Ranking Candidates for AP NFL Coach of the Year Award

As we get past the middle of November with Week 12 upon us, fans and the media begin discussing league awards. For the league's Coach of the Year award, there are three factors that allow a coach to be considered for this honor:

• Team playing at a high level
• Notable improvement from players
• Surprising turnaround from a team

Like any NFL season, the league features several talented teams up to this point whose coaches deserve serious consideration for this award. Some teams have purely dominated, while a couple have manufactured a big turnaround and are on pace to make the playoffs.

In this slideshow, we will rank the eight coaches who should be in the mix for AP NFL Coach of the Year.

8. John Fox, Denver Broncos

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John Fox never had a 13-win season when he was with the Carolina Panthers. In the past two years while guiding the Broncos, he has posted back-to-back 13-3 records, earning the No. 1 seed in both seasons.

Since the Broncos are currently 7-3, it is doubtful they go 13-3 for a third consecutive season. However, that should not take away from the team's good season. 

Although quarterback Peyton Manning gets most of the credit for Denver's success, Fox deserves a little bit of attention as well.

Fox is one of the better coaches in the NFL today. However, this year, the team has slipped a little bit under his watch, which decreases his chances of winning the award.

7. Jim Caldwell, Detroit Lions

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Jim Caldwell is in his first season in his second head coaching stint and doing well so far with the Detroit Lions. He has already equaled Detroit's win total from last season. The Lions were 7-5 at one point in 2013 but dropped their final four games, which resulted in Jim Schwartz's termination.

At 7-3, the Lions tie with three other teams for the second best record in the NFC and currently hold the No. 2 seed in the conference. 

Caldwell is making the most in his second opportunity as a head coach, as the Lions try to hold onto their No. 2 seed and secure a first-round bye.

6. Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers

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Thanks to Mike McCarthy, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is having one of the best seasons of his career. Through 10 games, Rodgers has thrown 28 touchdowns and only three interceptions. The fewest interceptions he has thrown were six in 2013 and 2011. This year, Rodgers could set a new personal best in that category as he owns a 120 quarterback passer rating.

The Packers stand at 7-3. They are tied with Detroit and would settle for a wild-card spot if the season ended today.

McCarthy has done a good job of helping the Packers overcome a 1-2 start. Week 17's match against Detroit could decide if the Packers make the playoffs or what seed they will get.

5. Chip Kelly, Philadelphia Eagles

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In his first year with the Eagles in 2013, Chip Kelly had to focus on turning the Eagles around after a 1-3 start to the season. After making a quarterback change from Mike Vick to Nick Foles, the Eagles played better and made the playoffs.

This year, with Foles returning and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin coming back from injury, the Eagles have played consistently well since the 2014 season kicked off.

According to NJ.com, Kelly said Foles is cleared to work out, which likely means that Mark Sanchez will return to the sidelines soon and the Eagles can rebound after suffering a big loss to the Packers. Kelly has an opportunity to get the Eagles to recharge and finish strong as the season begins to heat up in the final few weeks.

4. Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys

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In Jason Garrett's first three years as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, the team had a disappointing finish, letting a playoff spot slip away and finishing 8-8 every season.

This year, the Cowboys started as one of the hottest teams in the NFL and are poised to overcome 8-8 finishes.

Under Garrett's watch this year, the Cowboys have played better. Quarterback Tony Romo has a 107.2 quarterback passer rating, which is on pace to be the highest he has ever had in a season. In addition, DeMarco Murray has emerged to quickly become the league's best running back. Dallas' defense has also performed better this year.

Garrett has done a good job of coaching the Cowboys this year and hopes this is the season where Dallas gets through and makes the playoffs.

3. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots

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After a 2-2 start and a blowout loss in Week 4 on Monday Night Football, the Patriots have turned their season around, having won six straight. They hold the No. 1 seed in the AFC right now.

Bill Belichick, who has won this award three times, is a serious candidate after turning the Patriots around.

Defensively, the Patriots have played better after a rough start. Opposing teams have been limited in their scoring against New England, which has played a role in the team’s midseason turnaround, in addition to quarterback Tom Brady playing better.

2. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs

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The Kansas City Chiefs went 0-2 to start the season and had lost eight starters at one point due to injury and another due to a suspension. But Andy Reid continued to coach his players, and the Chiefs currently ride a five-game winning streak, having won seven of their last eight games.

With several new starters on the team, the Chiefs own the best pass defense in the league. Offensively, they have been led by running back Jamaal Charles, who has been complemented well by Knile Davis.

By overcoming an 0-2 start and the loss of nine starters going into Week 3, Reid has a strong case for winning Coach of the Year.

Despite winning 11 games last year, Reid's Chiefs had to settle for a wild-card spot. This year, as the team is currently tied with the Broncos for first place, Chiefs fans hope a double-digit winning season results in a playoff game at home.

1. Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals

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As an offensive coordinator and interim head coach in 2012 for the Indianapolis Colts, Bruce Arians took the league’s Coach of the Year honor while Chuck Pagano had to miss time for health reasons.

Arians’ sole season in Indianapolis earned him a job in Arizona last year. While the Cardinals won 10 games, they fell short of making it to the postseason.

This year, he has guided the Cardinals to a 9-1 record, the best in the NFL. The most surprising part about Arizona’s season is the situation under center.

Drew Stanton has started four games, with three of them coming early in the season. Even with Stanton, the Cardinals have gone 3-1.

With Carson Palmer done for the year with a torn ACL, the Cardinals should be in good hands with his backup.

Arians deserves a lot of credit for Stanton’s performance as well as how strong the defense has been. Arizona’s defense has allowed only one team to score more than 20 points in a game this season.

As for earning the award over Reid, most people are surprised the most by the Cardinals and they are the only one-loss team in the NFL. The Chiefs are Cardinals do play each other in Week 14. If Reid out coaches Arians and wins that game, Reid should become the top candidate. If the Cardinals continue their dominance, Arians will remain the best candidate for this award.

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