NFL Head Coach Power Rankings Heading into Week 5
The 2016 NFL season is already a quarter finished.
Time just flies by when you're having fun. Well, those 13 head coaches around the league with winning records should be happy—unless we're discussing the New England Patriots' Bill Belichick, because he's stoic regardless of the outcome.
For the 14 coaches whose teams own losing records, life's journey has become an arduous task where every move and decision is second-guessed along the way.
Then, there are the five teams who are stuck in the middle with .500 records. Their seasons hang in the balance with the potential to go either way.
The life of an NFL coach is never easy. It's a week-by-week existence where men live or die by the previous weekend's outcome. That's how Bleacher Report Power Rankings operate, too. These rankings are a week-by-week process where the previous performance influences a coach's standing.
This week, the league's grand poobah (Belichick) is finally knocked off his perch as the NFL's top-rated head coach. Click through the slideshow to find out who landed in this week's top spot.
32. Hue Jackson, Cleveland Browns
1 of 32
Last Week: 31
Quote of the Week: "I just want to make sure the things that I know that it takes to win, we’ve just got to do them better and again it starts with me and getting the rest of the guys to see that and understand and do it, and they will."
The 0-4 Cleveland Browns might not be tanking the season, but they're doing their very best to fumble away games at every turn. For the past three weeks, the Browns held second-half leads—only to find inexplicable ways to lose each contest.
Whether it was a late-game unsportsmanlike penalty, three missed field goals or a fullback fumble, crucial mistakes were made. Head coach Hue Jackson knows these are learning experiences for the league's youngest team, per Patrick Maks of the team's official site.
"I think we're learning, you know? We want to win so bad and to come out on the losing end it’s just not good enough," said left guard Joel Bitonio after the latest loss. "There’s no moral victories anymore when you do it three times in a row and we've just got to take the next step as a team and turn these into wins."
This Browns squad will likely have to wait at least another week before it learns how to win. This Sunday, the New England Patriots are coming to town, and previously suspended quarterback Tom Brady will be back behind center.
31. Gus Bradley, Jacksonville Jaguars
2 of 32
Last Week: 32
Quote of the Week: "It was a very strong possibility if we didn’t win this game. We didn’t talk about it, but we knew we had a lot on the line. We love our coach. We fight for our coach—he gives us so much respect as players so we want to win for him."
When players acknowledge their head coach's job is on the line—as Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Malik Jackson did after the team's 30-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in London, per the Florida Times-Union's Ryan O'Halloran—change almost becomes inevitable.
NFL players and coaches operate in a bubble. Most try not to let outside distractions get to them. But when the noise grows loud enough for it to become a talking point, those same players and coaches understand the position in which they've been placed.
After an 0-3 start, Gus Bradley's job was on the line this past weekend. It still is, but his team gave him a reprieve for at least one more week.
"Everybody knows [that Bradley was on the hot seat]," wide receiver Allen Hurns said, per Mike DiRocco of ESPN. "Whether you try not to hear it, you're going to hear it. You have to deal with internet and reporters. Everybody knows, but for the most part we wanted to go out, protect the team and also protect Gus. It's been tough."
The clock continues to tick on Bradley's time in Jacksonville.
30. Mike Mularkey, Tennessee Titans
3 of 32
Last Week: 30
Quote of the Week: "That's progress. That's absolutely progress. What else is it?"
Apparently, Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Mularkey believes in moral victories. Mularkey's response referenced the Titans' success against Houston Texans standouts DeAndre Hopkins (WR) and Whitney Mercilus (OLB) despite a 27-20 loss, per ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky.
Veteran tight end Delanie Walker didn't agree, offering, "It's always hard to talk progress when we don’t win the game."
While the head coach saw progress, he obviously wasn't happy with the outcome, and special teams coordinator Bobby April felt the brunt of the Titans' recent failure. After two major special teams breakdowns, Mularkey fired April on Monday, according to John Glennon of the Tennessean.
Even so, optimism remains after a 1-3 start.
"There is a lot to be said about this football team," Mularkey said, per Kuharsky. "They've got a lot of heart and I don’t think anybody really knows who this team is. This is a good football team that is making enough mistakes not to get over the hump, and we're close."
29. Adam Gase, Miami Dolphins
4 of 32
Last Week: 29
Quote of the Week: "I don't think it matters who is out there right now. We all just can’t get out of our own way."
