Fansided

5 NFL coaches starting 2020 on the hot seat

By Dustin Baker

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 04: Head coach Bill O'Brien of the Houston Texans looks on against the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at NRG Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 04: Head coach Bill O'Brien of the Houston Texans looks on against the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at NRG Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Detroit Lions
Matt Patricia, Detroit Lions. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

3. Matt Patricia, Detroit Lions

Head Coaching Record for DET: 9-22-1 (.297)

The Detroit Lions wrangled Matt Patricia away from the New England Patriots to spearhead a strong defense that would, in theory, complement Matthew Stafford’s passing prowess. The experiment has failed.

Since Patricia took over, Detroit ranks 21st in points allowed (24.5 allowed per game) and 23rd in yards allowed (367.7 per game). Because of the defensive futility, the Lions have been the fourth-worst team in football via win percentage. In fairness, Stafford was injured for nearly half of the 2019 season, so that does not help Patricia’s resumé.

Just like the Jaguars, the Lions will face stiff competition in the NFC North in six contests against the Bears, Packers, and Vikings. Detroit notoriously gets the short end of the stick against in those match-ups, and that malarkey dates back decades.

Patricia was a hot-seat occupant last season, so his candidacy for the moniker this year is virtually assured. He does, though, have a low bar by which to adjudicate improvement. In 2018, the team won six games before regressing to three wins in 2019. The Motor City would welcome anything north of six wins.

The stakes are high. Should this become Patricia’s final year in Detroit, there is a lucid possibility Matthew Stafford would be shopped elsewhere. Another dreary season for the Lions situates the franchise on the verge of a full rebuild — one that likely will not include Stafford — and definitely not Patrica.

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