NFL Head Coach Power Rankings Heading into Week 13
To coach, or not to coach, that is the question.
As the NFL enters the last leg of the 2016 campaign, all the coaches around the league have one of two predicaments on their mind: They're either wondering how to get their team into the playoffs or concerned about their job status.
There really isn't a plane of existence between these two points. With the amount of turnover seen every offseason, all but a small handful of coaches know their jobs are constantly on the line and winning is the only solution.
Each situation is different. Every coach is graded on decision-making and team performance. Bleacher Report's Head Coach Power Rankings aren't any different.
Click through the slideshow to see which coaches have their teams pointed toward the playoffs and which others are fearing for their jobs.
32. Hue Jackson, Cleveland Browns
1 of 32
Last Week: 32
Quote of the Week: "Do I ever get disappointed and frustrated? Yes, I don't want you guys to feel like I don't. I don't want you guys to think I don't get mad or sad or disappointed. I go through all of those emotions. But at the same, I know what I signed up for. I know through our injuries and the things we have been through this season, where we are and where we are trying to go."
The Cleveland Browns' "perfect" season remains intact after Sunday's 27-13 loss to the New York Giants. Hue Jackson's squad is now 0-12, and the head coach doesn't know exactly how to handle the situation, per Patrick Maks of the Browns official site.
"I have never been through this," Jackson told reporters. "I know you guys always ask me, but as I told you before, I'm not going to fall off a cliff or anything like that."
To Jackson's credit, the league's youngest team hasn't given up on him or his staff. They continue to play hard even though they've yet to taste victory. In fact, the Browns played their best defensive game against the Giants and surrendered only 296 yards.
"You can either beat yourself up, and I do that enough," Jackson said. "Or you can just put your head down and keep fighting and push through this."
31. Gus Bradley, Jacksonville Jaguars
2 of 32
Last Week: 30
Quote of the Week: "It's us, it's self-inflicted. We do that to ourselves. It's not bad luck or anything like that. We needed to find a way to make things go our way, and right now, we're not."
Expectations can be dangerous. The Jacksonville Jaguars haven't been good for a long time, but after seeing their progress last year, many believed the Jaguars could be much improved this year.
Wrong.
The Jaguars lost their sixth-straight contest with Sunday's 28-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and the end of Gus Bradley's tenure as head coach seems inevitable.
Linebacker Paul Posluszny knows exactly where the blame resides, and it's on the team, per the Florida Times-Union's Gene Frenette. The team can't get out of its own way, and this reflects on Bradley and his coaching staff.
One or two mistakes to lose a game here or there is acceptable. A 14-45 record over four seasons isn't. Bradley's dismissal is the only lingering expectation for the 2-9 Jaguars.
30. Chip Kelly, San Francisco 49ers
3 of 32
Last Week: 31
Quote of the Week: "We're trying to win football games. You don't get participation trophies. We didn't win."
The San Francisco 49ers might be trying to win games, according to head coach Chip Kelly, per the San Francisco Gate's Eric Branch, but they haven't been successful doing so since Week 1.
Instead, the team lost its 10th straight—a new franchise record—Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
The NFL might not hand out participation trophies, but Kelly deserves some credit for keeping his team competitive. Over the last three contests, the 49ers played well enough to win at least one. They didn't, though.
During Sunday's 31-24 loss, San Francisco came up two yards short of the potential tying score as time expired.
"I don't think this one hurts any more than the New England or the Dallas game," wide receiver Jeremy Kerley said. "They all hurt. To get that close and come up short, you think back on the all the things you could have done better."
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29. John Fox, Chicago Bears
4 of 32
Last Week: 29
Quote of the Week: "There were a lot of different guys out there that haven't been in the position to catch or drop balls very many times. I know one of the guys in there, Marquess Wilson, was playing only his second game this season. Those guys fought hard. They did a lot of good things. There were some good catches as well as drops. So just like anytime, if the result isn't exactly what you were looking for, you go back to the drawing board and you learn from it."
Is it possible to downplay two crippling drops in the end zone any more than Chicago Bears head coach John Fox did Sunday after a 27-21 loss to the Tennessee Titans, per Larry Mayer of the Bears official site?
In his first NFL start, quarterback Matt Barkley played well above expectations with 316 passing yards and three touchdowns. He even marched his team down the field for the potential game-winning touchdown, only to be betrayed by his wide receivers.