Through the first four games, the Miami Dolphins rank 26th overall in total offense. Even worse, the team ranks 28th at 17.8 points per game. As an offensive-minded head coach, Adam Gase is distraught over the team's performance, per ESPN.com's James Walker.
"It is literally somebody different every time," Gase said of the early-season struggles. "Whether it be the play call, whether it be the quarterback, the running back, the lineman, the wide receiver. It’s everybody. We’re all taking turns."
Against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night football, the Dolphins offense managed 222 yards in a 22-7 loss. Ryan Tannehill took his share of the blame, and the quarterback remains disappointed in what he's seen.
"We have to get it fixed soon," Tannehill said. "It’s gone on too long. There’s no more excuses. There’s no more waiting. It has to be important to everyone on that field. We have to get it fixed right now."
A few extra days of preparation should help with the 1-3 Tennessee Titans coming to town.
28. Mike McCoy, San Diego Chargers
5 of 32
Last Week: 28
Quote of the Week: "Everyone in that locker room is going to come in and work their asses off tomorrow—or they won't be here."
The time is now. Or is it? The San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee believes the San Diego Chargers are past due for a head coaching change.
When the local media posed a question about Mike McCoy's job status, general manager Tom Telesco replied with the above quote.
The Chargers suffered a brutal 35-34 loss to the New Orleans Saints after San Diego built a 13-point lead with only six minutes left to play.
"It's a major disappointment," McCoy said after the contest, per SDBoltReport.com's Anthony Blake. "You get the lead we had, and to fall apart—a major disappointment. Frustration is an understatement. I can’t say right now in this microphone how I really, truly feel."
After a 1-3 start, the Chargers season will be defined over the next two weeks when they face division opponents in the Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos. In fact, San Diego plays the reigning Super Bowl champions twice before Halloween. That doesn't bode well for McCoy.
27. Chip Kelly, San Francisco 49ers
6 of 32
Last Week: 26
Quote of the Week: "I thought Blaine played well today, to be honest with you,” Kelly said. “Besides that one throw."
The cries to play quarterback Colin Kaepernick over Blaine Gabbert are growing louder with each passing week. But San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly seems oblivious to the idea.
Kelly's rationalization of his starter's play, per the Sacramento Bee's Matt Barrows, sounds like a student who argues he only got one "F" on his report card as if it's a good thing. Gabbert threw for less than 200 yards against the Dallas Cowboys in a 24-17 loss. When the team needed its quarterback to make a defining play, the former first-round pick floated a deep pass that resulted in a game-ending interception.
"That's on me," Gabbert said. "I've got to throw him to the middle of the field. I've got to throw him to the hash, and I just cut it a little too early and just missed him wide."
When will it be on someone else? The 49ers starting quarterback ranks 27th in passing yards (728), 29th in completion percentage (58 percent) and 32nd in yards per attempt (6.12). Eventually, the 49ers are going to need a spark at the game's most important position.
The league's 30th-ranked offense isn't going to improve the team's 1-3 record without some changes.
26. Dirk Koetter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7 of 32
Last Week: 25
Quote of the Week: "Very. I'm very concerned. He's not regressing, but we've got to take care of the football. I mean, we've got to take care of the football. We can't turn it over three times in a half. We just can't do that."
Of course, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter is concerned, per the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud. After all, the primary reason why the organization hired him as the team's head coach was due to last season's success with quarterback Jameis Winston.
The Heisman Trophy winner has been wildly inconsistent through four games. Nine days ago, Winston threw for 405 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-32 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. A week later, the quarterback completed less than 50 percent of his passes for 179 yards during another loss to the Denver Broncos.
Winston isn't afraid to make any throw. This tends to backfire, and he's now second in the league with eight interceptions. In fact, opponents prey on Winston's fearlessness.
"We saw how confident he was in his arm," Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib said after snagging two interceptions in the 27-7 victory. "So we knew we'd have five to six opportunities to get our hands on the football. I think we capitalized on three of them, so we'll take that."
Koetter must rein in his quarterback, or his team won't experience consistent success.
"I thought we were past it and I was confident we were past it," the coach said, per CBS Tampa's Ryan Bass. "Have to get back there."
25. Jim Caldwell, Detroit Lions
8 of 32
Last Week: 23
Quote of the Week: "If (job security) was (discussed), I wouldn’t tell you. That's one of those things I don't worry about. My job is to coach this team and to get this team heading in the right direction."
Another year and the same old story is coming out of Detroit. Last season, Lions head coach Jim Caldwell had to address his job status. Less than 12 months later, he's doing it again, per the Detroit News' Justin Rogers.
