. He led three scoring drives that produced 18 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime at 24-24. The Cardinals then took a 27-24 lead on a Zane Gonzalez field goal in the extra session only to see the Lions tie it on a Matt Prater FG. And that is how it finished.
Matt LaFleur
It was not pretty but Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers got off to a winning start, toppling the Chicago Bears, 10-3, Thursday. Aaron Rodgers was not spectacular. However, Mike Pettine had the Packers’ defense in excellent form as Green Bay kicked off the season with a victory in the storied rivalry over a team that won the NFC North last year.
Brian Flores
Ah, someday he’ll look back on this and it will all seem funny … hopefully. Talk about a disaster. A complete demolition. Brian Flores debuted as Miami Dolphin coach and saw his team annihilated, 59-10. Ouch. And Flores had best pray this isn’t the start of another fallen limb on the Bill Belichick coaching tree.
Freddie Kitchens
The Cleveland Browns were the it team … until they stepped in it against the Tennessee Titans in Freddie Kitchens’ debut as head coach. The lauded Browns’ defense was torched by Marcus Mariota & Co. for 43 points. Gregg Williams would be laughing if he hadn’t been on the defensive side of the Jets’ collapse against the Buffalo Bills, which brings us to …
Adam Gase
The only solace Adam Gase can take is he wasn’t on the sideline in Miami for a 49-point thrashing. That said, a one-point loss when you blow a 16-0 lead in the second half could be more stinging. Gang Green was in prime position to make this a grand opening for Gase and then the Jets being the Jets settled in and Buffalo scored the last 17 points of the game. In case Gase or Flores are wondering the Jets and Dolphins don’t meet until Nov. 3.
Bruce Arians
Bruce Arians had success against the San Francisco 49ers in five seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, winning 7 of 10 games. It did not carry over to Tampa Bay as the Bucs fell, 31-17 out West. Arians’ task of turning Jameis Winston into a franchise QB started poorly. The Heisman winner out of Florida State threw 3 picks, including a Pick Six.
Zac Taylor
Zac Tayor came to Cincinnati from Los Angeles, where the Rams had always forced the Seahawks to struggle in NFC West matchups. It was no different in Taylor’s opener with the Bengals. However, he did come up short, losing 21-20. One huge bright spot had to be John Ross. The former No. 1 pick, who has been a bust with 210 yards receiving before 2019, caught 7 passes for 158 yards and 2 TDs.
Vic Fangio
Vic Fangio will make his debut as the coach of the Denver Broncos Monday night when they face the Oakland Raiders, who certainly haven’t had many distractions before their first game.
