NFL Head Coach Power Rankings Heading into Week 14
Crunch time is now upon the NFL.
Four weeks remain with at least 20 teams still in the playoff mix. The final quarter of the season will determine the league's best coaches as they make the necessary adjustments to experience the postseason.
Those who don't will be left wondering what they did wrong and if they'll have a job once the season comes to a close.
Life for an NFL head coach is stressful. It's a "What have you done for me lately?" league.
At one time, owners showed patience and allowed their coaches to build a program, system and culture. That's no longer the case. Winning is the bottom line. As Bill Parcells famously stated, "You are what your record says you are."
By that estimation, 14 of the league's coaches can be deemed successful due to winning records, while the rest are average to below average. This is the league's reality.
How those coaches are viewed changes on a weekly basis, too. Bleacher Report's Head Coach Power Rankings looks at the previous week's decisions and outcomes to determine the league's best and worst.
Click through the slideshow to find out where each of the 32 coaches fall this week.
32. Gus Bradley, Jacksonville Jaguars
1 of 32
Last Week: 31
Quote of the Week: "I've never been this frustrated playing the game of football in my life."
Allen Robinson's stance on NFL officiating, per ESPN.com's Mike DiRocco, serves as a microcosm for the entire Jacksonville Jaguars season. Things just haven't gone as expected.
Robinson is one of the league's most talented receivers, but he's ranked 46th with 622 receiving yards. As a whole, the team and its young core haven't developed.
The Jaguars roster is littered with potential building blocks who are 26 years old or younger. The fact they haven't show significant progress in Gus Bradley's fourth season is an indictment of the head coach and his entire staff.
Even though the league still features a winless team in the Cleveland Browns, Bradley is officially doing the worst job—he's preparing a team that actually had high expectations this season.
"It's the biggest nightmare possible," quarterback Blake Bortles said after Sunday's 20-10 loss to to the Denver Broncos, per DiRocco.
31. Hue Jackson, Cleveland Browns
2 of 32
Last Week: 32
Quote of the Week: "I feel very comfortable that they are committed to what we are trying to do. Continuity is a huge piece of this. They told me that from the outset and I knew it."
In Cleveland, no head coach has job security. At least, this is the perception since Browns owner Jimmy Haslam cycled through three head coaches in his first three years.
Thus, an 0-12 start would logically place first-year head coach Hue Jackson on the hot seat. But that's not the case. According to Jackson, per CBS Cleveland's Daryl Ruiter, the ownership group continues to preach continuity.
"I do not like our organization being the brunt of jokes and what has gone on here, but if this is what we have to go through to get to where we want to be then so be it," Jackson said.
To reinforce his confidence in the organization's rebuild, Haslam met with his entire staff during the team's bye week.
"Sources said owner Jimmy Haslam, his wife Dee, coach Hue Jackson, executive vice president Sashi Brown and analytics chief Paul DePodesta all spoke at the meeting, which was intended to boost morale and make the case for staying the course despite such dire circumstances," CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reported.
30. Chip Kelly, San Francisco 49ers
3 of 32
Last Week: 30
Quote of the Week: "My mom wanted me to coach."
Everyone reading this piece takes football seriously. The sport is ingrained in our national fabric. Yet certain moments make all of us realize it's just a game.
One of those moments came Sunday when the San Francisco 49ers lost 26-6 to the Chicago Bears at snow-covered Solider Field.
Unbeknownst to many, 49ers head coach Chip Kelly continued to lead his team despite his father's death on Friday. Why? Because his mother told him to, per CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco. Kelly did what any good son would, but the outcome was inconsequential.
"The thoughts and prayers of the entire San Francisco 49ers organization are with Chip and his family as they face the difficult process of grieving the loss of a loved one," general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. "Understandably, coach will take some time to be with his family before returning to the team this week. Chip has our continued support as he mourns the passing of his father."
Condolences, coach, from all of us at Bleacher Report.
29. Todd Bowles, New York Jets
4 of 32
Last Week: 28
Quote of the Week: "We got (our) ass kicked."
The New York Jets aren't very good, and head coach Todd Bowles isn't making any excuses for his team, per the New York Post's Brian Costello. The Indianapolis Colts destroyed the Jets 41-10 on Monday Night Football.
