NFL Head Coach Power Rankings Heading into Week 4
Coaches don't forget how to coach, but approaches change based on adversity.
The league's best coaches respond to adversity and don't use it as an excuse, while certain teams and their staffs consistently fall short when dealing with hardships.
For example, the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings are a combined 6-0 despite multiple quarterback injuries/issues. These two teams still found ways to win.
On the other side of the spectrum, the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars can't seem to get over the hump, even after placing themselves in a position to succeed this past weekend.
A steady presence leading the way often differentiates the league's best from those who struggle.
Bleacher Report's NFL Head Coach Power Rankings are a week-by-week evaluation of the men in charge who are the steadiest and most brilliant even when circumstances aren't in their favor.
32. Gus Bradley, Jacksonville Jaguars
1 of 32
Last Week: 29
Quote of the Week: "I feel sick right now."
Another week brought another Jacksonville Jaguars loss. Tight end Marcedes Lewis summed up the team's mood after a last-minute 19-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, per John Oehser of the Jaguars' official site.
Despite being a chic pick to make a major move this fall, Jacksonville is 0-3 and staring at a division contest against the Indianapolis Colts before an early bye week.
Gus Bradley's tenure with the Jaguars has been downright abysmal. A couple statistics tell the entire story.
"There have been 170 coaches NFL history to coach 50-plus games. Gus Bradley (12-38) is ranked 169th out of 170 with a winning percentage of .240," NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano tweeted.
ESPN.com's Sheil Kapadia added, "During Gus Bradley era, the Jaguars have been outscored by 465 points, the worst margin in the NFL and 89 points worse than any other team."
When those two numbers are presented, there's no question which coach resides at the bottom of Bleacher Report's power rankings.
31. Hue Jackson, Cleveland Browns
2 of 32
Last Week: 31
Quote of the Week: "I keep telling you guys I’m not blinking. I think you guys know me. I’m never going to do that."
Even Hue Jackson's irrepressible optimism can't overcome Cleveland's curse. The Browns seem to find new ways to lose each and every week. Three missed Cody Parkey field goals—including a potential game-winner with 20 seconds to play—ruined Sunday's effort against the Miami Dolphins.
As Patrick Maks of the team's official site noted, Jackson might not blink, but he needs to find a way to overcome after an 0-3 start. But it's not all bad along the North Coast.
Rookie Cody Kessler displayed poise during his first start. The defense caused multiple turnovers. The running game averaged 5.3 yards per carry. And quarterback-turned-wide receiver Terrelle Pryor looked like a superstar in the making with 200 total yards.
"That was one of the single-handed, most impressive performances from a player that I’ve seen in a while," All-Pro left tackle Joe Thomas said after the game, per ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi. "Pretty amazing for a guy that wasn’t in the league last year."
Once Cleveland is healthy with its full stable of playmakers, Jackson's young, dangerous squad should surprise a few opponents.
30. Mike Mularkey, Tennessee Titans
3 of 32
Last Week: 28
Quote of the Week: "They can have a gazillion yards, as long as they don’t get in the end zone. And that’s what all these rankings are, are how many yards teams have. It’s whether you score more points than the other team is all that matters."
Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Mularkey was absolutely right in his pregame assessment of the Oakland Raiders, per the Tennessean's Jason Wolf. On Sunday, the Raiders scored 17 points, while the Titans managed 10.
Mularkey's squad is now 1-2 with a late-game comeback against the Detroit Lions separating it from a disastrous start. However, the losses and miscues haven't dampened the team's spirit.
"But I'm telling you, we have the arrow pointing up in the right direction," linebacker Brian Orakpo said, per Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site. "It’s a whole different brand of football that’s being presented out here at Nissan Stadium. This loss hurts, but I’m still optimistic. We’re still optimistic. We’re going to win ball games."
If the Titans are going to win games, they must find ways to score more than 14 points per game—which is tied for the league's worst.
29. Adam Gase, Miami Dolphins
4 of 32
Last Week: 32
Quote of the Week: "We come out here in our first game at home to showcase to our own fans what we're all about, and offensively we're out there flopping around. It irritated me a little bit. It still does."
