NFL Playoffs 2012: Grading Every Head Coaching Performance from Divisional Round

Time to analyze, critique and hand out grades to all the head coaches in the NFL's divisional round of the 2012 playoffs.

The determining factor of a team's success ultimately comes down to execution, but on occasion the losing team is simply out-coached in defeat. 

Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints 

Payton was placed in a tough spot, as the San Francisco 49ers made the Saints utterly one-dimensional, as I expected they would.

If there's any quarterback you'd like to have throw 63 times, it's Drew Brees, but New Orleans' head coach relied on the balance that the overshadowed running game provided all season.

It was the key to many play-action deep balls throughout the record-setting season.

The deficiencies in the secondary were hard to overcome for much of 2011, and the linebackers were exposed in coverage by Vernon Davis.

Not an especially bad coaching effort by Payton.

Grade: B 

Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers 

He displayed an unwavering faith in his quarterback, Alex Smith and it certainly paid off. While I was expecting more of a Frank Gore-heavy offensive game plan, Harbaugh allowed Smith to take advantage of the Saints' weakness, which is clearly their secondary. 

The 49ers head coach did feature the running game, and picked ideal moments to call stretch plays for his talented tailback. 

Gore averaged 6.8 yards per carry in the win.

He's got the luxury of a multitude of skilled defenders to work with, but the way the 49ers clogged the throwing lanes for Brees, especially in the first half was incredible.  

Harbaugh's 3rd-and-7 bootleg call that sprung Smith on a 28-year touchdown scamper was the call of the day. 

Grade: A

John Fox, Denver Broncos 

Fox has been in a tough spot with Tim Tebow under center, despite all the team's success with the former Heisman Trophy winner calling the shots. 

As if their passing game wasn't "boom-or-bust" enough, not having possession pass-catcher Eric Decker didn't help and injuries along the offensive line led to continual pressure on Tebow. 

He made no real adjustments to Rob Gronkowski or Aaron Hernandez, and for the most part, never instituted press coverage to somewhat disrupt the mammoth tight ends' routes and timing with Tom Brady. 

This wasn't the best matchup for Fox's squad, and this blowout loss was definitely not solely the head coach's fault, although I would have never given the ball to Brady to start the game. 

Grade: C 

Bill Belichick, New England Patriots 

No surprise here. Belichick stifled Tebow and his receivers for the entire evening. The Broncos starter has immense trouble reading coverages and working through progressions. Belichick took advantage. He sent a variety of blitz packages Tebow's way, leading to five sacks and more plays for negative yardage than I've ever seen. 

On offense, he implemented the typical game plan, featuring Wes Welker on the short combination routes and ran Gronkowski down the seam. 

I loved his wrinkle of handing the ball to Aaron Hernandez, a tight end who's challenging to take down in the open field with a full head of steam. 

Grade: A+

Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans 

The Texans defense did everything they needed to do to win the game in Baltimore. The majority of his blitzes reached Joe Flacco and resulted in many forced, underneath throws. 

On offense, I would have liked to see more of a conservative approach, especially in the second half. Arian Foster was gashing the Ravens all afternoon and should have continued to take pressure off T.J. Yates with the game on the line. 

Also, why did Yates fire a Hail Mary on 4th-and-1 with 20 seconds to go from the Ravens' 43-yard-line? 

Didn't understand the logic there. 

Grade: C+

John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens 

The Ravens were given a break not having to face a premier signal-caller in their divisional-round matchup. 

I always call for Ray Rice to receive between 25 and 30 touches a game—in this one, he ran 21 times and caught four passes. 

They didn't tally a sack on Yates, but their secondary sat on many of his attempts down the field and could have realistically had three more interceptions. 

The clock management on the Ravens' second-to-last drive wasn't great (called two passes took a mere eight seconds off the clock when in field-goal range), but other than that, Harbaugh's game plan was solid. 

Grade: B

Tom Coughlin, New York Giants 

I'm not exactly sure what the Giants have done in their secondary this postseason, but it's working. Donald Driver led the Packers in receiving with three catches for 45 yards. 

Insane. 

The defensive line's ferocity definitely helps a team's overall game plan, but keeping Aaron Rodgers in check the way they did was impressive.

On offense, Coughlin looked to expose Green Bay's sometimes-clueless secondary. Boy, was he successful in doing that.

He sprinkled in enough runs to keep the Packers linebackers honest and never took his foot off the gas.

Grade: A-

Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers 

It may have just been me, but did you feel like the Packers were playing as the underdogs in this one—a team looking to spring an upset?

What was the logic for the first-half onside kick with the score 10-10 in the second quarter?

It ultimately didn't hurt them, but the Packers weren't in need of a momentum swing at that juncture.

The defensive line of the Giants has baffled a ton of coaches this season, but I would have liked more quick, short passes called, especially late in the game.

His decision to go for it on 4th-and-5 on New York's 39 at the beginning of the fourth quarter was a bit questionable and reeked of desperation, too.

However, there's a good chance McCarthy simply was facing a hotter, and dare I say better, team on Sunday. 

Grade: C-

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