NFL Head Coach Power Rankings Heading into Week 15
As the temperature gets colder, the NFL season is heating up with only three weeks left to play.
Snow-swept fields provided the backdrop for intrigue this past weekend. In Buffalo, Rex Ryan's tenure as the Bills head coach might be coming to an end after another loss. Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers established their dominance. Hue Jackson and the Cleveland Browns continue their "perfect" season at 0-13 overall. And Marvin Lewis led the Cincinnati Bengals to a much-needed victory.
All four of these teams dealt with the wintry conditions Sunday yet left with completely different forecasts.
At this juncture, one outcome can propel a team toward the playoffs or start the decent into seasonal depression. A coaching staff's ability to have its team mentally prepared for the conditions and situation can be delicate as seasons hang in the balance.
A total of 19 teams are entrenched in the playoff picture or within one game of a potential postseason berth.
The league's home stretch should provide plenty of excitement since the majority of teams will face division foes to determine where they stand. Some are positioned better than others, with the league's best head coaches prepared for any scenario.
Click through the slideshow to find out where each of the 32 coaches fall this week.
32. Jeff Fisher, Los Angeles Rams
1 of 32
Last Week: 27
Quote of the Week: "The Los Angeles Rams have relieved Jeff Fisher from head coaching duties."
The first domino in the upcoming coaching carousel fell Monday when the Los Angeles Rams announced via social media the organization fired head coach Jeff Fisher.
Even though both parties agreed to a two-year extension during the offseason, this became the logical solution after the Rams lost their last three contests by a combined score of 117-45 and stumbled to a 4-9 record.
The team named special teams coordinator John Fassel its interim head coach.
There is a silver lining for Fisher. On Sunday, he tied Dan Reeves for the most losses in a coaching career. For now, he'll remain tied with Reeves, instead of outright owning the record after another Rams loss.
31. Gus Bradley, Jacksonville Jaguars
2 of 32
Last Week: 32
Quote of the Week: "It's tough, man. I'm not going to lie about that."
The clock is ticking for Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley. He's the candidate most likely to be fired next.
The Jaguars lost 25-16 to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. The team is 2-11 overall and has lost its last eight games. Bradley now owns a 14-47 record as a head coach, and he finally admitted it's getting to him, per the Florida Times-Union's Ryan O'Halloran.
Frustration already set in with the players.
"Yeah, it gets tougher (to bounce back after each loss)," safety Johnathan Cyprien said. "I do everything I can in this game. When you try so hard and you don't achieve the goal you're looking for, it's frustrating."
Wide receiver Bryan Walters added, "I think we’re close, but I'm tired of saying that."
Close means nothing in the sport of football, and the Jaguars' 2016 performance isn't good enough considering how much talent is on their roster.
30. Hue Jackson, Cleveland Browns
3 of 32
Last Week: 31
Quote of the Week: "Unless there's something medically (wrong), he'll go out there and play next week versus the Bills."
There's plenty of blame to go around in Cleveland after the Browns' 0-13 start.
The media spotlight will be on quarterback Robert Griffin III after a disappointing performance in his return. But Hue Jackson will stick with the 26-year-old signal-caller despite his 12-of-28 passing performance, per Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot.
Griffin started for the first time since Week 1 when he suffered an injured shoulder. Jackson hoped for the best but prepared for the worst.
"Like I said the other day, if things go great, good," the coach said. "If they don't go as good, that's OK, too. We have to grow from it. He'll continue to get better."
RG3's performance hindered the team, yet his play wasn't the biggest concern coming out of the Browns' 23-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
The team looked unprepared and uninspired coming off its bye week. The Bengals built a 20-0 lead within the first 25 minutes, and Cleveland couldn't build any momentum to come back after that point.
Excuses based on being the league's youngest team and injury problems only last for so long. Eventually, the Browns needs to show more, or they'll join the 2008 Detroit Lions as the worst teams in NFL history.
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29. Chip Kelly, San Francisco 49ers
4 of 32
Last Week: 30
Quote of the Week: "Chip (Kelly) is trying to do what’s best for this team and put us in the best situation to win."
San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly is failing at his job. He's not putting his team in the best situation to win, despite quarterback Colin Kaepernick's claim, per ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner. The 49ers fell to 1-12 after Sunday's 23-17 overtime loss to the New York Jets.
