Fantasy Index

Factoid

Tennessee Titans

Will Mike Mularkey give struggling offense a spark?

Tennessee starts over with a new coach today, and could there be a little “dead cat bounce” in action? Of the last 15 teams with interim coaches, seven have won their first game.

The Titans saw this first hand themselves a few weeks back. Miami had been terrible under Joe Philbin but showed up with some new energy under Dan Campbell, winning 38-10.

Now Tennessee is attempting the same kind of move. It’s fired Ken Whisenhunt, who was only 3-20 for them (oddly, 2-0 in openers and 1-20 in his other games) and replaced him with Mike Mularkey.

In this century, however, 26 teams have made coaching changes during the season. Those teams are just 8-18 overall. Average points for: 16.5. Average points against: 26.2.

TEAMS IN FIRST GAME WITH INTERIM COACH, 2000-
YearTeamOppResult
2000DetroitAtlantaW 13-10
2000CincinnatiMiamiL 16-31
2000Washingtonat DallasL 13-32
2000ArizonaNew OrleansL 10-21
2001Minnesotaat BaltimoreL 3-19
2003Atlantaat IndianapolisL 7-38
2004Miamiat SeattleL 17-24
2004ClevelandNew EnglandL 15-42
2005Detroitat DallasL 7-20
2005St. Louisat IndianapolisL 28-45
2007Atlantaat Tampa BayL 3-37
2008St. Louisat WashingtonW 19-17
2008Oaklandat New OrleansL 3-34
2008San FranciscoSeattleL 13-34
2009Buffaloat JacksonvilleL 15-18
2010San FranciscoArizonaW 38-7
2010Dallasat NY GiantsW 33-20
2010Minnesotaat WashingtonW 17-13
2010Denverat ArizonaL 13-43
2011Miamiat BuffaloW 30-23
2011Kansas CityGreen BayW 19-14
2011JacksonvilleSan DiegoL 14-38
2012New Orleansat DenverL 14-34
2013Houstonat IndianapolisL 3-25
2014OaklandSan DiegoL 28-31
2015Miamiat TennesseeW 38-10
2015Tennesseeat New Orleans???

—Ian Allan

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