Look for Coughlin to win probable finale with Giants
By most indications, the end is here for Tom Coughlin as coach of the New York Giants. In a cutthroat business, he has no playoff appearances in four straight seasons, and it does not make business sense to give him a shot to extend the streak to five.
Coughlin had a good run, winning two Super Bowls, and he either should walk away or be nudged out the door with dignity.
It’s time for a change in New York, just as a change was made in Philadelphia and another might be coming in Dallas. The NFC East was a junkyard this season, and it’s turning into a coaching graveyard. Chip Kelly was cut loose by the Eagles, and Jason Garrett is walking the cutline with the Cowboys.
Who bet on Jay Gruden being the sole survivor in Washington? After a 2-4 start, Gruden was a favorite to get fired, and then the Redskins came back from the dead to win a bad division almost by default.
Coaching changes are about to sweep across the NFL. Cleveland, Indianapolis, Miami and Tennessee will be in the market for new faces, and there also could be movement in Detroit, New Orleans, San Diego and San Francisco. The Browns and Titans are expected to make runs at Kelly. The Colts, Dolphins and Giants might pursue Sean Payton, if the Saints allow him to leave.
A stunning turnaround in Kansas City — from 1-5 to nine consecutive wins — got Andy Reid off the hook.
But the turnaround Coughlin needed never happened with the Giants, who dropped their past two games to fall to 6-9. New York ranks last in the league in total defense. A dreadful defense, combined with quarterback Eli Manning’s late-game meltdowns and Coughlin’s game-management mistakes, turned this season into another lost cause.
Kelly won his last three games against Giants, but his ego won’t be on the Eagles’ sideline Sunday in New York. There’s no telling how his absence will impact his former team.
The notion that it could be Coughlin’s final game should create positive emotions and motivation for the Giants. The return of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. from a one-game suspension should provide a needed boost for Manning, too.
I’ll go with the Giants as 3-point favorites, and here are four more guesses for Week 17 (home team in CAPS):
BILLS (+3) over Jets: Rex Ryan is not making any bold guarantees these days. His first season in Buffalo was a flop. But he can knock his former team out of the playoffs and finish .500, so motivation should not be a problem for the Bills, who have won five of the past six against the Jets. The turning point of the Jets’ season was when Geno Smith’s jaw was broken by a punch. Buffalo’s defense needs to get hits on Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has been a surprising success story with 29 touchdown passes.
Patriots (-10) over DOLPHINS: It’s possible Bill Belichick was coaching to lose last week — the thinking being the Steelers would be a more dangerous playoff opponent than the Jets — and it’s something he might admit in a book several years from now. Regardless, this is a game New England needs to win to secure the AFC’s top seed. Miami scored a total of 26 points the past two weeks against bad Indianapolis and San Diego defenses.
Steelers (-10½) over BROWNS: I never like to play big favorites, but I’ll go with two this week and hope for the best. Here’s the downside — the past 28 teams to be double-digit road favorites are 6-22 against the spread, according to VegasInsider.com. The upside is Ben Roethlisberger is Pittsburgh’s quarterback, and Austin Davis is starting for Cleveland. Off a bad loss, the Steelers should blow out the banged-up Browns.
Redskins (+4) over COWBOYS: There is obviously a chance Washington will treat this as a meaningless game and sit some starters. But it’s still a rivalry, and Gruden said it’s important for the Redskins to finish 9-7 and take momentum into the playoffs. Two or three quarters of Kirk Cousins could be better than a full game from Kellen Moore, who’s making his second start at quarterback for the Cowboys. In the past three games, the Dallas offense averaged 9.7 points.
Last week: 0-4-1 against the spread
Season: 38-37-5
— Las Vegas Review-Journal sports betting columnist Matt Youmans can be reached at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. He co-hosts “The Las Vegas Sportsline” weekdays at 2 p.m. on ESPN Radio (1100 AM). Follow: @mattyoumans247.