After such a listless performance, Bowles' status with the team immediately came into question, and the coach is aware of the situation.
"You know your job is in jeopardy when you take one of these jobs," Bowles said, per Costello.
A 3-9 record in Bowles' second season is disappointing, but it's the team's effort that could eventually cost him his job. The Jets played like a group of individuals who already gave up on their season.
"We didn't have a lot of effort," Bowles admitted, per the Post's Mike Vaccaro.
Once a team stops responding and playing hard for its coach, the end is near.
28. John Fox, Chicago Bears
5 of 32
Last Week: 29
Quote of the Week: "It's a great feeling. Just like I said last week, we're ... tired of putting everything you've got out there and not getting the result that you want. We wanted this today and we got it."
For the first time in over a month, the Chicago Bears experienced a victory. Defensive lineman Akiem Hicks and his teammates planned to enjoy Sunday's 26-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers, per Larry Mayer of the Bears official site.
"It does feel good," head coach John Fox said. "A lot of young guys had to answer the bell and they've done an outstanding job."
While the Bears are 3-9 overall with major quarterback issues, a handful of young players are contributing at a high level.
Rookie running back Jordan Howard put the team on his back, carrying the ball 32 times for 117 rushing yards along with three touchdowns. Wide receiver Josh Bellamy rebounded after the previous week's performance, which included four catches for 93 yards but was overshadowed by a major drop. And this year's first-round pick, Leonard Floyd, returned to the lineup and registered a pair of sacks.
"One of my favorite things to watch is how the young boy, Floyd, wants it so bad," Hicks said, per ESPN.com's Jeff Dickerson. "I mean, just his energy excites me because I remember how I was when I was a rookie, just chomping at the bit and wanting to be in there on every freaking play and trying to make one on every freaking play."
27. Jeff Fisher, Los Angeles Rams
6 of 32
Last Week: 27
Quote of the Week: "I am expecting to be the coach of the franchise."
Much consternation flowed through social media timelines when the story finally broke that Los Angeles Rams head coach Jeff Fisher signed a two-year contract extension in the offseason.
As such, Fisher should expect to be the coach beyond this season, per the Los Angeles Times' Gary Klein. His players are happy with the decision too despite the team's 4-8 record after Sunday's 26-10 loss to the New England Patriots.
"It's a damn good decision," defensive end Eugene Sims said.
Fellow end William Hayes added, "He takes care of his guys. He does everything a player wants from his coach. ... He's a great leader. He's an amazing coach."
For those looking at the Rams from an outside perspective, Fisher isn't a great coach. In fact, he hasn't even reached average in recent years. Since taking over the Rams in 2012, Fisher holds a 31-43 record. The coach hasn't led a team to the playoffs since 2008 as part of the Tennessee Titans organization.
Continuity for continuity's sake isn't always the answer.
26. Mike McCoy, San Diego Chargers
7 of 32
Last Week: 25
Quote of the Week: "Anytime you don't have success there are probably going to be breakdowns."
Probably?!
A team that plays mistake-free football wins games. A team that doesn't tends to lose.
So, yes, the San Diego Chargers experienced multiple breakdowns during the team's 28-21 loss Sunday to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There's no "probably" about it, head coach Mike McCoy, per the San Diego Union-Tribune's Nick Canepa.
Quarterback Philip Rivers' mistakes stick out since he's played well in spurts and was supposed to be a veteran presence leading the way. Yet, he's thrown seven interceptions over the last three weeks.
San Diego's turnovers on Sunday destroyed any chance of a victory. Tampa Bay linebacker Lavonte David turned a deflected pass into a pick-six, and Keith Tandy sealed the Buccaneers win when he snagged a last-ditch deep attempt to tie the game.
"To me, going on and on about what happened, it doesn't matter, really," Rivers said. "It won't change any of them. But you can't turn it over."
Of course there were breakdowns, and they started at the quarterback position.
25. Rex Ryan, Buffalo Bills
8 of 32
Last Week: 24
Quote of the Week: "Sometimes you feel that momentum shift and it just snowballed on us. Sometimes, I think we lose confidence. You can't ever have that happen to you."
After building a 24-9 third-quarter lead against the Oakland Raiders, the Buffalo Bills crumbled down the stretch. The Raiders scored four touchdowns over the final 20 minutes to secure a victory. Clearly, the Bills lost some confidence when momentum shifted out of their favor, as Rex Ryan stated, per the Buffalo News' Vic Carucci.