As such, it's quite possible the San Francisco 49ers will be looking for their third head coach in two years. Massive changes are expected in the Bay Area.
"After 11-straight losses and another lost season, 49ers ownership is open to significant changes just one year into its latest coaching/management regime, league sources said, with longtime general manager Trent Baalke in jeopardy of losing his job and coach Chip Kelly hanging in the balance as well," CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reported.
Even though the Cleveland Browns remain winless, the 49ers are arguably the NFL's most shabbily run franchise, and potential changes reflect those failures.
28. Todd Bowles, New York Jets
5 of 32
Last Week: 29
Quote of the Week: "For them to come back and fight, it says a lot about their character."
The New York Jets had every reason to pack it in over the final four regular-season games. Instead, the team responded with a 23-17 overtime victory Sunday over the San Francisco 49ers after last week's 41-10 embarrassment at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts.
Head coach Todd Bowles credited the team's character, per ESPN.com's Rich Cimini. But the coaching staff deserves credit, too. The team could have given up at this point; they haven't.
"I'm proud of them for fighting," Bowles said.
The 49ers built a 17-3 halftime lead and expected to win their second game of the season. The Jets responded to their opponent's newfound attitude.
"To me, personally, it was their demeanor," defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson said. "(They) just felt like they had the game and felt like we'd quit. We fought to the end."
New York can now play the role of spoiler for all three of its division opponents during the next three weeks.
27. John Fox, Chicago Bears
6 of 32
Last Week: 28
Quote of the Week: "The young man has continued to impress me."
In the midst of a lost season, could the Chicago Bears have found their new starting quarterback? Head coach John Fox is clearly impressed by the play of 26-year-old Matt Barkley, per the Chicago Sun-Times' Adam L. Jahns
Since taking over for the injured Jay Cutler, Barkley has completed 56.7 percent of his passes for 720 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. The Bears are 1-2 during that stretch, but the team was a dropped pass and a defensive stop from being 3-0.
"He throws the ball with a lot of confidence, a lot of touch," wide receiver Cameron Meredith said. "They're easy, catchable balls."
Prior to the 2013 NFL draft, Barkley once appeared to be a top prospect, but he eventually fell to the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round. Barkley played sparingly for the Eagles before being traded to the Arizona Cardinals. The quarterback signed with the Bears after being released in Arizona.
Cutler isn't expected back with the team beyond this season, and Barkley earned his coach's confidence. Yes, he displays limitations as a passer, but the Bears have been in every game with him behind center.
At worst, the organization found a viable backup or bridge quarterback who can hold the spot while another young prospect develops.
26. Mike McCoy, San Diego Chargers
7 of 32
Last Week: 26
Quote of the Week: "There probably were times where I tried to do a little too much today. That hadn’t been the case in previous games."
The San Diego Chargers and quarterback Philip Rivers have reached the point where they're starting to press to make something good happen. Usually when that happens, everything starts to fall apart, as it did Sunday during the Chargers' 28-16 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Rivers knew he tried to do too much, per the San Diego Union-Tribune's Michael Gehlken. The quarterback committed five turnovers.
"I think in certain times, you are trying to make a play, take a shot downfield whether it was called to see certain things and certain situations," head coach Mike McCoy said.
What is Rivers supposed to do? The team isn't very good, but it's desperate for a win. Rivers was consistently pressured by Carolina's defensive front, too. When those factors mix, the situation deteriorates.
Even worse, the Chargers lost their best player to injury. This year's first-round pick, Joey Bosa, has been a terror since entering the team's lineup. Unfortunately, Bosa suffered a neck injury against the Panthers. His status for the rest of the season remains uncertain.
Injuries, mistakes and poor quarterback play have led to another late-season swoon, just like in the previous two campaigns under McCoy.
25. Rex Ryan, Buffalo Bills
8 of 32
Last Week: 25
Quote of the Week: "What do you think I'm going to say? You're dang right I do. It hasn't gone exactly the way I wanted it to go, that's obvious. But we have three games left and we'll try to win every one of them."
Rex Ryan expects to be the Buffalo Bills' head coach after this season, per the Associated Press' John Wawrow. He might be the only one.
After setting out to reach the playoffs for the first time since the 1999 campaign, the Bills have been mired in mediocrity with an injection of inconsistency under Ryan. A 14-15 record through his first two seasons won't change the Buffalo narrative.