The Miami Dolphins' Adam Gase isn't reveling in his first win as a head coach, per the Associated Press (via USA Today). Nor should he. The Dolphins escaped with a 30-24 overtime victory over the Cleveland Browns due to a missed field goal at the end of regulation by Browns kicker Cody Parkey.
"It's a terrible way to win," defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said. "But we'll take it for sure."
Even Gase agreed with the Browns' decision to defer in overtime and give the ball to the Dolphins offense, because his unit played so poorly in stretches.
"The way we were playing offensively, it was probably a good idea," Gase admitted after the game, per the South Florida Sun Sentinel's Chris Perkins.
Three turnovers—including a pick-six and a strip-sack to put the Browns in game-winning field-goal position—should have cost the Dolphins the game. Instead, Miami escaped with a victory in their home debut.
But it's easy to see why Gase is ready to move on to Thursday night's affair with the Cincinnati Bengals instead of enjoying a fluky victory.
28. Mike McCoy, San Diego Chargers
5 of 32
Last Week: 27
Quote of the Week: "We have to put teams away when we have the opportunity. Or, even earlier, make those plays early in the game so it’s not close. We didn’t do that for four quarters. We got off to a bad start during the game and missed a number of opportunities. You look at all three phases, there were some mistakes; the muffed punt (and) you can go on and on."
Rinse and repeat.
The San Diego Chargers held fourth-quarter leads in each of their last four games only to lose three. Sunday's 26-22 loss to the Indianapolis Colts is another example of missed opportunities.
Head coach Mike McCoy spoke about putting opponents away, per Hayley Elwood of the Chargers' official site, but his team hasn't developed a killer instinct.
"We just have to win one," quarterback Philip Rivers said. "We haven’t won one like this this…we have to win one like this and then it can become where we expect to."
Since winning three straight contests in November of 2014, the Chargers are 6-17 overall. It's hard to imagine the team rectifying its current late-game problems under McCoy's supervision.
27. Rex Ryan, Buffalo Bills
6 of 32
Last Week: 31
Quote of the Week: "We know what everybody thought of our football team, and we knew that we were a better football team than that."
What everybody thought of the Buffalo Bills before Sunday's unexpected 33-18 victory over the Arizona Cardinals was how terrible Rex Ryan's team played at the start of the season and the security of his job.
But Ryan and his players knew better, per ESPN.com's Mike Rodak. The Cardinals are expected to be a Super Bowl contender this season. Instead, the Bills dominated the meeting from start to finish. The team rode its running game to the tune of 208 rushing yards.
"This is what we do. This is what we are built for," guard Richie Incognito, per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com). "This is the way we were assembled in the offseason and it's nice to see everything come to fruition."
Buffalo's execution came 10 days after the team relieved offensive coordinator Greg Roman of his duties. The coordinator might have served as a scapegoat, but a clear difference was seen when the team took the field this past weekend.
26. Chip Kelly, San Francisco 49ers
7 of 32
Last Week: 26
Quote of the Week: "I don't think (Colin Kaepernick is) ready to go full time."
San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly has an important decision looming. He'll need to decide whether to keep Blaine Gabbert as the starting quarterback or make the move to the divisive Colin Kaepernick.
Kelly continues to hide behind Kaepernick's health, though, per the Press Democrat's Grant Cohn. The quarterback didn't exactly agree with his coach's assessment.
"I'm out at practice every day working, making sure I’m ready for when that time does come," Kaepernick said, per the San Francisco Chronicle's John Shea.
However, it's becoming blatantly clear Gabbert doesn't present the 49ers with the best chance to win after the team's 37-18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The former first-round pick only completed 55.2 percent of his passes through three games with a 1-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett didn't see any challenge in facing Gabbert this past weekend, per ESPN.com's Sheil Kapadia:
"There is no challenge. He threw for 100 yards. The challenge is him reading the defenses and staying in the pocket. What’s the point in running when you have to throw the ball? I think [Colin] Kaepernick gives the team a better chance to win, but that’s just my opinion.
"
Unless Gabbert develops into something he hasn't been throughout his career, Kaepernick will return as the 49ers starter sooner or later.
25. Dirk Koetter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8 of 32
Last Week: 24
Quote of the Week: "There's something in our culture. I wish I could grab it. I've been on teams that had it, and you don't want to let it go. When you don't have it, it's hard to figure out what it is."
