John Fox in Week 1

[Seltzer]

2010 Lost 31-18 to NY Giants

2009 Lost 38-10 to Philly

2008 Won 26-24 to San Diego

2007 Won 27-13 to St. Louis

2006 Lost 6-20 to Atlanta

2005 Lost 20-23 to New Orleans

2004 Lost 14-24 to Green Bay

2003 Won 24-23 to Jax

2002 Won 10-7 to Baltimore

Overall 4-5... And not exactly dominant performances on the wins. Do think it's better to be good in December than September, but not exactly a glowing report.

Fox is the 4th longest tenured coach in the league, behind only Belichick, Reid, and Fisher with their respective teams. Fox's winning percentage is (.567)

Belichick is 8-1 from 2002 on, with the only loss in Week 1 being in 2003, which coincidentally enough, is the year they beat the Panthers in the Super Bowl. Love him or hate him, he probably is the best coach in the NFL over the past 10 years and maybe of all time. His overall winning percentage is also superior (.627)

Reid actually has done worse in Week 1 since 2002, going 3-6. However, Reid has more playoff appearances and wins, and a better winning percentage (.606).

Fisher is 5-4 in Week 1 since 2002. His winning percentage is lower than Fox (.548), but he does have 4 playoff appearances to Fox's 3. He is probably the most comparable coach to Fox over the past 9 years.

In reviewing this information, you can see why Richardson isn't completely sold on Fox. Fox is a good coach, and he will get another head coaching job. Fox has definitely proven he can turn a bad team around, and he has never had a truly bad season.

The questions remains though whether he can be a great coach. Belichick is the only one on that list that you can call a great coach unequivocally. Reid has had good regular season success and some success in the playoffs, but his lack of winning a SB tarnishes his resume.

I think Fox and Fisher are a coin flip. I would rather have Fox in the playoffs, but getting there and especially getting there consistently have been an issue with him.

Nine years really is a long tenure by NFL standards, and maybe it will be best for a new change next year. There is a high probability the next coach will not be as good as Fox. But, the ultimate goal is to win a Super Bowl, and I don't know that Fox is going to get the Panthers back to the big game here.

[2jakefansinva]

Nice post. Very interesting.

[blackcatgrowl]

And I can tell you, from having worked with tons of people from Nashville, visited there a dozen times, and been to a Titan's home game...

Their fanbase is even more hostile about Fisher than we are about Fox. I've heard calls for him to be fired more times than I can count. People there think he's a wash of a coach, but because of his involvement with the League and ownership, are just biding their time till he retires.

[Lumps]

Belichick will never be an all-time. He cheated.

[CatfanMO]

Well, Seifert won his week 1 game in 2001.

[blackcatgrowl]

Well, Seifert won his week 1 game in 2001.

/thread

[natty]

There is absolutely nothing of interest in these stats - at all. I know it's hard not to look into stuff like this and try to gain something from it, but winning percentage in week 1 is moot.

[ladypanther]

The team typically does not look ready to play week 1. Wonder if Foxy's philosophy about preseason has anything to do with that.

[hepcat]

The team typically does not look ready to play week 1. Wonder if Foxy's philisophy about preseason has anything to do with that.

How we respond in Week 2 has more reflected how our season will turn out than Week 1. Look at the history there...

[Galvatron]

Loss - 2009 CAR 20 @ ATL 28

Win - 2008 CHI 17 @ CAR 20

Loss - 2007 HOU 34 @ CAR 21

Loss - 2006 CAR 13 @ MIN 16

Win - 2005 NE 17 @ CAR 27

Win - 2004 CAR 28 @ KC 17

Win - 2003 CAR 12 @ TB 9

Win - 2002 DET 7 @ CAR 31

Week 2 record for Fox is better at 5-3 but only 2-3 the last five years...

[HSCBandit07]

the week 2 switcharoo :hurray:

[hepcat]

Loss - 2009 CAR 20 @ ATL 28

Win - 2008 CHI 17 @ CAR 20

Loss - 2007 HOU 34 @ CAR 21

Loss - 2006 CAR 13 @ MIN 16

Win - 2005 NE 17 @ CAR 27

Win - 2004 CAR 28 @ KC 17

Win - 2003 CAR 12 @ TB 9

Win - 2002 DET 7 @ CAR 31

Week 2 record for Fox is better at 5-3 but only 2-3 the last five years...

Every playoff year, we won a tough game Week 2.

[Kettle]

well wk 2 isn't tough this year. at least it shouldn't be.

[rayzor]

belicheck will always have an asterisk by his name. had it not been for cheating, he might have been considered the best of all time, but then he probably wouldn't have beat us or other teams in the superbowl.

how many more years has it taken for fisher to have the same number of playoff wins as fox? his hot seat hold have catapulted him from the HC job in tenn long ago.

none of that is to say fox isn't just an above average coach that has had the job here probably too long.

i do think he's better in december than any other months but you have to get yourself to a position where it actually matters at that point. something he hasn't done very often.