The Bills have been plagued by their lack of a true franchise quarterback since Jim Kelly retired. Tyrod Taylor's future with the organization remains uncertain, and his play over the last two weeks hasn't helped his cause. The sixth-year signal-caller completed 55 percent of his passes for 419 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions during the team's latest losses.
"Definitely didn't play my best (against the Pittsburgh Steelers)," Taylor said. "I let the team down a couple of plays, but gotta move forward."
Taylor hasn't played well, but the defense should be embarrassed after Sunday's 27-20 loss. Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell ran roughshod over Ryan's defense to the tune of 236 yards. The Bills aren't just losing. They're being dominated in certain areas.
It's no surprise this season hasn't gone the way Ryan wanted it to, because the Bills aren't very good.
24. Chuck Pagano, Indianapolis Colts
9 of 32
Last Week: 24
Quote of the Week: "I don’t have a crystal ball; none of those guys have a crystal ball," Pagano said. "I don’t know what is going to happen."
None of us know exactly what will happen, as Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano said, per ESPN.com's Mike Wells. But the odds aren't in the Colts' favor to win a division crown or earn a playoff berth.
Furthermore, the team has gotten progressively worse under Pagano's supervision. At 6-7, Indianapolis could finish with a sub-.500 record for the first time since Peyton Manning suffered a neck injury and before Andrew Luck became the franchise's latest savior.
"It's hard to sort of digest big implications and I think as players, we don't," Luck said, per 247Sports.com's Kirk Larrabee. "So we know we have to go out and take care of our business. There's a little bit of hoping involved but we still have to take care of business."
Three teams—the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans—own better records than the Colts, and they're still trying to earn one of the final playoff spots.
Sunday's 22-17 loss to the Houston Texans could prove to be the final nail in the coffin to this season and, possibly, Pagano's time in Indianapolis.
"We laid down. It's that simple," receiver T.Y. Hilton said, per Wells. "Guys didn't make plays that were supposed to make plays."
23. Doug Pederson, Philadelphia Eagles
10 of 32
Last Week: 20
Quote of the Week: "I thought Carson (Wentz had) probably his best game of the year, quite honestly, just the way he hung in there, battled the adversity."
Since falling to 5-8 after Sunday's 27-22 loss to the Washington Redskins, the Philadelphia Eagles' season boiled down to one factor: the development of rookie quarterback Carson Wentz.
After a strong start, Wentz experienced the ups and down expected of a first-year signal-caller. He threw seven touchdowns with only one interception through his initial five games. The North Dakota State product added seven more touchdowns and 14 turnovers during the following eight contests.
Despite the team's latest loss, head coach Doug Pederson still saw the potential in Wentz's performance, per the Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane.
His teammates saw it, too, after Wentz was sacked five times and hit on 10 more occasions. The 23-year-old still threw for 314 yards.
"He's tough as nails," wide receiver Jordan Matthews said. "He's the guy and I know everybody in here wants him to be the guy and they look at him like that. I don't want to take it for granted that he's a tough quarterback."
Even in losses, Wentz can perform well and display growth as a player. That's all the Eagles can ask for at this point.
22. Bill O'Brien, Houston Texans
11 of 32
Last Week: 22
Quote of the Week: "Needs to do it every week. We’re going to need him bad down the stretch here."
The Houston Texans' Jadeveon Clowney, a former No. 1 overall pick, provided the biggest play of his young career with a strip-sack during Sunday's 22-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. As good as the play was, Texans head coach Bill O'Brien wants the mega-talented edge-defender to make more with the team's season on the line, per ESPN.com's Sarah Barshop.
Since being selected in the 2014 draft, Clowney missed 16 regular-season contests due to injury. In fact, he just returned to the lineup after missing the previous week's meeting with Green Bay Packers due to wrist and elbow injuries.
"My confidence has been high since I got here, really," Clowney said, per Barshop. "Injuries kind of held me back since I got here, but I always knew I could play in this league and be a good player for the Texans. I just had to get healthy and just go out there and show it on the field."
Some could argue Clowney has been a disappointment—but not any longer. He leads Houston's defense with nine tackles for loss and is tied for second with four sacks.
"He's an extraordinary player and can make big plays when we need them," Texans owner Bob McNair said.
If Houston is going to claim another AFC South crown and a playoff berth, O'Brien will ride Clowney and his defense into the postseason.
21. Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers
12 of 32
Last Week: 21
Quote of the Week: "(Josh Norman is) stubborn and hard-headed, but he's a heck of a talent."
Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera and his team will downplay the significance of playing against cornerback Josh Norman this week, but the story will headline Monday's meeting with the Washington Redskins.
After all, the Panthers released Norman from his franchise tag following the defensive back's All-Pro campaign.
Rivera acknowledged how good his ex-player is, per the Charlotte Observer's Joe Person, but he didn't go into the organization's decision to let him leave.
"That's a Dave (Gettleman) question," Rivera responded by deferring to the team's general manager, per Person.
At this point, the 5-8 Panthers don't have much to play for. But taking away bragging rights from a former player, who is quite outspoken, should top the list.
20. Mike Mularkey, Tennessee Titans
13 of 32
Last Week: 23
Quote of the Week: "We just beat the Super Bowl champions. Yeah, I think we earned a lot of respect."
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan is a lot of things: He's hot-tempered, a very good blocker and willing to speak his mind. When it came to Sunday's 13-10 victory over the Denver Broncos, he was also correct in his assessment, per ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky.
"It's not for me to say whether we deserve respect," Lewan added. "But we sure as hell showed something."
The Broncos aren't the same team they were a year ago, but they're still counted among the AFC's better squads and their defense remains topnotch. The Titans showed they don't need big games from quarterback Marcus Mariota or tight end Delanie Walker to win. This team is more complete than it's given credit.
"We had to grind it out a little more on offense, make plays when we needed to and guys did," Mariota said. "Again, hats off to the defense, they deserve a lot of credit for this victory and it just says a lot about this team."
During his previous two stops, head coach Mike Mularkey wasn't able to build an identity for his teams, but his current squad believes in its approach. As such, the Titans sit at 7-6 overall—tied with the Houston Texans, who own the tiebreaker—with a chance to capture an AFC South divisional crown.
19. Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
14 of 32
Last Week: 19
Quote of the Week: "We play because this is our job and we love to do it. There are tough times, there are tough moments. But I think there are some things that we want to see from ourselves in the last three weeks and that is important."
New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees sounds resigned to his fate, per ESPN.com's Rick Brown. The team is 5-8 and on the precipice of finishing under .500 for a third-straight season.
Any hope of a playoff appearance is slim at best.
"It's one of the challenging things that we do," head coach Sean Payton said, per Brown. "They'll handle it the right way. Obviously it's frustrating. It's disappointing."
Payton has built a lot of goodwill with his role in the community and a Super Bowl win. But the team's only championship came seven years ago, and its play slowly regressed over the last four years.
"As a man you have to look yourself in the mirror and say, 'I'm out here for our pride, we're out here as a team,'" cornerback Sterling Moore said. "No matter what it is I still want to go out and fight for the guys in this locker room."
With three games left to play, a continued downward spiral should bring Payton's status into question.
18. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals
15 of 32
Last Week: 17
Quote of the Week: "I feel like we're starting to become the big bully again. We're kind of hot, and we’re going to be even more hot when we get Mr. (A.J.) Green back. We've just got to continue to keep fighting right now."
The Cincinnati Bengals haven't given up on their season despite a 5-7-1 record, and they're finally starting to resemble the team who made the playoffs in each of the last five seasons, as cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick stated, per ESPN.com's Katherine Terrell.
The team still has an outside chance to finish with a record above .500, but the road will be difficult with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens remaining on its schedule.
Cincinnati should receive a boost this week since wide receiver A.J. Green is expected back at practice after dealing with a hamstring tear that caused him to miss the last three games.
"We'll see how he practices and see what he's doing," said head coach Marvin Lewis, per Terrell. "But if he goes out and proves that he can do it on the practice field, then obviously he’ll be back and ready to go."
With two-straight victories and Green ready to return, this is the best the Bengals have looked all season. A strong finish should be more than enough to keep Lewis off the hot seat despite the disappointing campaign.
17. Jay Gruden, Washington Redskins
16 of 32
Last Week: 16
Quote of the Week: "I think I was glad he scored, but I think that in hindsight, it would've have been the smartest thing to do to take a knee."
Sometimes the best decisions are the ones you don't make.