After a 37-32 loss to the Los Angeles Rams—a team that didn't score a single touchdown through the first two weeks of play—these words are hardly inspiring from Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter, per the Tampa Bay Times' Tom Jones.
"There's something in our culture," Koetter restated. "It's my job to fix it."
The Buccaneers haven't experienced a winning season since the 2010 campaign. Koetter won't change the team's culture in a matter of weeks.
"It's a week-to-week league," Pro Bowl defensive tackle and team leader Gerald McCoy said. "And we've got to be up every week."
Consistency is something Tampa Bay strives to achieve.
The team will find out exactly who it is with the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers—the two representatives from February's Super Bowl 50—next on the docket.
24. John Fox, Chicago Bears
9 of 32
Last Week: 20
Quote of the Week: "Not good enough."
John Fox's above quote, courtesy of the Chicago Bears Radio Network's Zach Zaidman, seems obvious after the team's 0-3 start. However, the head coach was directly referring to the performance of offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, who replaced Adam Gase in the offseason.
It's bad enough when the team isn't playing well, but the head coach is now calling out one of his coordinators. Whether or not Loggains actually deserves the treatment—he does—is inconsequential. The team needs to show a united front.
It doesn't appear to be coming.
When asked where the Bears can find a spark, tight end Zach Miller told Zaidman, "You don't find it. You either have it or you don't."
Apparently, the Bears don't have it. At least, they haven't shown it to this point. With an upcoming contest against the Detroit Lions and their third-ranked offense, the Bears better find a spark soon.
23. Jim Caldwell, Detroit Lions
10 of 32
Last Week: 22
Quote of the Week: "It’s all coaching, if you ask me. Every single bit of it. We’re responsible."
The Detroit Lions' problems run deeper than their coaching staff, but Jim Caldwell is correct, per the Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett. When a team doesn't show up on the road, the lack of preparation falls directly on the coaches. The Green Bay Packers ran roughshod over the Lions in the first half of the their 34-27 victory by scoring 31 points during the first two frames.
"If they are going out there and they are making plays, I have to find a way to rally the troops," middle linebacker Tahir Whitehead said, per ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein.
To the Lions' credit, the team rallied in the second half and wide receiver Marvin Jones posted a career high with 205 receiving yards—the free-agent acquisition currently leads the league with 408 yards.
But the team is short-handed in other areas with key injuries to defensive end Ziggy Ansah, linebacker DeAndre Levy and running back Ameer Abdullah.
If the Lions can produce an entire four-quarter effort even with their current injury situation, they still have enough talent and quality coaching to be competitive on a weekly basis.
22. Jeff Fisher, Los Angeles Rams
11 of 32
Last Week: 25
Quote of the Week: "It was a great win for us, especially coming off the emotional win and the emotions from last Saturday at home, and the long trip, and the circumstances in there. But when you score points, which we did, you’ve got a chance."
Yes, the ability to score points is important in the game of football. Los Angeles Rams head coach Jeff Fisher wasn't being facetious with his comments, per the team's official site. Up until Sunday's meeting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Rams hadn't scored a touchdown.
Los Angeles tallied 37 points on its way to five-point victory during the weather-stricken affair. With a 2-1 record, Jeff Fisher's squad is tied atop the NFC West with the Seattle Seahawks.
"We changed our mentality from the first game," Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers said, per ESPN.com's Alden Gonzalez. "The first game wasn't us."
A strong defense coupled with talented running Todd Gurley and the evolving passing game is what makes up the burgeoning Rams.
With an upcoming contest against the Arizona Cardinals, Fisher's crew has an opportunity to build upon its most recent victory and prove it's a legitimate contender for the division crown.
21. Chuck Pagano, Indianapolis Colts
12 of 32
Last Week: 21
Quote of the Week: "Doomsday, soon thereafter. It isn't, but it is. This team needed this."
Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano doesn't need to get philosophical after his team avoided an 0-3 start, per the Indianapolis Star's Zak Keefer. The secret to Indianapolis' success is rather simple: When Andrew Luck plays well, everyone in the Colts organization looks brilliant. When he doesn't, everything seems to fall apart.