"Yeah, well, that's something I can't control, in that regard," Caldwell said. "All I can do is tell you is this same group of men knows how to get things turned around the right way. We have players who are good enough players to get it done."
Last season, the Lions started 1-7 before the team found its groove and won six of its final eight contests after its bye week. Is there enough patience within the organization to do the same this year after a 1-3 start? Caldwell believes the team can experience a similar turnaround.
"No question about it," he said. "I'm not in doubt about that. It's just a matter how quickly. That's the key. We need to get it done now."
Detroit's bye week is still over a month away, and opponents with a combined 15-4 record stand in the Lions' way.
24. Chuck Pagano, Indianapolis Colts
9 of 32
Last Week: 21
Quote of the Week: "Too many penalties. Too many missed opportunities. Too many dropped balls. We didn't tackle well, they ran the ball well. We didn't do our job on the defensive side when it had to be done."
According to head coach Chuck Pagano, the Indianapolis Colts don't do anything well, per ESPN.com's Mike Wells. He's not wrong.
Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London served as a microcosm for the Colts' organizational failings. Quarterback Andrew Luck isn't properly protected. Frank Gore is old and doesn't have a legitimate backup. The team's offensive threats are limited. And the defense is ranked among the league's worst.
It's not a pretty picture when breaking down the team's 1-3 start.
"We're killing ourselves over and over again," veteran leader and inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson said after the game. "It has to stop now."
But how can it stop? The team isn't built to be a legitimate contender. Aside from Luck, the team's roster isn't very talented. It's decimated by injuries. And the glaring depth deficiencies are apparent.
Colts owner Jim Irsay just might be second-guessing his decision to give Pagano and general manager Ryan Grigson contract extensions during the offseason.
23. Rex Ryan, Buffalo Bills
10 of 32
Last Week: 27
Quote of the Week: "We beat their ass. We were physical."
The swagger is back in Buffalo after the Bills scored a 16-0 victory over the hated New England Patriots. Guard Richie Incognito didn't mince words when asked about the outcome, per ESPN.com's Mike Rodak.
Less than three weeks ago, the sky was falling in Buffalo after the team started 0-2 and lost to the rival New York Jets on Thursday Night Football. A day later, head coach Rex Ryan fired his offensive coordinator, Greg Roman.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the team, the Bills rallied during the last two weekends against two of the team's best-run franchises, the Arizona Cardinals and the Patriots. After a shaky start, Ryan once again has his team playing with confidence.
"We have a confident team, definitely," quarterback Tyrod Taylor said, per Chris Brown of the Bills official site. "We never lost faith in the players or the coaches. Of course, some changes were made, but I think the team as a whole came together more than ever and we're just taking it one game at a time, taking it one day at a time, challenge each other to go out there and be better."
22. John Fox, Chicago Bears
11 of 32
Last Week: 24
Quote of the Week: "It's performance-based. Anybody that's performing well, I don't think we're going to be likely to change."
With that vote of confidence from head coach John Fox, per the Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs, the Chicago Bears are now Brian Hoyer's team. The journeyman quarterback is getting his third opportunity to lead a franchise in the last three years.
"That's one thing I've learned through the tough situations that I've been through: Just be a pro," Hoyer said after the team's 17-14 victory over the Detroit Lions, per the Chicago Sun-Times' Adam L. Jahns. "Whatever they ask of me, that’s what I’m paid to do, and that’s what I’m going to go out there and do."
Hoyer shouldn't get too comfortable, though. His presence behind center isn't a long-term solution. He played well with 302 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns, but his performance came against the league's 25th-ranked defense.
"We executed," Fox said. "The problem in the first three games was that we didn't execute for 60 minutes. It helps when you do that."
Fox qualified his earlier answer to a pending quarterback controversy. Hoyer will remain the starter as long as he plays well. Otherwise, Jay Cutler will return once his thumb is healed.
21. Todd Bowles, New York Jets
12 of 32
Last Week: 18
Quote of the Week: "Everybody has an arm and can throw the football, but based on what he did last year and the things they accomplished last year, going into the season—from a confidence standpoint—he's our best chance to win."
New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles decided he plans to sink or swim with veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, per ESPN.com's Rich Cimini.
"I know I'm the right guy," Fitzpatrick said. "We found ourselves in a little slump last year and came out of it. Throughout all my experiences and all the things I've been through in my career, I know I'm the right guy to get this thing headed in the right direction."