Both Josh Bellamy and Deonte Thompson dropped sure touchdowns with the game on the line. According to Pro Football Focus, Bears receivers dropped 10 passes in total.
"That's the game of football," veteran wide receiver Eddie Royal said. "There are ups. There are downs. It's all in how you handle it, you know."
28. Todd Bowles, New York Jets
5 of 32
Last Week: 28
Quote of the Week: "I will evaluate everything as the week goes forward. I'm not going to make a rash decision today one way or the other."
Here we go again. New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles remained noncommittal regarding the long-term prospects of his starting quarterback after Sunday's 22-17 loss to the New England Patriots, per ESPN.com's Rich Cimini.
"I feel like I'm just not going to answer that question anymore," veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. "I know you had to ask it, but I'm going to work as hard as I can. Every time I get an opportunity, I'll do the best I can to lead the team."
Indecision at the game's most important position doesn't seem like the best way to lead a team. But Bowles' approach hasn't changed throughout the campaign.
Although, Fitzpatrick played well against the Patriots. He completed 68.8 percent of his passes for 269 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers. As such, he'll get another start against the Indianapolis Colts, per ESPN.com's Adam Schefter.
Despite the quarterback carousel and a 3-8 record, the team still supports Bowles.
"Firing people and then bringing somebody else in ain't always the answer," defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson said, per NJ.com's Steve Politi. "It wasn't coaching calls (that caused this loss). We didn't execute enough. They won. We lost. Period."
27. Jeff Fisher, Los Angeles Rams
6 of 32
Last Week: 27
Quote of the Week: "I don't think there's any moral victories. I obviously felt a lot more comfortable in my second game, just from experience. I felt better out there. I was able to see it a lot better and was able to slow it down a little bit. But at the same time, I want to win."
On Sunday, rookie quarterback Jared Goff showed why the Los Angeles Rams traded for the No. 1 overall pick to select him. Of course he wants to win, per ESPN.com's Alden Gonzalez, but his performance proved to be quite encouraging during the Rams' 49-21 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
In his second-career start, Goff completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns. His first-career touchdown pass was a thing of beauty: The Cal product dropped it just over Tavon Austin's shoulder for a 24-yard score.
"He's getting more and more confident, more and more comfortable," offensive lineman Jamon Brown said. "It's our job, as an offense, to rally around him, to make sure that he has the confidence that he needs, and that day in and day out, that he’s building on that."
With Goff behind center, the Rams offense is far more dynamic. The defense just needs to hold up its end of the bargain and not surrender 555 yards.
26. Chuck Pagano, Indianapolis Colts
7 of 32
Last Week: 22
Quote of the Week: "I thought Scott gave us a chance, I thought he played his ass off. He is one tough son of a gun. He hung in there and hung in there and made some really tough throws and took some shots along the way. I am very proud of that kid."
Since being drafted No. 1 overall in the 2012 NFL draft, quarterback Andrew Luck has held the fate of the entire Indianapolis Colts organization in the palm of his hand. His health has been of the utmost importance over the past year. Part of the reason is the team's inability to secure a viable backup plan.
Scott Tolzien seems to have changed that opinion. Head coach Chuck Pagano credited Tolzien, Luck's current backup, with a strong performance during Thursday's 28-7 loss to Pittsburgh Steelers, per ESPN.com's Mike Wells.
"He did a great job," wide receiver Phillip Dorsett said. "One of the toughest guys out there. He took some serious shots out there. He did a great job commanding the offense in a short week."
The praise is aimed toward building up Tolzien, since Luck's status for Monday's meeting with the New York Jets remains in question. After Luck sat out Thursday's contest with a concussion, Pagano stated Monday his franchise quarterback is still in the league's concussion protocol, per Kevin Bowen of the Colts official site.
25. Mike McCoy, San Diego Chargers
8 of 32
Last Week: 26
Quote of the Week: "We have a chance now. We're back where we were, but we're just two weeks removed, dadgummit, which makes us mad. But we're right where we were, with a chance to get to 6-6. ... And then it kinds sets the stage for a four-week deal."
The fact the 5-6 San Diego Chargers still have playoff aspirations despite being in the AFC West's basement speaks to how tough the division is. Even so, quarterback Philip Rivers expects the team to compete over the final quarter of the season, per ESPN.com's Eric D. Williams.