Luck orchestrated another fourth-quarter comeback during Sunday's 26-22 victory over the San Diego Chargers. In doing so, he completed 13 straight passes after his second interception of the afternoon.
"I'm glad he's wired that way," Pagano said, per Mike Wells of ESPN. "We talk about it all the time with our football team with every player, not only him, being able to move on from those plays and don't judge."
Last season, the team stumbled when its quarterback missed nine games due to injuries. Pagano's job status came into question. Both appear to be back on track after the Colts earned their first win with a crucial upcoming stretch against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans.
20. Jay Gruden, Washington Redskins
13 of 32
Last Week: 23
Quote of the Week: "Winning one game does nothing for us."
C'mon, winning helps a little bit.
The Washington Redskins captured their first victory by holding off the New York Giants and escaping MetLife Stadium with a 29-27 advantage. But head coach Jay Gruden doesn't seem to think it matters, per CSN SportsTalk Live's Rob Carlin.
It should. Washington appeared to be a mess after an 0-2 start. Locker room grumblings began over the play of franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins, per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio. Those will be quieted after a successful weekend.
"I feel like everybody would be lying if they say they didn’t feel the outside pressure of 'That same old story with the Redskins,'" linebacker Will Compton said, per the Washington Post's Jerry Brewer. "Fortunately, we truly have a committed group. ... It was good to finally put that on film, playing a full 60 minutes."
Even if the head coach truly believes one game doesn't mean anything for the team, the feeling throughout the locker room is very different based on Compton's comments.
19. Ben McAdoo, New York Giants
14 of 32
Last Week: 19
Quote of the Week: "When we're not disciplined and we're not poised that’s a reflection of me and I need to make sure that doesn’t happen."
Everyone who covers the NFL prepared for fireworks when the New York Giants hosted the rival Washington Redskins and the explosive Odell Beckham Jr. met his nemesis in cornerback Josh Norman.
No one came away disappointed after watching Beckham lose his temper (and a fight with the Giants kicking net). Giants head coach Ben McAdoo stressed the importance of discipline after the 29-27 loss, per ESPN.com's Jordan Raanan.
"[Beckham] needs to control his emotions better and become less of a distraction to himself and to his teammates," McAdoo said Monday. "It's our job to help him with that process and maturing."
The 23-year-old wide receiver is an awesome talent who amassed 121 yards on seven catches against Washington. If McAdoo can fully harness all the young man's raw ability and energy, the LSU product will become an unstoppable force. He nearly is even at this stage of his maturation.
18. Todd Bowles, New York Jets
15 of 32
Last Week: 15
Quote of the Week: "It wasn't just the turnovers, we didn't play well at all in either phase of the ballgame and we took an ass kicking. It wasn't just Ryan (Fitzpatrick). I can name a bunch of people and I can start with the coaches too. It was a (expletive) game plan, (expletive) execution, and it was (expletive) all around."
Tell us how you really feel, Todd Bowles.
The New York Jets head coach has a reason to be upset enough to release a profanity-laced tirade, per NFL.com's Kevin Patra. The Kansas City Chiefs owned the Jets during a 24-3 victory.
During New York's pitiful performance, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw six interceptions.
"It's hard. It hurts," the quarterback said after the game, per the New York Daily News' Manish Mehta. "It hurts for me to play that poorly, but unfortunately and fortunately, I have played bad before and I know how to rebound for it."
According to ESPN Stats & Info, Fitzpatrick became the first quarterback since Tom Tupa in 1989 to throw six interceptions without an accompanying touchdown toss, but Bowles already made the executive decision to stick with his veteran signal-caller.
"The trust is the same," Bowles said, per Mehta. "He had a bad day at the office. Last week, he had a great day at the office."
17. Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
16 of 32
Last Week: 13
Quote of the Week: "That's not gonna be an excuse for us playing smarter."
For the second straight season, the New Orleans Saints opened their campaign with three losses, and head coach Sean Payton's defense remains terrible.
Of course, quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints offense can sling it with any opponent, but New Orleans can't stop anyone. This became brutally clear Monday night when the defense surrendered 442 yards, including 217 on the ground, during a 45-32 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Yes, Payton's team suffered numerous injuries that have affected the defense, but the unit has been one of the league's worst for years, and Payton won't use those injuries as an excuse, per ESPN.com's Mike Triplett.