"Those guys got on a roll and it was like everything they did turned into gold," safety Corey Graham said. "It didn't matter what they called, what they did, they found ways to make plays. That's why they're 10-2 and No. 1 in the AFC."
Even head coach Rex Ryan wasn't exactly sure what went wrong.
"I'm not real sure," he said, per ESPN.com's Mike Rodak. "We'll know a lot more about it when we watch the tape. I really can't tell you."
The fact a head coach can't identify the issues found within his team is a major concern.
Buffalo, meanwhile, is 6-6 and the 10th seed in the AFC. At this point, the Bills hold a slight chance of extending their season beyond New Year's Day.
24. Chuck Pagano, Indianapolis Colts
9 of 32
Last Week: 26
Quote of the Week: "We've always felt like we control our own destiny. If we do something bad, there's no one to point the finger at but us. It we do something good, then it's 'OK, great.' Then it's on to the next one. We know how important the next game is."
The Indianapolis Colts did something good Monday night against the New York Jets. Quarterback Andrew Luck led his team to a 41-10 victory. That's great for them, as Luck said, per ESPN.com's Mike Wells.
At 6-6, the Colts are tied with the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans atop the AFC South standings. This three-way dance couldn't be more intriguing, but Luck's play Monday might give the Colts an edge in this race.
The $140-million man threw four touchdown passes in his latest effort. More importantly, Luck didn't commit any turnovers, and he was only sacked once.
"He played extremely well," Pagano said. "We know he's a talented guy, but it goes back to his preparation, and he does a great job week in and week out, and he does not like to not be available for his teammates."
With Luck playing well, the Colts always have a chance to win.
23. Mike Mularkey, Tennessee Titans
10 of 32
Last Week: 23
Quote of the Week: "Honestly, I think the later the bye week the better. I think this late in the season, your body is breaking down and you do whatever it takes to get healthy and this is a perfectly timed thing."
The Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Browns had their bye weeks this past weekend. A late bye can mean one of two things, and those teams illustrate each scenario.
For the Browns, they're licking their wounds after an 0-12 start and just trying to regroup after a disappointing season.
In Tennessee, the Titans are excited—as left tackle Taylor Lewan described, per Jim Wyatt of the team's official site. Individuals can get healthy as the entire organization readies itself for a potential playoff push.
"The feel around here is guys are starting to understand we could be in the playoffs," tight end Delanie Walker said. "We are in a good position. ... The important thing now is we have to rest up and come back fresh and healthy with four games to go."
Tennessee benefited Sunday without even playing. The Houston Texans fell to the Green Bay Packers, and now both the Texans and Titans hold 6-6 records, along with the Indianapolis Colts (although, Houston has the tiebreaker). Once Mike Mularkey's squad returns to the field, it's not just about making a run for the playoffs; a division crown is on the line, too.
22. Bill O'Brien, Houston Texans
11 of 32
Last Week: 22
Quote of the Week: "These last four games are all playoff games. That’s how we have to view them."
The playoffs already started in Houston since the Texans are tied with the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts atop the AFC South at 6-6. Each team is now in a do-or-die situation, and Texans head coach Bill O'Brien can't prepare his team any other way, per ESPN.com's Sarah Barshop.
Houston does hold an edge with a 3-0 division record, but everything can change since three of the next four games are against the team's rivals.
"You can’t worry about what's taken place in the past," quarterback Brock Osweiler said. "All you can do is learn from it and make yourself better from it."
The young signal-caller is the perfect example of someone who must forget his recent history. During the team's three-game losing streak, Osweiler completed 63.1 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and four interceptions. If the Texans are going to win the AFC South, they will need more from the league's 28th-ranked offense.
"I feel like we're very close to exploding as an offense," Osweiler said. "We are three, four plays away from changing multiple football games."
21. Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers
12 of 32
Last Week: 21
Quote of the Week: "But he has rules in place, and we have to abide by them, and no person is greater than the next person."
To paraphrase basketball legend Allen Iverson, "We're talking about a tie. Not a game...not a game. We're talking about a tie."