Rivers continues to carry the team. His three-touchdown performance helped lead the Chargers to a 21-14 victory Sunday over the Houston Texans. The quarterback has thrown 10 touchdowns in his last four games, but the Chargers are 2-2 during that period.
The veteran signal-caller got much-needed help in Houston from the Chargers defense. The group created four turnovers in the victory.
"Going on the road against a team that was undefeated here (5-0 at home)—a very well-coached, very talented team—we knew it was going to be a major challenge for us," head coach Mike McCoy said, per the San Diego Union-Tribune's Michael Gehlken. "I couldn't be happier with the way all three phases played in (Sunday's) game."
24. Rex Ryan, Buffalo Bills
9 of 32
Last Week: 24
Quote of the Week: "It's been our team the whole year: inconsistency. We have to figure out how to play for four straight quarters. Once we’re able to do that, we'll be tough to beat. It's the difference between average teams and teams that are 9-2 right now. They play consistent football. We haven't figured it out quite yet."
The good Buffalo Bills showed up Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Rex Ryan's squad is now 6-5 overall after Sunday's 28-21 victory.
But it's only a matter of time before the bad Bills rear their ugly heads again. Veteran linebacker Lorenzo Alexander is right, per the Buffalo News' Bucky Gleason; the Bills are wildly inconsistent.
Buffalo opened its season with two losses before rattling off four-straight wins. Three losses followed the win streak. The team has since won its last two contests.
"You don't know what's going to happen," safety Corey Graham said. "It goes like that sometimes. (Sunday) was a day when we were able to get the job done. We have to continue to win."
With upcoming contests against the Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers, another losing streak could be on its way.
23. Mike Mularkey, Tennessee Titans
10 of 32
Last Week: 25
Quote of the Week: "It's better than relief. It's a win on the road, which we need. These are have to win games. We have to win these games to stay in the mix regardless of what anyone else is doing. We have to win our games. I don't care how it unfolded or how it ended. We won the game."
At 6-6, the Tennessee Titans have a legitimate chance to capture a division crown, while the Houston Texans cling to a half-game lead. As such, the Titans and head coach Mike Mularkey aren't going to quibble over how they won Sunday's contest against the Chicago Bears, per the Titans official site.
A win is a win, and Tennessee escaped with a 27-21 victory after Bears receivers dropped two sure touchdowns in the waning moments. As such, the Titans enter the bye week in a strong position.
"Yeah, I think we're pretty happy with where we're sitting right now," Mularkey said. "Based on our past, this is a good spot, and maybe the bye was meant to be this late for a reason."
As long as quarterback Marcus Mariota continues to play as well as he has—eight touchdowns and no interceptions during the last three contests—the Titans will remain in the postseason mix.
22. Bill O'Brien, Houston Texans
11 of 32
Last Week: 18
Quote of the Week: "I need to play better for us to win. I feel like our team gave us the opportunity to win (Sunday)."
With each passing week, the Brock Osweiler signing looks worse for the Houston Texans. The 26-year-old quarterback is not playing up to the expectations set by his four-year, $72 million contract.
The Texans are averaging fewer points (17.6) this year than in either of Bill O'Brien's previous two seasons when the head coach relied on journeyman quarterbacks such as Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallett, Case Keenum and Brian Hoyer.
Osweiler averages a league-worst 5.77 yards per attempt and is tied for the league lead with 13 interceptions. He understand his current level of play must improve, per ESPN.com's Sarah Barshop.
"Every interception really has a different story to it, unfortunately it's happening too often," the quarterback said, per Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper.
Despite the mistakes, O'Brien doesn't plan on making a change, per Barshop. The Texans are going to succeed or fail this season based on Osweiler's performance.
21. Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers
12 of 32
Last Week: 20
Quote of the Week: "I think everyone is tired of comparing everything to last year. Last year is over. We have been saying that since the beginning of the year. We are done comparing everything to last year."
Of course the Carolina Panthers are tired of comparing everything to last year, as tight end Greg Olsen stated, per ESPN.com's David Newton. But the team has no one to blame but itself.
This team remains relatively the same from last year's squad that went 15-1 overall and made an appearance in Super Bowl 50. Yes, the roster absorbed multiple injuries, but every team deals with injuries. It's not an excuse.
Granted, no one should have expected the Panthers to repeat last year's magical campaign, but the team shouldn't be 4-7, either. The latest misstep came Sunday when Carolina surrendered an eight-point fourth-quarter lead in a 35-32 loss to the Oakland Raiders.