"There's no excuses," veteran safety Roman Harper added. "Of course we'll talk, we'll get things corrected. (But) how many more times are we going to have to go through this?"
Apparently, the Saints will go through this until Payton finds a solution to a problem that's continually vexed him or he's no longer the team's head coach.
16. Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys
17 of 32
Last Week: 17
Quote of the Week: "He has an even-keeled personality. He has great poise and composure as a person, and he is a very serious-minded guy in terms of his preparation, so he focuses on the right things."
No, Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett isn't describing himself when he played quarterback.
The Cowboys might have stumbled onto their next franchise quarterback in rookie Dak Prescott due to another Tony Romo injury. Garrett described all of the traits that have made Prescott successful after being pressed into action, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Charean Williams.
"We haven't just put the handcuffs on him if you will," the coach added. "We just let him play, and he’s done a good job handling that work. He's seen a lot of different fronts, a lot of different covers, a lot of different pressures."
Prescott's success leads to team success. The Mississippi State product is completing 66.7 percent of his passes and has yet to throw an interception in 99 attempts. Meanwhile, Dallas is 2-1 after a 31-17 victory Sunday over the Chicago Bears.
With the fourth-rounder's rapid development, he's not only providing glimpses into the Cowboys' future—he's their present. His continued play only strengthens Garrett's position as the team's head coach for the foreseeable future.
15. Jack Del Rio, Oakland Raiders
18 of 32
Last Week: 14
Quote of the Week: "I saw glimpses of what it should look like. I think we all did. Nowhere near what it needs to be yet but certainly reasons to be optimistic."
After surrendering over 1,000 yards through the first two weeks of play, Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio seemed pleased with his defense, per ESPN.com's Paul Gutierrez.
Granted, the Tennessee Titans still accumulated 393 yards during Oakland's 17-10 victory, but it's an improvement.
"I'm not going to sit here and say that we're where we need to be but today we definitely were on the same page out there," cornerback Sean Smith said, per Gutierrez. "We were communicating a whole lot better and not making the small mistakes that we were in previous weeks."
None of the Raiders' next four opponents are currently ranked among the top-half of the league in total offense. If the players continue to minimize mistakes, Del Rio certainly should be optimistic about his defense in the coming weeks.
14. Dan Quinn, Atlanta Falcons
19 of 32
Last Week: 18
Quote of the Week: "We wanted to make sure in every way that we wanted to stay aggressive and keep attacking. The team did a very nice job of mixing up the run and the pass, knowing that there were going to be certain things there for us."
Dan Quinn might have built his reputation on defense, but the Atlanta Falcons offense is taking over the NFL. The Falcons own the league's top-ranked offense, and they were prepared to attack the New Orleans Saints' porous defense Monday night, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's D. Orlando Ledbetter.
Atlanta amassed 442 yards and 45 points on its way to a second victory.
"I felt like we had good guys in our locker room, on our offense, and we feel like we've got a good scheme, a good fit for what we do," quarterback Matt Ryan said, per ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure. "It's early in the season, but we've done a good job the first couple of weeks. We just need to continue to try and get better and keep putting points up."
Through three games, Quinn's offense averages 448 yards per game and 34.7 points per game. The defense still isn't very good, but the Falcons can overwhelm any opponent.
13. Bill O'Brien, Houston Texans
20 of 32
Last Week: 10
Quote of the Week: (silence)
Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien wasn't willing to speak to the media about Thursday's 27-0 loss to New England Patriots.
"I'll be honest with you," O'Brien said after Monday's practice, per the Houston Chronicle's John McClain. "We've moved on to Tennessee."
Aside from the coach's attempt to pull a Bill Belichick, what makes matters even worse is how the Patriots dominated the Texans without Tom Brady or Jimmy Garoppolo behind center. Third-round rookie Jacoby Brissett led the way with 151 total yards and a touchdown.
While Brissett managed New England's offense, Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler floundered—he averaged 4.8 yards per attempt and threw an interception.
"I think any time an offense struggles with developing a rhythm, struggles with scoring points, I think the first thing you have to examine is the quarterback," Osweiler said, per ESPN.com's Sarah Barshop. "I'll take the blame for this one."