Here's the problem: The Jets quarterback threw nine interceptions in his last two games. He didn't throw nine interceptions total in either the first or second half of the 2015 campaign. The timing of those miscues are even worse. Of Fitzpatrick's 10 total interceptions in 2016, eight have come in the fourth quarter, according to SNY's Ralph Vacchiano.
Yet Bowles isn't willing to make a move at the game's most important position even after a 1-3 start. With the Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals and Baltimore Ravens looming, the Jets' problems could get much worse before they're in a position to improve.
20. Ben McAdoo, New York Giants
13 of 32
Last Week: 19
Quote of the Week: "A good team on the road, especially this [Minnesota Vikings] team, you can't give them two possessions. The message is getting through. I just think we need to take care of the ball."
Is Ben McAdoo's message really getting through to the New York Giants? The Giants haven't taken care of the ball or limited opponents' extra possessions in recent weeks, per ESPN.com. The team's latest miscues led to a 24-10 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football.
The team's season-opening victory against the Dallas Cowboys is the only game this season where New York didn't turn the ball over at least twice. Even in that contest, quarterback Eli Manning threw an interception and nearly lost a fumble.
As a result of sloppy play, the Giants are now 2-2 after a 2-0 start. Manning, in particular, hasn't played well. He's thrown four touchdowns and four interceptions.
According to ESPN.com's Jordan Raanan, the quarterback said he didn't play well enough and blamed himself for an overthrow that resulted in another turnover.
Mistakes cost teams football games. After a strong start, the Giants are now reeling due to self-inflicted wounds. McAdoo must do a better job communicating his message, because it's clearly not getting through at the moment.
19. Jeff Fisher, Los Angeles Rams
14 of 32
Last Week: 22
Quote of the Week: "Jeff's one of the better coaches in the league, in my opinion. He does a great job of taking care of his players, and of getting us prepared, and we love playing for him. We've just got to keep playing the way he wants us to play."
What the Los Angeles Rams accomplished over the first month of the season wasn't pretty. But winning football contests isn't the same as a beauty pageant.
Head coach Jeff Fisher has his team rolling after three straight victories, including Sunday's 17-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Linebacker Alec Ogletree wasn't bashful when asked about his coach, per NFL.com's Michael Silver.
"We took over a 2-14 team that was depleted," Fisher said. " And we played six different quarterbacks. And now we're starting to get some stability, and we think we can take it a lot further."
The Rams are led by an aggressive, opportunistic and championship-caliber defense. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald is arguably the league's best defender.
"He's been playing at an elite level for a couple years now," Fisher said. "Nothing changes with that."
Quarterback remains a question mark, but the Rams continue to find ways to win and that's all that matters.
18. Jay Gruden, Washington Redskins
15 of 32
Last Week: 20
Quote of the Week: "We've had some plays that we should make, quite frankly, and for whatever reason we’re missing tackles. That’s something we have to fix, something we have to clean up. You’re responsible for a gap and you’re sitting right there, and the guy makes you miss—it’s going to be a long run."
The Washington Redskins defense made plays Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, but the unit didn't perform particularly well. Head coach Jay Gruden came away disappointed with the shoddy performance, per the Washington Post's Liz Clarke.
The team still captured a 31-20 victory thanks to three critical Browns turnovers, but Washington didn't play disciplined defense.
"We missed 11 tackles yesterday," Gruden said, per the team's official site. "That's something we need to fix."
Washington's offense ranks among the league's best. The defense, however, now sits at 29th overall and surrenders 413.5 yards per game. With a greater concentration on tackling, the unit should improve, which will make the entire team better.
It falls on Gruden to get both sides of the ball playing well with the 3-1 Baltimore Ravens and 3-0 Philadelphia Eagles next on the docket.
17. Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
16 of 32
Last Week: 17
Quote of the Week: "It’s pretty normal in this league. We knew starting the season we're going to play in some hard-fought games, we've got to find a way to be better. The encouraging thing (Sunday)—there's a handful of things we didn't do well yesterday—the encouraging thing was, we finished."
Every team believes it's one or two plays away from a much better record. Over time, a team's record reflects the quality of a franchise.
The New Orleans Saints, for example, are 1-3 to start the season. Yet, they're coming off of a 35-34 victory over the San Diego Chargers so there's some room for hope, per John DeShazier of the Saints official site.
However, all is not well with the Saints. The franchise continues to deal with multiple key injuries. The defense is still a mess and ranks at the bottom of the league in points per game. Payton and company needed a 13-point fourth-quarter comeback against a 1-3 team just to secure their first victory.