For example, Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden didn't want running back Chris Thompson to score the game-winning touchdown in Sunday's 27-22 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, per Fox Sports' Chris Chase. Instead, he wanted him to fall down just short of the end zone.
The touchdown left the Eagles with nearly two minutes to score, while Gruden wanted to run out the clock before kicking the potential game-winning field goal.
"In the moment, I wasn’t thinking about it," Thompson said, per ESPN.com's John Keim. "I could have or should have taken a knee to run down the clock, not put our defense in that situation."
Gruden can't be upset with Thompson's effort. The running back provided the key play that ultimately led to the win after Washington's defense did its job.
A football game never plays out like anyone plans. As such, Gruden should just be happy that Thompson scored when he did, because it worked out for the 7-5-1 Redskins.
16. Dirk Koetter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
17 of 32
Last Week: 18
Quote of the Week: "What a job by our defense."
If defense wins championships, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should feel really good about their chances in the NFC. Even head coach Dirk Koetter is impressed by his defense's recent performance, per ESPN.com's Jenna Laine. He's not the only one.
"Thank God for our defense," quarterback Jameis Winston said. "I keep saying that all the time. It's amazing."
During the team's recent five-game winning streak, the Buccaneers allowed 12.8 points per game. Defensive coordinator Mike Smith scaled back the system after the Atlanta Falcons scored 42 points against Tampa Bay in Week 9. The unit responded.
Future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees threw for 257 yards and three interceptions in the Buccaneers' 16-11 victory Sunday.
"Right now, we're a confident bunch," safety Keith Tandy said. "A confident bunch is a scary bunch, and hopefully we can keep it rolling."
Just how good is Tampa Bay's defense? Everyone will find out during Sunday Night Football when it faces the Dallas Cowboys' awesome offensive line and overwhelming rushing attack.
15. Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals
18 of 32
Last Week: 11
Quote of the Week: "Rain is one thing. Pouring down, soaking-ass-wet balls is another."
Weather should never be an excuse, because both teams play in whatever conditions occur. But the Arizona Cardinals didn't mind laying the blame of Sunday's 26-23 loss to the Miami Dolphins on a downpour.
Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians wasn't even above blaming the elements, per ESPN.com's Josh Weinfuss.
Due to the conditions, quarterback Carson Palmer only threw for 145 yards, including a pair of interceptions.
"We all had a tough time holding onto it," Palmer said. "It's just greasy."
Clearly, this year's Cardinals squad doesn't have the same mental toughness it showed in previous seasons under Arians.
"There was never a doubt in my mind we were going to win the game until we got the ball back and it started pouring," Arians said. "I knew it was going to be tough sledding then."
As such, no one should be surprised Arizona is 5-7-1 this year.
14. Adam Gase, Miami Dolphins
19 of 32
Last Week: 15
Quote of the Week: "This is not going to be one game. It's going to be longer than that."
The big sigh of relief heard around the NFL came from the Miami Dolphins organization.
While the team and its fans are thrilled quarterback Ryan Tannehill only suffered a sprained ACL and MCL in his left knee, head coach Adam Gase tempered expectations about a possible return, per ESPN.com's James Walker.
When Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Calais Campbell crashed into Tannehill's knee, it appeared far worse than the diagnosis revealed. However, the quarterback could still miss the remainder of the season.
As a result, Gase will turn to backup Matt Moore to lead the 8-5 squad.
"My whole thing is to execute this offense," Moore said, per the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero. "What is my style? I’m a pocket passer who likes to throw it down the field. ... I think if you're in there, you have to execute the plays called."
The 32-year-old signal-caller hasn't started a game since 2011, and he's only thrown 19 passes in the five seasons between. Yet, the Dolphins' playoff hopes rest on his shoulders. No pressure there.
13. Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers
20 of 32
Last Week: 14
Quote of the Week: "Momentum, it's an intangible thing—but it’s real. It's something subconscious in everybody's mind. Just the flow of the game, it helps so much."
Green Bay Packers center Corey Linsley knows one play can define a season.
For the Packers, Aaron Rodgers' 66-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams was just what the doctor ordered as the team captured a 38-10 victory over the visiting Seattle Seahawks.
Rodgers explained how that one play built confidence throughout the team, per ESPN.com's Jason Wilde.
"The energy is different; the feeling is different," Rodgers said. "Our defense played excellent (Sunday) with the six turnovers and five interceptions, but (a play like that) obviously gives them confidence that we're going to hold up our end of the bargain."