With Osweiler taking the blame for Thursday's embarrassing loss, the Texans can move on to Sunday's meeting with the Tennessee Titans.
12. Doug Pederson, Philadelphia Eagles
21 of 32
Last Week: 16
Quote of the Week: "I asked him something that was important to me. You can be a dedicated person, but sometimes your family can be a drag on you. Sometimes they can be demanding, and distracting. I asked him, 'Is your family gonna be a distraction?' He said, 'No sir. Coach, I can tell you, it’s all about football for me.'"
The above conversation, courtesy of MMQB.com's Peter King, occurred when new Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson sat down with quarterback Carson Wentz during the predraft process.
Months later, the two have already formed a symbiotic relationship.
Winning NFL games isn't supposed to be this easy, yet Pederson has his team off to a 3-0 start with a rookie quarterback leading the way.
"It's just football," Wentz told King. "Nothing's changed."
Everything has changed for the Eagles. Pederson has his team playing at a high level. Wentz is the early favorite for Rookie of the Year honors and looks the part of a franchise quarterback. And Philadelphia has changed from a team expected to own a top draft pick into the current NFC East front-runner.
11. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals
22 of 32
Last Week: 9
Quote of the Week: "Why would we hit the panic button? Vontaze [Burfict] is coming back. Our team is a good team. We let two of them slip away. [Tyler] Eifert is on the way back. ... First quarter of the season. Let’s get out of the first quarter .500. That’s the goal."
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones isn't worried, per ESPN.com's Katherine Terrell. But the team should be after Sunday's 29-17 loss to the Denver Broncos.
"The thing from the game is, we go up in the fourth quarter there, and aren't able to win the game," head coach Marvin Lewis said, per the Bengals' official site. "And a couple times (Sunday) we had field position and came away with field goals. One time we get knocked back and didn’t get any opportunity at points."
The team isn't executing at the same level as previous campaigns. The offense is ranked 25th overall in points per game (18.7). Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Green hasn't been effective with 10 receptions for 115 over the past two contests.
"It starts with me," Green said after the loss, per the team's site. "This offense has to run through me, and I let my team down, and I let myself down. I pride myself on being the best, and I didn’t show up (Sunday)."
Meanwhile, the defense surrenders 25 points per game.
The Bengals don't look like the same team that made the playoffs each of the last five seasons. The team might not need to hit the panic button, but it's not out of line to worry after a 1-2 start.
10. Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers
23 of 32
Last Week: 12
Quote of the Week: "It was important for us to have a healthy run and pass mix. That was my thought process throughout the week and obviously how I called the game. I just thought our guys executed at a high level."
Everyone just relax. Head coach Mike McCarthy has a handle on the Green Bay Packers' situation, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Michael Cohen.
After a suspect start to the season, the Packers offense finally got on a roll against the Detroit Lions and questions about Aaron Rodgers declining play can be shelved. The quarterback completed 12 first-half passes and four resulted in a touchdown during the 34-27 victory.
"When he's playing like he did (Sunday), you want the ball in his hands as many times as he can," guard T.J. Lang said, per the Green Bay Press-Gazette's Ryan Wood.
Rodgers isn't as concerned about the offense or his role, "I don’t think anybody gives a you-know-what if the offense is back or not. It's just about winning, and we’ve got to win. We’re 2-1."
As long as McCarthy calls games as well as he did against the Lions and Rodgers continues to play well, the Packers will be just fine.
9. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
24 of 32
Last Week: 11
Quote of the Week: "Guys were getting their hands on the ball and we were able to disguise coverages. (Ryan Fitzpatrick) is a smart kid with a lot of experience. We’ve had some go-rounds with him here before, so I thought our guys did a good job with keeping him uneasy there."
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid wins the award for understatement of the week, per B.J. Kissel of the team's official site.
The Chiefs defense kept New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick uneasy? That must be the nice way to describe an opponent's performance when he throws six interceptions during a dominant 24-3 Kansas City victory.
"When things are happening like they did today, you enjoy it," said second-year cornerback Marcus Peters, per Kissel, after snagging a pair of interceptions. "You embrace the opportunities you have, you capitalize on them and you have fun doing it."