"We've got to continue to look at the execution," the coach said, per ESPN.com's Mike Triplett. "We've got to continue to look at what we're asking the players to do. We’ve got to be better as coaches here the next three quarters of the season."
The Saints might be falling into the same trap of hopeless optimism as previous seasons. But the team can always rely on Payton and quarterback Drew Brees to keep them in games with the thought of turning everything around one more time.
16. Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys
17 of 32
Last Week: 16
Quote of the Week: "We are a very physical team. We wear guys down toward the end of the game."
After four weeks of play, the Dallas Cowboys are exactly who we thought they were. Even without Tony Romo, Tyron Smith, La'el Collins and Dez Bryant in the lineup, Jason Garrett's squad can dominate opponents with one of the league's best running games.
Rookie Ezekiel Elliott leads the league with 412 rushing yards, and he's the NFL's only back to average more than 100 yards per game. The Ohio State product revels in the team's ground-and-pound approach, per ESPN.com's Todd Archer.
"It's definitely big for me," Elliott said. "It's big getting another 100-yard game, but when I run behind the big guys I’ve got in front of me, I would expect any back to do that. They’re the best in the league."
Meanwhile, rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has completed 67.9 percent of his passes and has yet to throw an interception.
The Cowboys have been tested this year due to injuries, but Garrett and his coaching staff continue to get the most out of the players on the field, resulting in a 3-1 start to the season.
15. Jack Del Rio, Oakland Raiders
18 of 32
Last Week: 15
Quote of the Week: "Coach Del Rio is a real gritty, tough man and he’s instilled that in us. He’ll get in a fight wherever, whenever for his brothers."
Derek Carr's comments about Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio are the opposite of fighting words. Instead, the quarterback heaped praise on the team's leader, per the Mercury News' Jimmy Durkin. After all, the Raiders are 3-1 after Sunday's 28-17 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
"I think we're playing good, period," wide receiver Michael Crabtree said, per ESPN.com's Paul Gutierrez. "On the road, at home, it don't matter. It doesn't matter where the game is or who we're playing."
Crabtree stole the show this past weekend with three touchdown receptions. The veteran target leads the team with 26 receptions and four touchdown catches.
"He's been sensational since Day 1 of being with us," Del Rio said. "He's a real pro. He's a tough guy. He loves football. He's really competitive ... he's playing really well."
The receiver's performance makes Carr better. With the quarterback playing at an elite level, the Raiders offense can overcome the league's worst defense. And Del Rio benefits from the full support of a winning team.
14. Bill O'Brien, Houston Texans
19 of 32
Last Week: 13
Quote of the Week: "I've made more play calls here than you would even imagine. Defensive calls, special-teams calls, offensive calls. As a head football coach, that's what you're paid to do, is to be making sure that the calls that go into the game are basically approved by you as the head football coach. So, none of that matters. … Nothing has changed."
Something certainly changed whether or not Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien wants to admit it, per the Houston Chronicle's Brian T. Smith.
The Texans looked like a much better offense with its leader calling the plays after taking the reins from offensive coordinator George Godsey. Houston scored a season-high 27 points and managed 359 yards. An increased tempo helped spur the offensive success.
"The biggest thing that really jumps out to you is we were kind of playing in a no-huddle mode," quarterback Brock Osweiler said, per Drew Dougherty of the team's official site. "We weren't going extremely fast but we had a good tempo. That was something Coach really talked about all week long."
Osweiler made a couple mistakes, but he also completed 67.6 percent of his passes and connected on a pair of touchdowns.
O'Brien proved to be one of the league's best play-callers when he orchestrated the New England Patriots offense in 2011. He's proving it again with the Texans.
13. Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers
20 of 32
Last Week: 8
Quote of the Week: "If I was playing, I would have taken the shot."
Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera didn't seem overly concerned with the hit Atlanta Falcons linebacker Deion Jones placed on Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, per the Charlotte Observer's Joseph Person. What should be concerning is the fact Newton suffered a concussion and the team ended up at 1-3 overall after its 48-33 loss to the Falcons.
"This (slow start) is different because I think we should be better than we are," Rivera said. "We're a good group, but we haven't played that way."
With Newton in the NFL's concussion protocol, the organization remains unsure if he'll play in the upcoming Monday night affair against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The extra time could help, but backup Derek Anderson should be ready just in case.