Head coach Mike McCarthy tried to push every button this season to get his team back on track. He came up short in most instances. Sometimes, players need to experience a little success to build their confidence.
The only question is whether the Packers' effort comes too late.
At 7-6, McCarthy's squad is caught in a traffic jam for the NFC's sixth and final playoff spot. However, the team's final three games are against division opponents—which places them in a position to push the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions despite a two-game disadvantage.
12. Mike Zimmer, Minnesota Vikings
21 of 32
Last Week: 12
Quote of the Week: "I'm not missing any more games the rest of my life."
Welcome back, Coach Mike Zimmer. The Minnesota Vikings missed your presence on the sideline and certainly played much better upon your return with a 25-16 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Vikings head coach missed the previous week's game after having surgery on a detached retina. He doesn't plan to miss another contest, per the Star Tribune's Jim Souhan.
Zimmer coached the game with a patch over his right eye, switching between prescription and reading glasses and looking up as little as possible, per his doctor's instructions. That's how much the game and his team means to the Vikings coach.
"That's what we expect out of him," defensive end Brian Robison said. "He puts his heart and soul into this team so we knew that (he) would do everything he could to be here. It shows that he's all in on this team."
At 7-6, the Vikings sit just outside the playoff picture. With upcoming contests against the Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears as well as Zimmer back on the sideline, the Vikings have a chance to resemble the team that started 5-0 as they work toward the regular-season finale.
11. Ben McAdoo, New York Giants
22 of 32
Last Week: 13
Quote of the Week: "In the elements, it was a slushy field, slick ball—the ball was hard, the ball was cold. We need to handle it a little bit better than we did, obviously. But to be able to stack the rush attempts on top of each other, and find a way to win the game, 10-0, in the second half was encouraging."
The New York Giants aren't a good running team. In fact, they own the league's second-worst ground game. But head coach Ben McAdoo isn't going to give up on trying to run the ball, per NJ.com's James Kratch.
Why? New York needs to display some balance if it's going to be successful down the stretch and into the playoffs.
McAdoo called a season-high 33 rushing plays during the Giants' 10-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. While the team averaged a meager 2.8 yards per carry, it allowed New York to control the ball in such a closely contested game.
"I like the rush attempts, and we need to keep pounding the ball, we need to keep stacking the rush attempts," the coach reiterated.
The Giants aren't a ground-and-pound offense, but by keeping defenses honest, they'll open up the rest of the playbook. Plus, McAdoo knows conditions aren't going to be ideal for quarterback Eli Manning every weekend in December and January.
A semblance of a running game turns the Giants from pretenders into contenders.
10. Jim Caldwell, Detroit Lions
23 of 32
Last Week: 10
Quote of the Week: "We don't want to say, 'Yeah, OK, we're back to normal,' like (trailing in the fourth quarter is) a good thing. Great, yeah, let's come back in the fourth quarter. That's not us."
The Detroit Lions are quietly the NFC's second-best team after improving to 9-4 Sunday with a 20-17 victory over the Chicago Bears.
What makes the Lions special is their resiliency. Against the Bears, Detroit won on a fourth quarter/overtime comeback for the eighth time this season—a new NFL record.
Sure, the team doesn't want to trail late in games, as wide receiver Marvin Jones mentioned, per ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein. But the squad isn't overwhelmed by a deficit, either.
Matthew Stafford's play has been a big part of the team's late-game success. However, he injured the middle finger on his throwing hand against the Bears. He's still expected to play this weekend against the New York Giants, though.
"He feels like obviously he can get it done, and also the doctors do as well," Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said Monday, per Rothstein. "Not going to talk to you about the nature of it, what happened, all the rumors and false reports and those kinds of things, but nevertheless he'll be able to get through it."
The injury is just another obstacle for the Cardiac Cats, who continue to find ways to navigate a difficult, albeit successful, campaign.
9. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
24 of 32
Last Week: 7
Quote of the Week: "It's like getting a terrible sandwich. You bite into it, it's still terrible. But you give the person who made the sandwich kudos. It was a good attempt, just a terrible sandwich."
Sometimes players struggle to find the right words after a crucial loss. Not Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith, per ESPN.com's Jamison Hensley.
In the NFL, there's a hierarchy, and the Ravens understand where they fall after a 30-23 loss to the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football.