"It's been very frustrating," head coach Ron Rivera said, per the Panthers official site. "The missed opportunities are very frustrating. Now it's five games where you've lost virtually in the last few minutes. It's disappointing, but that's the nature of this game."
20. Doug Pederson, Philadelphia Eagles
13 of 32
Last Week: 19
Quote of the Week: "You might look at wins and losses, I've got to look at the potential of the football team. Are we there yet? No. Are we heading in the right direction? Yes. And it may not show up right now in wins and losses, but I see that potential."
Things were going so well for the Philadelphia Eagles. What happened?
After starting the season 3-0, Doug Pederson's team lost six of their last eight games. According to the coach, he sees the potential to be a good squad, per the Philadelphia Inquirer's Zach Berman, but the Eagles just haven't played well for long stretches.
Inconsistency plagues below-average teams, and neither Philadelphia's offense nor defense have risen to the occasion.
"We've just got to stay the course," quarterback Carson Wentz said. "We can't dwell on it. ... Can't throw in the towel."
Wentz appeared uncomfortable in the pocket during Monday night's 27-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers. After throwing only one interception in his first five games, the rookie owns a 4-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio in the last six.
Defensively, Philadelphia couldn't do much against quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his crew. The unit allowed 384 yards with no sacks or turnovers.
At 5-6, the Eagles continue to fade and remain in the NFC East's basement.
19. Dirk Koetter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
14 of 32
Last Week: 23
Quote of the Week: "I feel like the defense is back. I saw (Pro Football Hall of Famer) Derrick Brooks down there on the sideline right before the game. I thought I was having flashbacks to Bucs past teams."
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense has played well in recent weeks. While they might not be as dominant as head coach Dirk Koetter described, per ESPN.com's Jenna Laine, they're definitely improved.
Over the last three weekends, the Bucs gave up 22 total points. The group provided its best all-around performance Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks in a 14-5 win.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Buccaneers pressured Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson on 51.1 percent of his dropbacks. Tampa Bay sacked Wilson six times and added 11 more hits.
The unit's improvement followed a decision to simplify the scheme.
"Ever since the little mini-bye, the Thursday night game, (defensive coordinator Mike Smith) and the defensive coaches cut it back a little bit, simplified things, maybe doing a little bit less," Koetter said. "(It) let these guys play faster and they've responded."
18. Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
15 of 32
Last Week: 21
Quote of the Week: "I didn’t see anything out of him, necessarily. I just know better. The message all week was, ‘Our back’s against the wall. ... There’s no room for error.’ At no point did he ever say or act differently that I could see. But I’ll be honest for him and say there’s no way (it didn't matter)."
Whether or not New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton would actually admit it, his team's matchup against former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams meant a little more than a typical meeting. Right tackle Zach Strief admitted as much, per ESPN.com's Mike Triplett.
The Saints gained 555 yards against a usually stingy Los Angles Rams defense in a 49-21 blowout victory.
"(Payton) was fired up," safety Kenny Vaccaro said. "We all know why."
Coaches are always looking for an edge. This one was personal for Payton, even four years after Williams brought about the bounty scandal and cost the Saints head coach his 2012 campaign.
"We wanted to make sure Gregg Williams didn't come back and have a good time," running back Mark Ingram, who ran for 146 yards and scored two touchdowns, told ESPN Radio's Ian Fitzsimmons.
17. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals
16 of 32
Last Week: 16
Quote of the Week: "It's hard to believe, man. I think we spoiled our Bengals fans around here. We've been winning for the past five years so having only won three games this year, we’re not expecting that."
The Cincinnati Bengals' Marvin Lewis is the NFL's second-longest tenured head coach, but his time in the Queen City might be coming to an end.
As defensive tackle Domata Peko stated, per the Cincinnati Enquirer's Paul Dehner Jr., no one within the organization or the fanbase expected a 3-7-1 record. But that's where the team sits after Sunday's 19-14 loss to the rival Baltimore Ravens.
Lewis survived poor seasons before with a pair of four-win campaigns in 2008 and '10. Those came before the team's five-year playoff run, though.
"There's a chance, in theory, that Lewis could resign," Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio wrote. "As one league source explained it to PFT, however, that’s unlikely because it’s believed Lewis hopes to coach long enough to allow his son, Marcus, to establish a foothold in the profession."