"I did talk to (Newton) after the game, 'How are you doing?'" Rivera said, per ESPN.com's David Newton. "He was, 'I'm fine, I'm fine.' That was it. He was with his family at that point."
The Panthers need to get their season back on track but not at the expense of their franchise quarterback's health.
12. Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals
21 of 32
Last Week: 7
Quote of the Week: "The sky is not falling for us. I’m sure it is for a bunch of the fans. I am as disappointed as they are, but we have a game Thursday night."
Every season is different.
Most would argue the Arizona Cardinals are one of the NFL's most talented teams and Bruce Arians is an elite coach. Yet the team is 1-3 after a 17-13 loss to Los Angeles Rams with their franchise quarterback, Carson Palmer, in the NFL's concussion protocol. Due to the quick turnaround of a Thursday night game, Arians and his team can't dwell on Sunday's loss, per Darren Urban of the team's official site.
The coach already stated the organization is going to be "very, very careful" in how it handles Palmer's injury. With the Pro Bowl signal-caller likely out for the upcoming meeting with the San Francisco 49ers, backup Drew Stanton must step in and play better than he did against the Rams. The Michigan State product only completed four of 11 passes and threw a pair of interceptions.
Between now and Thursday, Stanton should ready himself, while the rest of the team finds its motivation.
"I just don’t think this team has found its motivation yet, its 'it,'" defensive back Tyrann Mathieu said. "Last year, everybody kind of had a chip on their shoulder."
Clearly, that chip is gone, and the Cardinals must find something new to inspire them.
11. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
22 of 32
Last Week: 9
Quote of the Week: "This is my responsibility. We clearly didn’t play well enough, didn’t coach well enough."
What is a coach supposed to say when his team gets blown out on the road after failing to show up on a national stage?
All the coach can do is take responsibility for his squad's poor play, as the Kansas City Chiefs' Andy Reid did after his squad's 43-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, per the Kansas City Star's Sam Mellinger.
He can't point fingers, because the players' psyches could prove to be fragile after taking such a pounding.
"It's going to test our character a little bit," outside linebacker Tamba Hali said. "I've never been part of this before."
The Chiefs will go into their bye week licking their wounds before returning to AFC West play against the Oakland Raiders on Oct. 16.
"You can tell a lot about a team’s character by what you can do after adversity," veteran linebacker Derrick Johnson said. "We're tested. So let’s see if we can handle the challenge."
10. Doug Pederson, Philadelphia Eagles
23 of 32
Last Week: 12
Quote of the Week: "The biggest thing is complacency. You think you've arrived. You think you are all that. When that creeps in, that's when you get beat. It's my job not to let that creep in. I've got to keep the guys focused and grounded. I told them this week they're going to travel and go home and people are going to pat them on the back and say how great they are."
The Philadelphia Eagles are back on the practice field this week after a 3-0 start before the team's bye week. But a good start followed by extra time off can be a curse, too. Head coach Doug Pederson discussed his concerns about complacency with CSNPhilly.com's Dave Zangaro.
"You are on top of the world one minute, and you can be at the bottom of the heap the next," the coach continued. "Just got to keep things even-keeled and can't get too high, can't get too low. Approach it the same."
This proposition is more difficult in Philadelphia where the Eagles outperformed all preseason expectations and rookie quarterback Carson Wentz has already been anointed the franchise savior. Plus, the team is coming off a 34-3 trouncing of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who just lit up the Kansas City Chiefs on national television.
Keeping everything even keel is easier said than done. The Eagles have two upcoming road games against the Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins to prove their hot start hasn't gone to their heads.
9. Dan Quinn, Atlanta Falcons
24 of 32
Last Week: 14
Quote of the Week: "The connection with Matt [Ryan] and Julio [Jones on Sunday] was as strong as ever."
The Atlanta Falcons and head coach Dan Quinn have figured it out, per ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure, and Sunday's 48-33 victory over the rival Carolina Panthers provided a blueprint of how to win.
It's quite simple, actually.
Julio Jones is a monster wide receiver who should be fed as much as possible. With Jones dominating, the rest of the team becomes better at every level. Granted, no one should expect the wide receiver to post weekly 300-yard games, but his presence on the outside helps make the Falcons a dominant offensive force when quarterback Matt Ryan is dealing.
"I'm very pleased," Jones said of his 300-yard effort, per MMQB.com's Peter King. "All I can do is go out and play 100 percent and let my production speak. But in this game, you rely so much on everyone else. We had a good team game today."