And the aforementioned tie has nothing to do with a final score. Instead, the dubious tie, or lack there of, is an article of clothing that must be worn by players on Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera's team.
Quarterback Cam Newton didn't wear a tie when he was supposed to. As Cam explained, per ESPN.com's David Newton, Rivera benched him for the start of Sunday night's 40-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks because of it.
"Unfortunate situation, but we're moving on," Newton said. "Ron handled it, and we have a lot of things to correct."
As Rivera's discipline of the reigning league MVP dominates the conversation, tight end Greg Olsen struck at the heart of the matter.
"We're just not very good right now," he said.
At 4-8, the little things tend to be overblown.
20. Doug Pederson, Philadelphia Eagles
13 of 32
Last Week: 20
Quote of the Week: "I said when we made the trade that there would be growing pains for (Carson) Wentz to go through and these are those growing pains."
Excuses weren't necessary early in the season when the Philadelphia Eagles started the campaign with three victories. Now, head coach Doug Pederson is tempering expectations while the Eagles stumble through a three-game losing streak, per NJ.com's Matt Lombardo.
After the Eagles fell to 5-7, rumblings started regarding Pederson's job security. Those should be put to rest. The coach mentioned Monday that he meets with team owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman every week.
"Every week it's very positive," the coach said, per Lombardo. "I just don't think personally...you can base a guy on one season. I think you have to give it time to develop."
The development starts with quarterback Carson Wentz. You could argue that this year's No. 2 overall pick regressed in recent weeks. He threw a season-high three interceptions during Sunday's 32-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, and several more of his passes could have been picked.
But Wentz's surrounding cast suffered through its share of struggles and injuries, too. What the Eagles need to see is incremental improvement over the final four weeks.
19. Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
14 of 32
Last Week: 18
Quote of the Week: "Like Coach said, we can't be that yo-yo team. And that's what we've been doing. We've gotta play to our level and expect other teams to get to our level. When we play at our level, we're special."
Good teams don't display the level of inconsistency the New Orleans Saints show. Two weekends ago, Sean Payton's squad scored 49 points against the Los Angeles Rams. A week later, the same offense only mustered 13 points in a loss to the Detroit Lions.
According to wide receiver Brandin Cooks, Payton sent a message after his team dropped to 5-7, per ESPN.com's Mike Triplett.
"We don't like having that on our resume," quarterback Drew Brees said. "We don't like the up and down. And unfortunately, that's the way it's been the past few years, and this year as well."
It's fair to say the Saints haven't been good for multiple years. Since 2014, the team is a combined 18-23, and they're well on their way to missing the playoffs for a third-straight campaign.
Payton will eventually leave New Orleans as the greatest coach in franchise history. When he leaves is up for discussion—even though he signed a five-year contract extension in the offseason—since the team doesn't appear to be responding anymore.
18. Dirk Koetter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15 of 32
Last Week: 19
Quote of the Week: "Speak softly and carry a big m*****f******* stick!”
While Teddy Roosevelt might not applaud Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter's message, the team certainly did, per the team's official site.
The Bucs haven't warranted much attention this year, but they should after earning their fourth-straight victory with Sunday's 28-21 win over the San Diego Chargers. The Buccaneers are tied atop the NFC South with the Atlanta Falcons at 7-5.
"I've been asking for this for seven years," defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said, per ESPN.com's Jenna Laine.
Said Koetter, "It's crazy what confidence can do when you start making plays. It seems to build on itself."
Everything starts with quarterback Jameis Winston. The second-year signal-caller continues to make mistakes, but he's completed 67.7 percent of his passes during the winning streak.
"(We're) playing together," McCoy said. "Just trusting one another, trusting the process and putting in the work every day."
17. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals
16 of 32
Last Week: 17
Quote of the Week: "The locker room feeling is a whole lot better than it’s been the last couple times. It’s like I was saying earlier in the week, it starts with one win. We’ve got to just kind of continue with this momentum and bring it into next week."
Sunday's 32-14 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles didn't solve all of the Cincinnati Bengals' problems, but the team feels better about itself after playing a complete game, as quarterback Andy Dalton stated, per the Bengals official site.
Dalton threw for 332 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while the defense intercepted Eagles rookie quarterback Carson Wentz three times.
"I think we played well," veteran offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth said. "This week, we really pressed hard to get this monkey off our back and go play a big game. I think we’re ready to build off that."