Owner Mike Brown has been patient throughout Lewis' 14-year tenure, but this Bengals team is more talented than its record indicates. As such, the coach's status should be called into question.
16. Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers
17 of 32
Last Week: 17
Quote of the Week: "The fact of the matter is this is one win. We’re 5-6. We need to stay the course. We look at this as a launching pad. Definitely a game we can build off of."
This year's version of the Green Bay Packers is hard to discern. The team has experienced multiple ups and downs.
For example, the defense surrendered at least 31 points in the team's four contests leading up to Week 12—all four turned into losses. But on Monday night, the Packers gave up only 292 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles on their way to a 27-13 victory.
Such a performance can be something to build upon, as Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy stated, per ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky.
At 5-6, the Packers are only two games behind the division-leading Detroit Lions with five games to play, including a meeting with the Lions on Jan. 1. If Aaron Rodgers plays like he did Monday night with a 76.9 completion percentage, 311 yards and two touchdowns, Green Bay is far from out of the division race.
"His positive attitude has been consistent throughout his time," McCarthy said of his quarterback, per ESPN.com's Ian O'Connor. "He's an excellent leader and always has been. It's something we will build off."
15. Jay Gruden, Washington Redskins
18 of 32
Last Week: 13
Quote of the Week: "I don’t think it could hurt anymore worse than it is now. It's one of those things where I’m going to have to go through pain for a little bit."
If the Washington Redskins are going to make a postseason push, they'll do so while two of their best offensive weapons deal with injuries.
Both tight end Jordan Reed and wide receiver DeSean Jackson experienced shoulder injuries this past week. Reed played through a separated shoulder during Thursday's 31-26 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and plans to do so the same in the coming weeks, per ESPN.com's John Keim.
"It was definitely uncomfortable to reach over my head but with the adrenaline going, when the play starts you don't think about it," Reed said. "I was able to avoid any contact towards it. I didn't feel any type of hit that made it feel worse."
Jackson experienced pain in his shoulder during practice.
"It will take time," the receiver said. "I'm not really about to just sit at home and not do nothing so until then, where I'm able to relax and heal it, it won't be all right."
Quarterback Kirk Cousins has played exceptional football, but these injuries to a mismatch like Reed and a vertical threat like Jackson could limit Jay Gruden's playbook and the quarterback's options. At 6-4-1, Washington needs all the help it can get at the moment.
14. Adam Gase, Miami Dolphins
19 of 32
Last Week: 15
Quote of the Week: "It starts with our head coach. His attitude, the way he walks around the building, the way he carries himself, the way he talks, it filters down through everybody and guys follow suit. That's what he wants: a loose, focused bunch and that's really what it is here now. That would be the biggest difference to me."
Culture isn't discussed enough when it comes to winning football. Coaches and players are discussed ad naseum, but the dynamic between those two sides can make or break a franchise.
The above quote from backup quarterback Matt Moore, per the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson, speaks volumes about head coach Adam Gase, because Moore has seen five different men lead the team after signing with the organization in 2011.
Since Dave Wannstedt's dismissal after the 2004 campaign, no permanent Dolphins head coach has had a record at or above .500. Adam Gase is now 7-4 in his first season after Miami won its sixth straight with a 31-24 victory Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
"Coach Gase came in trying to establish a winning culture," wide receiver Jarvis Landry said. "We go into games not hoping to win but expecting to win. When you approach the game expecting to win, that's usually the outcome."
A new attitude exists within the Dolphins, and Gase is the reason why.
13. Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals
20 of 32
Last Week: 10
Quote of the Week: "I thought defensively we had some guys get out of their lane again and try to do too much, tried to get on the stat sheet instead of just doing their job.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians isn't happy with his defense despite the fact its ranked No. 1 overall, per ESPN.com's Josh Weinfuss.
The group surrendered 360 yards and a season-high 38 points in Sunday's loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
"Everything is a snowball effect," defensive lineman Corey Peters said. "We started getting behind a little bit (and) I think guys started pressing, trying to do more than they need to do. I really can't fault them for wanting to make a play but at the same point, the discipline of the defense is probably the most important thing."
According to Weinfuss, Arians pointed toward repeated mistakes, selfishness and a lack of physicality as the primary problems.
"It's not anything that's not correctable," Peters said. "We're running out of opportunities to get things fixed around here."
At 4-6-1, the defense has little leeway if Arizona plans on making any type of late-season run.