With running back Jamaal Charles inching closer to a return and the defense playing as well as any unit in the league, the 2-1 Chiefs are rounding into form and could experience a similar run as last season's 10 straight regular-season victories.
8. Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers
25 of 32
Last Week: 4
Quote of the Week: "We can’t turn the ball over. We can’t miss opportunities. We can’t have penalties that take away opportunities. Again, it’s going to start with me. I’m going to take a look at it. I’m going to get it corrected. I’m going to make sure I get things corrected and that’s just the way it has to be. We got beat because we didn’t do the things we are supposed to and they just kept plugging away."
When things go wrong, the situation tends to snowball.
The Carolina Panthers led the Minnesota Vikings 10-0 in the first quarter Sunday before everything fell apart. Mike Zimmer's squad captured Panthers quarterback Cam Newton for a safety before Minnesota rattled off 20 more points.
Once the Vikings built a third-quarter lead, Carolina didn't have an answer. Head coach Ron Rivera mentioned issues regarding missed opportunities and penalties, per the Panthers' official site. In total, Newton threw three interceptions, and the Vikings sacked the quarterback eight times.
"Whatever they were doing was effective," Newton said, per Connor Keith of the official site. "We have to have answers for it so that can’t happen again."
Since Newton wasn't sure what the Vikings were doing, Rivera and his staff need to find out exactly what they did and correct those areas.
7. Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals
26 of 32
Last Week: 2
Quote of the Week: "Grow the hell up."
The Arizona Cardinals didn't handle Sunday's 33-18 loss to the Buffalo Bills well, and head coach Bruce Arians let them know it, per the Arizona Republic's Dan Bickley.
The team struggled in every phase of the game, which raises the question: Exactly who are this year's Cardinals? Are they the team that destroyed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2, or the squad that fell apart against the Bills?
"I think that's the question that (coach) Bruce (Arians), myself, (team President) Michael Bidwill and I think every one of our fans is trying to answer right now," general manager Steve Keim said, per the Arizona Republic's Bob McManaman. "You feel like you have a good football team. Talent’s one thing, but playing consistently on the field and playing collectively as a team is another."
Arizona didn't experience its third loss last season until Week 16, but it could happen much sooner this fall if the team doesn't play to its full capabilities. Until the players do as Arians said, they can forget about another 13-win season.
6. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
27 of 32
Last Week: 5
Quote of the Week: "The 11 on the grass didn't get it done. We accept responsibility for that."
Just when the Pittsburgh Steelers thought they were among the NFL's best after a 2-0 start, the Philadelphia Eagles—led by rookie quarterback Carson Wentz—provided a reality check. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin wasn't shy about how his team performed either, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Joe Rutter.
Sunday's performance didn't provide any silver linings. The Eagles dismantled the Steelers during their 34-3 victory.
"When you get kicked around in every phase of the game, it's a little different," linebacker James Harrison said.
Help is on the way. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will have the luxury of handing the ball to Le'Veon Bell this week upon the running back's return from a three-game suspension. Bell's impact won't just be felt in the running game. He's a legitimate weapon out of the backfield, too.
"It's going to be huge," center Maurkice Pouncey told ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler. "It changes the passing game."
The boost Bell provides will make the Steelers a more complete team as Tomlin prepares his squad for the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.
5. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
28 of 32
Last Week: 8
Quote of the Week: "Everybody wants to be pretty, but maybe we're just not that pretty. That's really never been our calling card."
A win is a win, and the Baltimore Ravens keep finding ways to win on their way to a 3-0 start.
Despite the level of competition—the team's opponents so far are a combined 1-8 overall—John Harbaugh's squad deserves recognition even if those wins weren't pretty, per the Baltimore Sun's Jeff Zrebiec.
Concerns arise based on how the team secured its victories.
In Week 1, the Ravens only scored 13 points against the Buffalo Bills. In Week 2, the Cleveland Browns held a 20-0 first-quarter lead before Baltimore rallied. Sunday, Harbaugh's bunch required a last-minute field goal from kicker Justin Tucker to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"You're not going to be able to get away with this when you're playing really, really good teams in January," quarterback Joe Flacco said, per ESPN.com's Jamison Hensley.