The biggest concern at this point is that kicker Mike Nugent missed another extra point and four of his last six attempts.
At 4-7-1, the Bengals are playing for pride down the stretch, and they face the winless Cleveland Browns this weekend. Cincinnati now has the opportunity to win back-to-back games for the first time this season before hosting the hated Pittsburgh Steelers.
16. Jay Gruden, Washington Redskins
17 of 32
Last Week: 15
Quote of the Week: "I wouldn't call it anger. I would call it just urgency more so than anger."
Apparently, Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden provided a rather loud message to his team after Sunday's 31-23 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The coach didn't categorize his postgame outburst as being mad, per the Washington Times' Todd Dybas. Instead, he tried to stress the importance of the team's current situation.
Washington is 6-5-1 after Sunday's loss and now sits on the outside of the playoff picture.
"We're not out of the woods yet," Gruden explained. "We still have a long ways to go. We have to take it one game at a time and take these next days of preparation for the Philadelphia Eagles very, very serious."
With four games left to play, Washington sits a half game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons for the sixth and final playoff spot. However, Washington's upcoming three-game stretch includes opponents who feature a combined 12-24 record, making a postseason appearance a distinct possibility.
Washington's locker room must show urgency to capitalize, though.
15. Adam Gase, Miami Dolphins
18 of 32
Last Week: 14
Quote of the Week: "When we were 1-4 everyone said our season was done."
There's no reason to bury the Miami Dolphins after Sunday's 38-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. After all, the team started 1-4 before rattling off six-straight victories, as head coach Adam Gase mentioned, per the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Omar Kelly.
"Wasn't the first time we got smacked around," Gase said. "Been a while, though."
Most NFL teams experience a game like the Dolphins just did.
Baltimore jumped ahead 14-0, and Miami never established itself on either side of the ball. Everything snowballed from that point, with Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco throwing for 381 yards and four touchdowns.
The Dolphins are still 7-5 and sit seventh in the AFC playoff picture. The postseason is still there for the taking if the team forgets this past weekend's performance and returns to the play that dominated in November.
"We'd been on a streak and hadn't tasted defeat in a long time," running back Jay Ajayi said, per ESPN.com's James Walker. "It's a weird feeling. We're used to winning, but it's okay. We'll get past this and we'll start a new streak."
14. Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers
19 of 32
Last Week: 16
Quote of the Week: "I told the team this the other day, until you win 10 games in this league, it's nonsense to talk about anything else. So we're not worried about Detroit or any other team out there or what anybody's record is. We have six wins, and we know we've got to get to seven fast."
The door is no longer closed for the Green Bay Packers, who have won twice in their last two contests. Sunday's 21-13 victory over the Houston Texans even provided the team with some hope, albeit they're still a long way from reaching their goal, according to head coach Mike McCarthy, per ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky.
The back-to-back victories came on the heels of a four-game losing streak, which left the 6-6 Packers with little wiggle room.
"I mean we got two wins," wide receiver Randall Cobb said. "We still feel like we have our backs against the wall. As we get these wins, our season is still dwindling."
There's a bit of logjam in the NFC's playoff picture. Six teams hold records between 7-5 and 5-6-1 overall. Those half-dozen squads are competing for two postseason spots. Obviously, not all of them will make it. The Packers will need a strong finish to extend their campaign into January.
"We were backs against the wall at 4-6, obviously struggling, but there was something in the locker (room) that I felt and I saw that made me feel like saying I think we could run the table," quarterback Aaron Rodgers said.
13. Ben McAdoo, New York Giants
20 of 32
Last Week: 10
Quote of the Week: "I'm not (worried about time running out). We're working at it."
The New York Giants might be 8-4 overall, but Ben McAdoo's squad needs to quickly improve. McAdoo's nonchalant attitude, per ESPN.com's Jordan Raanan, isn't ideal with only four games to play and a postseason berth hinging on the team's upcoming performance.
In Sunday's 24-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Giants didn't look close to a playoff-caliber team. The offense didn't move the ball, and the defense couldn't stifle the Steelers' explosive offense.
Eli Manning and the Giants offense continue to struggle for long stretches. New York ranks 26th in total offense with the game's 31st rushing attack.
