Take caution with young coaches
The Los Angeles Rams’ Sean McVay is 31, which makes him the youngest head coach in NFL history.
Other recent head coaches who have been hired before turning 33 haven’t fared so well.
Lane Kiffin (31) went 5-15 in one-plus seasons with the Oakland Raiders (2007-08). Raheem Morris (32) went 17-31 in three years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2009-11). David Shula (32) went 19-52 in 41⁄ seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals (1992-96). And Josh McDaniels (32) went 11-17 in fewer than two years with the Denver Broncos.
The Rams blew out a hapleslooking Colts team 46-9 in Week 1 and host struggling Washington in Week 2. Will McVay change the trend?
Let’s look at NFL Week 2.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 14
Houston Texans at Cincinnati Bengals
The Texans are 1-6 SU (straight up) and 0-6-1 ATS (against the spread) in their last seven games on Thursdays. … The Bengals are 4-1 SU and ATS on Thursdays.
Key stat: The visiting team in Houston coach Bill O’Brien’s games is 2-8 SU and ATS in September.
Who wins: Cincinnati, 27-21
SUNDAY, SEPT. 17
Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Titans have gone 1-5 SU and 0-5-1 ATS in their last six visits to Jacksonville. … The Jaguars are 1-8 SU and ATS in Game 2 of the season since 2008.
Key stat: Jacksonville is 0-5 SU and ATS in home-opening games the last five years, including 0-3 SU and ATS behind QB Blake Bortles. Tennessee, 24-23
Cleveland has drafted seven quarterbacks since 2005. Collectively those quarterbacks have gone 22-67 SU as starters for the Browns. … The Ravens are 1-7 ATS as division home favorites of more than seven points.
Key stat: Baltimore played in 11 games last season that were decided by seven or fewer points.
Who wins: Baltimore, 20-17 Buffalo Bills at Carolina Panthers
The Bills are 12-4 SU and ATS in Game 2 of the season when facing non-division opponents. … Entering this season, Panthers QB Cam Newton had been sacked or hit 922 times since 2011. Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson was second with 615.
Key stat: Carolina is 0-4 SU and ATS in its franchise history against AFC East opponents in Games 1-8 of the season.
Who wins: Carolina, 27-24 New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints
Defending Super Bowl champions are 2-10 ATS away in Game 2 of the season since 1982 when facing a non-division opponent. … New Orleans QB Drew Brees is 9-3 ATS and 8-4 ATS in his last 12 starts against AFC East opponents. (Brees is 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS as a home underdog against opponents coming off a defeat.)
Key stat: Patriots coach Bill Belichick is 22-10 SU and 23-9 ATS away in his career following a SU loss as a favorite, including 18-2 SU and 17-3 ATS since 2002.
Who wins: New England, 31-27
The Cardinals are 3-1 SU away vs. the AFC South since 2009. ... Indianapolis coach Chuck Pagano is 4-5 SU and 3-6 ATS at home during September.
Key stat: Arizona is 8-2 SU and 9-1 ATS in Game 2 of the season the last 10 years.
Arizona, 28-20
Philadelphia is 15-5 SU and ATS in games following the Washington Redskins. ... Chiefs coach Andy Reid is 14-4 ATS in games after wining SU as an underdog of more than three points.
Key stat: Philadelphia is 0-6 ATS in games against .500or-greater AFC West opponents. Kansas City, 31-21
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is 11-4 ATS away against non-division foes. ... Pittsburgh is 7-0 SU and 6-1 ATS at home following the Cleveland Browns.
Key stat: Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin and QB Ben Roethlisberger are each 9-1 SU and 7-3 ATS in home-opening games.
Who wins: Pittsburgh, 27-20 Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Entering this season, Chicago coach John Fox’s teams were 22-13 SU and 21-13-1 ATS collectively during his third-year tenures as an NFL head coach. ... Dating to 1980, the Bucs are 17-35 SU and 19-32-1 ATS in this series.
Key stat: The Buccaneers are 1-6 SU and 0-6-1 ATS as a home favorite in season-opening games since 1993.
Who wins: Chicago, 28-27 Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers
Miami is 18-9 ATS away in season-opening games. ... The Chargers are 5-0 ATS in home openers the last five years.
Key stat: The Dolphins are 10-3 SU and 9-4 ATS in this series since 1995, including 3-0 SU and ATS as an underdog of five or fewer points.
Who wins: Miami, 27-20 New York Jets at Oakland Raiders
The Jets are 5-3 SU and 6-1-1 ATS away in Game 2 of the season the last eight years. ... Oakland is 1-9 ATS at home after facing the Tennessee Titans.
Key stat: The Jets are 5-2 SU and 6-1 ATS in this series following a division game.
Who wins: Oakland, 28-27 Washington Redskins at Los Angeles Rams
Washington last had three consecutive winning seasons from 1990 to 1992. ... The Rams are 8-20 SU and ATS in games before facing the San Francisco 49ers, including 1-7 SU and ATS during the first four games of the season.
Key stat: The Rams are 2-10 SU and ATS the last 12 meetings vs. NFC East opponents.
Washington, 31-20
Dallas is 6-10 SU and 3-12-1 ATS following the New York Giants when facing a non-conference opponent, including 1-10-1 ATS as a favorite. ... Denver is 8-3 SU and 9-2 ATS in its last 11 games against NFC East teams.
Key stat: Denver is 12-2 SU and 13-1 ATS as a non-division home underdog following a division game. Denver, 27-23
San Francisco is 0-3 SU and ATS in Game 2 of the season in road-opening games. ... Seattle is 7-1 ATS in home-opening games.
Key stat: The Seahawks are 10-1-1 ATS in the last 12 games in this series. Seattle, 24-10
The Packers are 6-0 SU in games following Seattle, including 2-0 SU and ATS as an underdog. ... Atlanta QB Matt Ryan was 8-0 SU and ATS in home-opening games until losing to the Bucs last year.
Key stat: Ryan is 1-6 SU in his last seven games against NFC North opponents.
Who wins: Green Bay, 27-24
MONDAY, SEPT. 18
Detroit Lions at New York Giants
The Lions are 13-4-1 ATS in Monday night conference games. ... This will be one of 10 games that New York will play this season against foes that owned winning records last season.
Key stat: The Giants are 4-6 SU and 2-7-1 ATS in games following Dallas.
Who wins: Detroit, 24-21
Lawrence publishes the “Playbook Football Preview Guide” magazine and the weekly online Playbook Football Newsletter (Playbook.com). You can follow him on the Playbook Cube app (PlaybookCube.com).