Those wins can't be taken away, but the Ravens will need to best an opponent of consequence before those on the outside truly start to believe in them.
4. Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks
29 of 32
Last Week: 7
Quote of the Week: "(Quarterback Russell Wilson) sprained his knee a little bit."
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is never one to overstate the obvious, seen in the above quote, per the team's official site. Despite the nonchalant attitude, Wilson's status moving forward will have a major impact on the team's success.
Seattle's offense is no longer built around Marshawn Lynch. Wilson took the reins last year and continued his development into an elite passer. Without the retired Lynch and a hobbled Wilson—who already dealt with a high ankle sprain on his right leg—Carroll and his staff must finds different ways to challenge opponents.
In a 37-18 victory against the San Francisco 49ers, the Seahawks' running game came alive. Christine Michael ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Moving forward, Carroll must emphasize protecting his quarterback while leaning on the league's top-ranked defense.
"But we have a really good-looking defense and they're playing terrific ball together," the coach said, per the team's site. "You can ride a long way on those guys."
3. Mike Zimmer, Minnesota Vikings
30 of 32
Last Week: 6
Quote of the Week: "I've said this all along: I think we can rush the quarterback. I think we've got guys who can rush. I played a little bit more coverage today than I have in the past because some of their receivers are big. But once we were able to stop the run, it was a lot easier to do that. Because we played the run good, we were able to do that and it allowed the guys to get after the quarterback."
Defense wins championships. It's such a simple concept, yet the adage tends to be overlooked in an offense-driven league.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer described how his defense picked apart the reigning NFC champions, the Carolina Panthers, and MVP Cam Newton, per the Associated Press' Steve Reed. During Sunday's impressive 22-10 victory, the Vikings registered eight sacks, intercepted Newton three times and tallied a safety.
"They were dictating to us after they got the momentum rather than opposite from what we were doing starting the game," the Panthers quarterback said, per ESPN.com's David Newton.
The Vikings season surprisingly may not be defined by the losses of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, running back Adrian Peterson and left tackle Matt Kalil, because the team continues to win despite their absences.
2. Gary Kubiak, Denver Broncos
31 of 32
Last Week: 3
Quote of the Week: "(Trevor Siemian) made some poor decisions. ... I know that sounds kind of crazy, but it's just learning that, 'Trevor, That guy can make that play. You’re not in college anymore. You’re not going to throw that ball through that guy.' I think some of the speed of the game factors that he’s beginning to understand a little bit is going to make him better each week."
While everyone else praises Denver Broncos' quarterback Trevor Siemian, head coach Gary Kubiak isn't completely satisfied, per ESPN.com's Jeff Legwold.
Let's keep in mind, Siemian became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 300 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions in his first road start, according to the Broncos' official site.
Managing expectations and setting the right tone are overlooked aspects in a coach's job description. Kubiak is letting his second-year signal-caller know he can't settle despite a strong performance. He must strive to be better each and every day. This drive pushes good players to become great players.
The coach provided positive reinforcement, too.
"I don't think you get too carried away—but we know we have a good young quarterback who's on a good team, and this was a great sign today," Kubiak said, per the Denver Post's Nicki Jhabvala. "He came into a tough environment, handled himself very well and played big."
With Siemian's development, a ferocious defense and strong leadership, the 3-0 Broncos remain atop the AFC.
1. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
32 of 32
Last Week: 1
Quote of the Week: "We'll give our injury report on Wednesday, as we always do, as we’re required to do. Based on where things are at that point, that’ll be represented in the report."
In typical Bill Belichick fashion, the New England Patriots head coach won't discuss anything that might provide a competitive advantage even if his two active quarterbacks, Jimmy Garoppolo and rookie Jacoby Brissett, are dealing with injuries, per WEEI 93.7 FM's Mike Petraglia.
We're still 12 days away from Tom Brady returning to the lineup, yet the team began 3-0 with two different starting quarterbacks. Apparently, the Patriots aren't sure which will start Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
"I don't know that," offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said, per ESPN.com's Mike Reiss. "I haven't seen them in a few days. Hopefully they're all ready to go. That would be the hope as we head into this week."
Belichick will remain at the top of the power rankings until further notice, because the four-time Super Bowl-winning head coach continues to work miracles even with New England's quarterback issues.
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