"I think everything will get (right) and it will all click at some point," wide receiver Odell Beckham said. "It just needs to be soon, whether it is next week, tomorrow or the next day."
The team may be working at it, but upcoming contests against the 11-1 Dallas Cowboys and 8-4 Detroit Lions won't be easy opportunities to re-establish an identity.
12. Mike Zimmer, Minnesota Vikings
21 of 32
Last Week: 12
Quote of the Week: "Mike Zimmer has returned to his coaching duties and is expected to travel with the team to Jacksonville."
Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer didn't attend Thursday's contest against the Dallas Cowboys because he required emergency eye surgery. According to ESPN.com's Ben Goessling, Zimmer required three different operations on the same eye in the past month.
The organization announced Zimmer's return Monday via a press statement.
The Vikings lost 17-15 in the coach's absence as special teams coordinator Mike Priefer served in an interim role. Preifer will resume the role if Zimmer needs further medial treatments.
"I hope I'm not needed in that capacity," the coordinator said.
No truer words have been spoken. Everyone hopes Zimmer experiences a full recovery and can lead his 6-6 team during the final quarter of the 2016 campaign.
11. Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals
22 of 32
Last Week: 13
Quote of the Week: "(General manager Steve Keim) and I are talking a lot about, you know, what pieces do we need to start looking at, getting guys signed up for future contracts, and looking forward to finishing this year and damn sure coaching next year."
Bruce Arians talked about his future with the Arizona Cardinals on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM's Bickley and Marotta (via Kevin Zimmerman). He's not readying himself for retirement, contrary to a report from CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora.
According to Arians, the report "couldn't be anything further from the truth."
The coach has experienced multiple health scares during his career, including chest pains last month. Arians attributes those issues to the normal stresses of coaching life.
"Everybody gets sick, really sick after the season because, your immune system is shot," he said. "Everybody, most coaches, will be sick as a dog. I’ve been sick every year for the last 30 years within two weeks after the season."
The Cardinals, meanwhile, improved to 5-6-1 with Sunday's 31-23 victory over the Washington Redskins. While it may be a long shot, Arizona is still in the playoff race, vying against five other NFC teams for two playoff spots. With a strong finish, Arians' squad will be right in the mix.
10. Jim Caldwell, Detroit Lions
23 of 32
Last Week: 11
Quote of the Week: "Last week, it was we were going to practice fast, we want to stay hungry and make certain that we’re grappling to try the productive-paranoia sort of atmosphere within our practice to try to make certain we don’t leave a stone unturned. And we're going to be precise."
The Detroit Lions continue to grow into a premier team. After coming from behind in each of its first seven wins, Jim Caldwell's squad finally led a game wire-to-wire in an impressive 28-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints.
The performance qualified as precise based on Caldwell's expectations, per the Detroit Free Press' Carlos Monarrez. Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 341 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The defense, meanwhile, forced Drew Brees into three interceptions and held the league's No. 1 offense to 59 yards below its average.
"So every week is a little bit different, in terms of what we're trying to achieve, depending on who the opponent is," Caldwell said. "So the key is now is we've got to do it again."
At 8-4, the Lions now own a two-game lead in the NFC North. However, their path should prove to be quite difficult after this weekend's meeting with the Chicago Bears. Afterward, Detroit faces the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. Caldwell will need another complete effort or two from his team to secure a division crown.
9. Dan Quinn, Atlanta Falcons
24 of 32
Last Week: 6
Quote of the Week: "I don’t have a reason behind that. Those are the lessons that we’re learning."
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn doesn't understand why his team has blown four fourth-quarter leads this season, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's D. Orlando Ledbetter. The second-year coach better figure out what to do in those crucial situations soon, or the Falcons might be on the outside looking in at the playoffs.
"Everybody talked last year about the percentage (of making the playoffs) after starting 5-0, and we didn't make it," safety Ricardo Allen said, per ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure. "We've got to do it, man. We've got to work. We've got to stop losing these games at the end."
The Falcons fell short Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Quarterback Matt Ryan threw an awful interception to safety Eric Berry on a two-point attempt, which the defensive back returned for two points, giving Kansas City a 29-28 victory.
At 7-5, the Falcons are now tied atop the NFC South with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"You can only worry about things that you can control," veteran defensive end Dwight Freeney said. "If you start worrying about things that you can't control, then it just brings another issue and another problem that you have no control over."
8. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
25 of 32
Last Week: 9
Quote of the Week: "I just think we're finding our rhythm. I think we’re gaining continuity with the mix of guys who are playing. The young guys are growing up."
The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't been built around their defense for quite some time. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the offense drive the team's success. However, the defense is starting to come together at the right time.
"I think it's about the cohesion, and the guys are gaining rhythm in that way, in terms of not only knowing what they’re doing but knowing what’s going on around them," head coach Mike Tomlin said, per Bob Labriola of the team's official site. "That allows them to play harder and faster, and that’s what we need. That produces the atmosphere where big things happen for us."
In Sunday's 24-14 victory over the New York Giants, Pittsburgh's defense held Eli Manning and Co. to 234 yards. The unit also added to its burgeoning sack total. After managing only 13 through the first nine weeks, the Steelers doubled that number over the last three.
With the team's young defenders and top three draft picks—Sean Davis, Artie Burns and Javon Hargrave—gaining confidence with each passing week, the Steelers can continue to improve as they make their postseason push.
7. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
26 of 32
Last Week: 8
Quote of the Week: "I'll tell you what, if we win the AFC North, we'll do (the Dab) then. Is that good? Is that fair? Let's make it worthwhile."
Sometimes a team needs extra incentive to achieve its goals. A head coach making a fool of himself usually provides plenty of enticement.
With the Baltimore Ravens tied atop the AFC North with the Pittsburgh Steelers at 7-5 overall, head coach John Harbaugh decided to make things a little more interesting, per ESPN.com's Jamison Hensley.
It may seem stupid to some, but a little extra motivation can't hurt.
"We like the fact that we're in it," Harbaugh said. "I like the fact that we're in a fight for the division championship. ... That's our starting point for everything we set out to accomplish."
Baltimore is coming together at the right time, too. Joe Flacco put together his best game in two years during the team's 38-6 victory over the Miami Dolphins. The offensive line and secondary are healthy. Mike Wallace, Breshad Perriman and Dennis Pitta are legitimate targets. And the team's defense is ranked No. 1 overall.
The Ravens have a good chance to see their coach dancing into the playoffs.
6. Gary Kubiak, Denver Broncos
27 of 32
Last Week: 7
Quote of the Week: "It wasn't beautiful. But it was freaking beautiful to me."
Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak has a bit of a mess on his hands. But as long as he continues to win games, he doesn't care, per Denver ABC 7's Troy E. Renck.
The Broncos managed an ugly 20-10 victory Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team moved to 8-4 despite terrible quarterback play.
First-round pick Paxton Lynch started his second contest as regular first-teamer Trevor Siemian dealt with a sprained left foot. The rookie completed 50 percent of his passes for 104 yards and no touchdowns.
Kubiak expects Siemian to return this weekend against the Tennessee Titans.
"He's out of the boot. He's doing a lot better," Kubiak said Monday of Siemian. "Hoping he plays. Learning how to stay healthy, it's an art, in a lot of ways. Learning how to protect yourself, get rid of the ball."
This team already proved it doesn't need much from the quarterback position, but improved play can make the job much easier on the league's fifth-ranked defense. Plus, the Broncos' schedule gets significantly harder over the final quarter of the season. Denver's final four opponents own a 35-13 record.
5. Jack Del Rio, Oakland Raiders
28 of 32
Last Week: 5
Quote of the Week: "This football team can be special. Let's just keep stacking wins together."
Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio doesn't want his team to be satisfied with its 10-2 record, per the team's Twitter feed. But the Raiders are already special.
Derek Carr is a legitimate MVP candidate, and Khalil Mack is a game-wrecker. In fact, the Oakland crowd started chanting M-V-P for Mack after he managed a strip-sack against Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
"Was (Golden State Warriors point guard) Steph Curry here?” Mack joked, per ESPN.com's Paul Gutierrez. "Man, I just got to keep balling out there and make plays."
Meanwhile, the offense rallied from a 24-9 deficit with four unanswered touchdowns to secure a 38-24 victory.
"Man, the offense really did a great job, and the whole team did," Mack said. "The offense was special and rolling. Twenty-nine unanswered points is special."
Thanks to the league's fifth-ranked offense and a monster lurking on defense, the Raiders are one of the best teams in football.
4. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
29 of 32
Last Week: 4
Quote of the Week: "If I even hear something that even rhymes with the (fake punt) call, I'm just going to go with it. I was just worried about catching the snap. I just knew it was going to be a great play."
A well-timed trick play can make a world of difference in a contest. Very few decisions are as obvious or as open to ridicule if they don't work.
Fortunately for Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, he called a fake punt at the perfect juncture in Sunday's 29-28 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
When Reid made the decision, wide receiver Albert Wilson, who acts as the team's up-back, knew what he had in front of him, per ESPN.com's Adam Teicher. Wilson took the snap and scampered 55 yards for a touchdown to take a 27-16 lead.
"We practiced it throughout the week," long snapper James Winchester said. "If we get the look we want, we run it and thankfully everything came together."
A perfect call at the right time became a big reason why the Chiefs are now 9-3 and still in contention for an AFC West title.
3. Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks
30 of 32
Last Week: 3
Quote of the Week: "Earl's been a fixture here for a long time. He had missed two games in his life playing football. We're going to miss him enormously."
Sometimes a win can turn into a loss. The Seattle Seahawks crushed the Carolina Panthers 40-7 on Sunday, but the team didn't come away unscathed.
Seahawks safety Earl Thomas suffered a broken tibia and his season is over, per John Boyle of the team's official site. Since his selection in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft, Thomas has redefined the Seahawks defense. His sideline-to-sideline presence helped the Legion of Boom evolve.
Of course, his absence is an enormous loss, as head coach Pete Carroll stated, per ESPN.com's Sheil Kapadia.
"We're all going to miss the heck out of Earl because we love having that guy back there, but we don't get to," Carroll said. "Steven (Terrell) will step up, and we'll count on him to come through for us."
Thomas is the game's best free safety and a one-of-a-kind playmaker along the back line of Seattle's defense. With the team's reliance on a single-high safety, the entire unit could take a step back.
2. Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys
31 of 32
Last Week: 2
Quote of the Week: "It might be my favorite win out of the 11 we've had this year. When we scratch, we claw, we fight—damn good job. Damn good job."
Most coaches state every game is the same; none is more important than another. Jason Garrett isn't most coaches, and he expressed his glee after winning 17-15 against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, per the Dallas Morning News.
"Day 1 in training camp we showed up in Oxnard, you walked into a room, there was a 'Fight' T-shirt. There was a 'Fight' sweatshirt lying on your bed," Garrett said in the locker room after the contest. "That's what this was."
Nothing came easy against the Vikings' stingy defense. Minnesota even built a 9-7 lead one minute into the fourth quarter. Yet the Cowboys didn't back down, and they responded with 10 unanswered points. More importantly, the defense stood tall late when Minnesota needed a two-point conversion to tie the game.
The way Dallas finished the game followed a trend established throughout the season: The Cowboys are a fourth-quarter team. The defense, in particular, continues to make plays when they're needed the most. In fact, 10 of the team's 11 forced turnovers have come in the second half. Six of those have occurred during the final frame.
The Cowboys aren't just talented; they're resilient. Garrett should be proud of their performance.
1. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
32 of 32
Last Week: 1
Quote of the Week: “Tom breaking the record, that’s what it is all about. That’s a quarterback's job. To win."
The New England Patriots win a lot—that's the expectation head coach Bill Belichick puts on the team, per the Boston Herald's Ron Borges. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams agreed on a two-year contract extension with head coach Jeff Fisher this past offseason.
What does Fisher's new contract have to do with the Patriots? It's an opportunity to show how successful Belichick has been during his career.
"Bill Belichick has been to the Super Bowl as many times as Jeff Fisher has been to the playoffs in the same amount of years," WEEI's Rich Keefe tweeted.
Plus, the Patriots pummeled Fisher's Rams 26-10 Sunday as Tom Brady became the NFL's all-time leader in victories among quarterbacks with 201.
"That's a record that I don't think will ever be broken," running back LeGarrette Blount said, per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com). "He'll continue to build on it, I'm sure."
In that time, Belichick and Brady have dominated the Rams.
"Bill Belichick vs. Jeff Fisher point total over the last 10 quarters between their teams: 118-7," Pro Football Talk tweeted.
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