With the league's top-ranked offense leading the way, the Falcons built an early two-game lead in the NFC South, and Quinn continues to climb the power rankings.
8. Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers
25 of 32
Last Week: 10
Quote of the Week: "I'm going to tell you exactly what I told the team. This is about who's playing, and injuries are unfortunate. It's part of this business. You never want to see your players go through it. But we knew what the challenge was coming in here. We needed our veteran players to step up, and we needed our younger players to step up and we had a combination of that."
Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy benefited from a bye week. As the teams for other highly-regarded coaches struggled in Week 4, McCarthy sat pat and improved his status.
His team benefited as well, because the early bye proved to be perfect timing for a squad relying heavily on rookie contributors. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and linebacker Clay Matthews steer this ship, but the roster is experiencing an unintended youth movement due to multiple injuries, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
Between nose tackle Kenny Clark, safety Kentrell Brice, cornerback Josh Hawkins, linebackers Blake Martinez and Kyler Fackrell, and defensive linemen Dean Lowry and Brian Price, the rookies combined to play 149 snaps against the Detroit Lions, according to ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky.
"When they ran to Kenny, he stopped it," defensive lineman Mike Daniels said. "Dean had a tackle for loss, and Kyler had a sack. That’s what I’m thinking: These guys are ready to play football, they can get it done and I can just go do my job."
An extra week of practice early in the season certainly won't hurt their development, though.
7. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals
26 of 32
Last Week: 11
Quote of the Week: "When you aren’t very good at something, you usually concern yourself with trying to get better at it."
Those comments came from Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis after the team's 22-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football, per the Dayton Daily News' Jay Morrison.
Why?
The coach isn't happy with his offense's red-zone performance. The Bengals only managed a single touchdown, while kicker Mike Nugent booted five field goals during the team's weekday win.
"We're moving the football, but we need to finish more drives with touchdowns," Lewis continued. "Occasionally you're going to get stopped, but we have to make sure we're not doing things to stop ourselves and that we finish more drives."
The offense should naturally improve once Pro Bowl tight end Tyler Eifert returns to the field and rookie wide receiver Tyler Boyd continues to mature.
Until then, quarterback Andy Dalton needs to put his group into the right plays and make the proper reads on a consistent basis—which includes feeding wide receiver A.J. Green the ball. The Bengals will be better if both are achieved.
6. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
27 of 32
Last Week: 5
Quote of the Week: "Looking back on it, it wasn't the right decision. I didn't really have a sense that many points were going to be scored down the stretch. It didn't seem like it was going to be played that way. It seemed like it was going to come down to a field goal right there."
During a close loss, a coach often replays all of his decisions in his head.
For the Baltimore Ravens' John Harbaugh, he pointed directly to his fourth-quarter decision to accept an unsportsmanlike penalty instead of forcing the Oakland Raiders to kick a field goal, per ESPN.com's Jamison Hensley. Oakland scored a touchdown after securing the ensuing first down. The four-point swing had a massive effect on the outcome.
The Ravens' bubble finally burst during Sunday's 28-27 loss. After playing a weak early slate, the Ravens couldn't hold onto a late lead against quarterback Derek Carr, who led the Raiders to two touchdowns in the final frame to secure the victory.
Still, the Ravens are 3-1 and tied atop the NFC North with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
5. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
28 of 32
Last Week: 6
Quote of the Week: "Anger, disappointment, all of the things you would naturally feel under those circumstances, but such is life in the National Football League. I think it’s less about how you feel and more about what you do. I thought we had a good week’s work. We got back to it, but there’s nothing like getting back into a stadium. We have a formidable opponent tonight, and we’re excited about meeting the challenge."
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin spoke those words after last week's 34-3 loss to the in-state rival Philadelphia Eagles, per Bob Labriola of the Steelers official site. Tomlin's squad provided a resounding response to the team's previous performance with a 43-14 dismantling of the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.
Of course, Pittsburgh's offensive performance will receive most of the attention. After all, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for 300 yards and five touchdowns. Running back Le'Veon Bell returned to the lineup and amassed 144 rushing yards. And wide receiver Antonio Brown caught a pair of touchdown passes.
But an explosive Steelers offense is expected. How the defense responded is far more important. Pittsburgh held Kansas City scoreless through three quarters, forced a pair of turnovers and managed four sacks.
"We try to play for pride," safety Mike Mitchell said, per ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler. "We have a lot of pride in our room and wanted to keep them at zero."
After surrendering 34 points the previous week, Tomlin can build on the defense's improvement to complement the team's devastating offense.
4. Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks
29 of 32
Last Week: 4
Quote of the Week: "Really don’t know how to say enough about [Russell Wilson's] mentality. He has the perfect mentality to endure."
Even with a hobbled Russell Wilson, the Seattle Seahawks are built to endure. The quarterback is deserving of Pete Carroll's praise, per the News Tribune's Gregg Bell, but the head coach has helped build a lasting and winning culture in Seattle's locker room.
Wilson is surrounded by playmakers and the defense remains among the league's best. During Sunday's 27-17 victory over the New York Jets, the Legion of Boom forced three interceptions and the defensive front sacked quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick four times.
Still, Wilson's performance bordered on spectacular while managing injuries to both of his legs. Seattle's signal-caller threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns.
"We can put him in the pocket, he can roll, he can play-action, he can do everything," Carroll said, per ESPN.com's Sheil Kapadia. "Yes, of course he's improved. He's improved at everything. ... He can do whatever we need him to do."
The Seahawks now enter their bye week at 3-1 with an opportunity to get healthy—which means they can be even better once they return to action.
3. Mike Zimmer, Minnesota Vikings
30 of 32
Last Week: 3
Quote of the Week: "I think they like to compete. I think they like to go out there and prove to everybody that they can be talked about with other good teams in this league."
The Minnesota Vikings aren't supposed to be this good. Doesn't the team realize it lost its starting quarterback, running back and left tackle to season-ending injuries before the campaign really had a chance to get started?
Mike Zimmer's players don't seem to care, and they appear to have a giant chip on their shoulder, per ESPN.com. The team's formula for success is simple: Play top-notch defense and get just enough out of the offense.
"We're not going to concern ourselves with stats," Zimmer said, per ESPN.com's Ian O'Connor. "We're concerned about wins."
The Vikings are tied for the league's best record at 4-0 after Monday night's 24-10 victory over the New York Giants, and the team can still improve in the coming weeks with quarterback Sam Bradford's growing comfort level and an evolving run game. Of course, the defense can dominate each week if need be.
"I don't know if we're as good as Denver was defensively last year," Zimmer said, "but we've got some depth on our defense and some guys who will really compete and fight. ... I don't know how far we can go, either, but this team is kind of special."
2. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
31 of 32
Last Week: 1
Quote of the Week: "I'm back in the saddle again. I'm back"
One can imagine New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady doing his best impression of Steven Tyler when his league-mandated suspension officially ended after Sunday's 16-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
In defeat, the Patriots became the first team since 1937 to win by shutout and then lose without scoring at home in consecutive weeks, according to the Elias Sports Bureau (via Pro Football Talk).
A shutout loss is bad enough. A shutout loss to the Bills and braggadocious head coach Rex Ryan is even more deflating.
"It wasn't good enough in any area," head coach Bill Belichick said after the game, per NewYorkUpstate.com's Matthew Fairburn. "Obviously, we were in a lot of third-and-longs so that wasn't good. A lot of third-down problems are related to first and second-down and it wasn't good enough on third-down. It's pretty obvious."
Brady's return changes the the entire team dynamic, though. He'll ride into Foxborough this week and be greeted as a savior. In reality, the Patriots and Belichick should be ecstatic with a 3-1 start after dealing with the weekly quarterback carousel.
1. Gary Kubiak, Denver Broncos
32 of 32
Last Week: 2
Quote of the Week: "We felt we could put (Trevor Siemian) back in the game."
In a surprise move, the Denver Broncos' Gary Kubiak became the first head coach to dethrone the New England Patriots' Bill Belichick for the top spot. The reasons behind Kubiak's ascension are twofold.
First and foremost, the Broncos started the season 4-0 after their 27-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Second, Kubiak dealt with similar adversity to what the Patriots faced in recent weeks when quarterback Trevor Siemian suffered a shoulder injury. Even though Siemian could have returned if needed, per Denver7 ABC's Troy Renck, rookie Paxton Lynch stepped in and played well.
"He’s really doing a good job," Kubiak said, per Andrew Mason of the team's official site. "John [Elway] and I sat down and talked about it today before the game and I said ‘John, I think he’s really growing.'"
The head coach must now face the inevitable: starting quarterback drama. Even if the quarterback question remains unsettled in the coming weeks, the team knows how to handle it.
"It's just all football here," linebacker Von Miller said, per the Denver Post's Mark Kiszla. "We rely on it to get us through the day. We rely on that for our success, as well."
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