12. Mike Zimmer, Minnesota Vikings
21 of 32
Last Week: 8
Quote of the Week: "I would agree that we need to score more."
Thank you, Captain Obvious.
Yes, the Minnesota Vikings need to score more points, as head coach Mike Zimmer so eloquently stated, per ESPN.com's Ben Goessling.
Since the team's bye week, the Vikings are 1-5 and averaging 16.5 points per game. The offense continued to sputter Sunday in a 16-13 loss to the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions.
Quarterback Sam Bradford admitted the game plan didn't call for many downfield throws, per Goessling. Bradford plans to attempt more vertical throws during the upcoming contest against the Dallas Cowboys.
"I think every team presents the opportunities to go downfield," Bradford said. "I think you look at Washington and what they were able to do in the game last week. They hit them for quite a few big plays, so I think it's just a matter of getting the right plays dialed up at the right time against the right coverages."
Explosive plays are necessary. Offenses aren't able to meticulously move the ball with any consistency against NFL defenses. The Vikings lack those chunk plays. If Zimmer wants to score more points, Bradford should be allowed to attempt more deep passes.
11. Jim Caldwell, Detroit Lions
22 of 32
Last Week: 14
Quote of the Week: "You're also talking about two quarterbacks who are really, really good in the clutch. One who certainly will be donning a Hall of Fame jacket, and another one who is well on his way. Those two guys are very, very unusual cats."
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell has a high opinion of his quarterback, Matthew Stafford, per ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein.
Why shouldn't he? Stafford continues to put up numbers—five-straight seasons of 4,200 or more passing yards—and perform in the clutch.
When the Lions meet the New Orleans Saints this weekend, they'll play against a surefire Hall of Fame quarterback in Drew Brees. But Stafford continues to deliver for the Lions. Without him, the team wouldn't be 7-4 and atop the NFC North standings.
During Thursday's 16-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, the Lions managed to win their seventh game this season when the team trailed in the fourth quarter. Stafford's play down the stretch is a big reason why Detroit continues to win even in the unlikeliest of situations.
"I'm just talking about he's on his way to really having a prolific career," Caldwell clarified. "There's no question, but we'll see what happens down the road. Just look at his numbers, look at what he's doing. You know, he's, like I said, well on his way."
10. Ben McAdoo, New York Giants
23 of 32
Last Week: 11
Quote of the Week: "I don't think we took a step back today but I definitely think we could've taken a bigger step forward."
A victory over the hapless Cleveland Browns isn't all that impressive, especially when a team struggles to move the ball at times like the New York Giants did Sunday in a 27-13 victory. The Giants could have been better, as wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. intimated, per ESPN.com's Jordan Raanan.
When it mattered, though, Beckham and his teammates made plays. The receiver finished with 96 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns.
"It's tough to win in this league, especially on the road," he said. "Haven't been on the road in a while. We'll learn from it. And we have to get better next week."
More importantly, the defense came to play. Jason Pierre-Paul demolished the Browns offense with three sacks and a 43-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
ODB and JPP define who the Giants are.
"It's an exciting time against a lot of playoff teams in playoff environments," head coach Ben McAdoo said, per Raanan. "The margin for error is small. This is where our identity needs to take over."
9. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
24 of 32
Last Week: 12
Quote of the Week: "It's an exciting time of the year. In our business, they say, 'They remember December.'"
The path to a playoff appearance lies ahead for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Head coach Mike Tomlin understands that despite his team's 6-5 start, it's still positioned well, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Joe Rutter.
"Everyone was down on us saying, 'Oh, we stink,'" safety Mike Mitchell said about the team's four-game losing streak, per ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler. "You just have to block that noise out and keep going to work. That’s what our leader, coach [Mike] Tomlin does, and we just follow that mind-set."
The Baltimore Ravens still hold the tiebreaker in the AFC North standings, but Pittsburgh's schedule sets up quite favorably in the coming weeks. After facing the 8-3 New York Giants at home, the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Ravens and winless Cleveland Browns follow.
All of those games are winnable for the Steelers. Tomlin's team might not have played well to start the season, but it's all about peaking at the right time. Pittsburgh is in position to do so.
8. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
25 of 32
Last Week: 9
Quote of the Week: "I'd love to see numbers be through the roof, but numbers don't win games. We need to score more points as an offense. That's the bottom line, and we've just got to continue to find a way to do that. I believe we can do it, I know we can do it."
The Baltimore Ravens defense is really good. The offense? Not so much.
Head coach John Harbaugh wants the team to score more points, per the Baltimore Sun's Jeff Zrebiec. After all, Baltimore ranks 24th overall at 19.8 points per game.
In Sunday's 19-14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, quarterback Joe Flacco averaged 6.5 yards per attempt and the team's running backs managed 3.7 yards per carry. Over 300 yards of offense isn't awful, but the team needs to manage more than one touchdown and multiple long field goals, including just three points in the second half.
"We're not going to survive week in and week out doing things like that," quarterback Joe Flacco said.
Even with a subpar offense, the Ravens' No. 2 ranked defense will keep them in games. But the schedule becomes quite difficult in the coming weeks. As Baltimore prepares for the postseason, the Ravens must face the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers before finishing against the Bengals.
7. Gary Kubiak, Denver Broncos
26 of 32
Last Week: 5
Quote of the Week: "My thing is we're going to try to win around here, and I made that decision and it just didn't work out. I've got a lot of confidence in Brandon and I've got a lot of confidence in our football team."
As former NFL head coach Herm Edwards famously stated, "You play to win the game."
On Sunday night against the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak decided to send kicker Brandon McManus out to attempt a 62-yard field goal in overtime, even though the odds weren't in Denver's favor. Kubiak wanted to win, though, per ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert.
McManus missed the kick, which handed the Chiefs good field position. Quarterback Alex Smith, in turn, drove his offense 32 yards and positioned Cairo Santos for a 34-yard field goal attempt, which he converted.
"I've seen (McManus) do that many times in practice," Kubiak said. "It's on me. I gave him a chance. I thought we could do it, but we didn't get it done. Give them credit."
The decision proved to be costly. The 7-4 Broncos are now a game behind the Chiefs in the AFC West standings and two games behind the division-leading Oakland Raiders.
6. Dan Quinn, Atlanta Falcons
27 of 32
Last Week: 7
Quote of the Week: "We are a better version of ourselves from the opening part of the season to now as we are headed into the second half of our season. That's an important part because the fundamentals are going to be on point. ... I do feel that as we head into the second half of the 2016 season we are restarting and we will be a better version of ourselves."
With two weeks of preparation, the Atlanta Falcons managed a resounding 38-19 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. After Atlanta's 7-4 start, head coach Dan Quinn expects to be even better in the coming weeks, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's D. Orlando Ledbetter.
The Falcons are spurred by their offense—which is ranked third overall with an average of 411.5 yards per game.
"We know what the offense can do," wide receiver Mohamed Sanu said, per ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure. "If everybody's rolling, everybody's grooving, it's unstoppable. It's just really hard to stop us."
It's even more difficult to stop Atlanta when the pieces around quarterback Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are contributing. Receiver Taylor Gabriel is the latest emerging star. The waiver-wire pickup has recorded four touchdowns in the last four games, including a dazzling screen pass turned 35-yard touchdown.
As long as Atlanta's young defense continues to show improvement, the Falcons should be considered the favorites in the NFC South, even with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers playing well in recent weeks.
5. Jack Del Rio, Oakland Raiders
28 of 32
Last Week: 6
Quote of the Week: "I believe that and we’re not going to accept excuses. If it didn't finish the way it did, I wouldn't be up here giving you any. I think you know that about me. We’re going to man up."
The Oakland Raiders aren't simply experiencing a turnaround season; they're just a good team. Jack Del Rio's group reached the point where it's finding ways to win instead of falling apart in the face of adversity.
As Del Rio stated, per the Raiders official site, the team doesn't accept excuses. Sunday's 35-32 victory over the Carolina Panthers provided the perfect example of the organization's new mentality.
Quarterback Derek Carr dislocated a finger on his throwing hand after the team built a 24-7 lead. The Panthers came roaring back with four unanswered second-half touchdowns. Oakland didn't back down. Instead, Carr and Co. rallied with 11 points in the final 8:37.
"To come back like that, put the glove on and lead us down and get a big win like that, that's good stuff," Del Rio said Monday, per ESPN.com's Paul Gutierrez.
The injury shouldn't hamper the quarterback in the coming weeks.
"I'm doing good, I'm doing good," Carr told 95.7 The Game host JT The Brick (via Gutierrez). "Obviously, it's a little sore, but that's expected. But it should be good. Just get the swelling down, and it will be all right."
No excuses necessary.
4. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
29 of 32
Last Week: 4
Quote of the Week: "The point is that we're not satisfied. As a team, we're not satisfied with this. You come in and expect to win games. That's the approach you take."
The Kansas City Chiefs escaped Denver with a 30-27 overtime victory over the Broncos on Sunday Night Football. Head coach Andy Reid wasn't happy with his team's performance, though, per BJ Kissel of the Chiefs official site.
Most coaches would argue a win is a win. But the Chiefs expect to win, and they shouldn't struggle as much as they did against Denver to secure the victory. Kansas City trailed by eight points with 3:00 remaining and still found a way to push the game into overtime, during which kicker Cairo Santos converted the game-winning field goal.
"It just shows that we know how to win when the game is on the line," defensive leader and veteran safety Eric Berry explained. "That's it. I'm looking down the road. That's just how I rock, period."
At 8-3, the Chiefs are still a game behind the AFC West-leading Oakland Raiders. Their upcoming schedule is brutal, too. Kansas City's final five opponents own a combined 34-22 record. Reid's squad will need to maintain its current mind-set to successfully navigate the last leg of the season.
3. Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks
30 of 32
Last Week: 1
Quote of the Week: "We did not play like we play, it didn't feel like it. That starts right with me. If everybody kind of plays a little bit off, then that's me. So I've got to do my part, they've got to do their part, and we've got to get our game back and get rolling again. I'm just disappointed we came all this way and played like that. We didn't play anywhere near like we thought we would."
Just when the Seattle Seahawks appeared to be rolling after three-straight victories, their season came to a screeching halt with a 14-5 loss Sunday to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Seahawks didn't play like they did in previous weeks, as head coach Pete Carroll stated, per John Boyle of the team's official site.
However, the Seahawks did look like the team that started the season and struggled to move the ball. The Buccaneers defensive front overwhelmed the Seahawks offensive line. Seattle's blockers surrendered six sacks and 11 more quarterback hits.
Russell Wilson can't make plays if he's on his back.
"They rushed the heck out of us,” Carroll said. "It wasn't any one situation at all. They did a really nice job, and we didn't protect like we needed to."
If the Seahawks return to playing the way they're accustomed, protecting Wilson will be the top priority as the team resets for Sunday night's meeting with the Carolina Panthers.
2. Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys
31 of 32
Last Week: 3
Quote of the Week: "Fight. It's the foundation of the program. Fight. Fight to be your best. Fight to uphold the standards that we have in everything that we do. Fight for each other."
In his seventh season as the Dallas Cowboys head coach, Jason Garrett's message has fully infiltrated the team's locker room, per the Dallas Morning News' Jon Machota.
"One thing Coach Garrett is good at is keeping perspective and keeping us focused," linebacker Sean Lee said. "I think a lot of the sayings he uses, we use and it's been ingrained in us."
After a 10-1 start, the Cowboys can't get complacent. They're the NFC's best team, but one or two losses and they'll find themselves among the pack.
What the head coach has done exceptionally well is craft the team's schemes to the talent. Everyone praises rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott—and rightly so—but Garrett continues to put them in a position to succeed. He's also kept them both mentally prepared, when it would be easy for them to be overwhelmed.
"You see what you get, I guess you could say," Prescott said. "Expecting me to do a lot, don't really hold anything back. I'm thankful for that. It makes me a better player."
The Cowboys are a very talented team, but Garrett's performance shouldn't be overlooked.
1. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
32 of 32
Last Week: 2
Quote of the Week: "I liked the way our team competed. We didn't start well, but we hung in there and battled all the way and made the plays we needed to make at the end. That's what it's all about."
After a short stint at No. 2, the New England Patriots' Bill Belichick is back where he belongs atop Bleacher Report's Head Coach Power Rankings.
Usually reserved, Belichick became effusive in his praise after his team's 22-17 victory over the New York Jets, per ESPN.com's Mike Reiss.
Why? Because the Patriots provided a complete team effort.
Even though Tom Brady didn't practice leading up to the game, he still threw two touchdowns and no interceptions. Tight end Rob Gronkowski played even though he was limited. Rookie wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell came into his own by beating former All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis twice for touchdowns. And the defense looked better by allowing only 2.8 yards per carry.
"Hell, I'm just happy to be 9-2," said tight end Martellus Bennett, who is in his first year with the Patriots, per the Boston Herald's Eric Wilbur. "I've never won nine games."
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