"I was hoping we could play this game and also beat them and then, you know, icing on the cake," Smith said. "Now, we just have fish sticks, which is a terrible dinner. Garbage."
At 7-6, the Ravens are now on the outside looking in at the playoff picture. Both the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins hold a one-game lead in the battle for the final postseason spot. Meanwhile, the rival Pittsburgh Steelers are peaking at the right time.
"We know where we stand," Harbaugh said, per Hensley. "We have to win three games. We are fully capable of doing it."
8. Dan Quinn, Atlanta Falcons
25 of 32
Last Week: 9
Quote of the Week: "Vic (Beasley) has done a great job this year. He's come on, and played really well for us. I think his confidence continues to grow with each week, and it shows with the way he plays. He's making a lot of really big plays for us."
Everyone knows the Atlanta Falcons can score. But can the team's defense play well enough to make them legitimate Super Bowl contenders?
The biggest difference between this year's squad and previous incarnations is the play of edge-defender Vic Beasley. The former eighth overall pick is tied for the league-lead with 13.5 sacks after his three-sack performance in Sunday's 42-14 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
His presence provides a different dynamic, and head coach Dan Quinn understands just how valuable he is, per ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure.
A year ago, Beasley played through injuries as a rookie and the Falcons finished dead last with 19 total sacks. Now, the second-year defender is pushing the Denver Broncos' Von Miller to be the league's premier sack artist.
"Coming out of college, I idolized Von and his moves and things," Beasley said. "I definitely looked up to him. I know that if I'm up there with him in sacks, I'm definitely doing a good job."
The Falcons don't want to be involved in shootouts every week. The Clemson product's play is vital to the defense's success and, in turn, the team's goal of capturing the NFC South.
7. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
26 of 32
Last Week: 8
Quote of the Week: "I gave (head coach Mike Tomlin) a game ball because there's a lot of coaches in this league that have coached this game and probably wish they had 100 wins. So for him to get it, it's awesome."
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger handed head coach Mike Tomlin the game ball after Sunday's 27-20 victory over the Buffalo Bills, per ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler.
With the win, Tomlin reached two milestones.
First, he became the 40th head coach in NFL history to win 100 career games. What's even more impressive is the fact the Steelers coach joined George Allen, John Madden and Vince Lombardi as the only coaches to never have a losing record in 10 or more seasons, according to NFL Total Access.
In order to obtain Tomlin's 100th victory, the Steelers reverted to their glory days with a dominant running attack in a throwback contest in the snow. Pittsburgh won courtesy of Le'Veon Bell's 298 total yards.
"He's a Columbus, Ohio and East Lansing (Mich.) runner," Tomlin said of Bell, per Fowler. "These environments are not foreign to him."
If Bell remains the Steelers primary option over the next three games, Tomlin will add more wins to his career total.
6. Gary Kubiak, Denver Broncos
27 of 32
Last Week: 6
Quote of the Week: "It's not about the plays. It's about execution, it's about details, it's about some of those things. Then you have to ask yourself why. Why is the detail not there early in the game?"
Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak's question to finish the above quote was rhetorical, per the Denver Post's Nicki Jhabvala. He just happened to pose the query in front of the media.
Quarterback Trevor Siemian played well in his return from a football injury. The second-year signal-caller threw for 334 yards in Sunday's loss to the Tennessee Titans, yet the Broncos only scored 10 points.
"If you look at Trevor's numbers, obviously they're big numbers—really big numbers," Kubiak said. "If you don't stay on the field and you’re not getting snaps, those numbers aren't going to come."
The team's offensive issues are twofold.
First, the running game provided very little. Justin Forsett and Devontae Booker combined for 18 yards on nine carries.
Second, the offensive line isn't holding up in pass protection. Since the Tennessee defense didn't have to account for the Broncos running game, the pass-rushers could pin their ears back and get after Siemian. Offensive tackles Russell Okung and Donald Stephenson crumbled under the pressure. Tennessee sacked Siemian three times and hit him on 10 more occasions.
This is why Denver isn't executing on offense. A lack of a running game and poor offensive play are the missing details.
5. Jack Del Rio, Oakland Raiders
28 of 32
Last Week: 5
Quote of the Week: "My mindset is that I’m pissed right now. I'm pissed. We had control and we gave it to somebody else."
Oakland Raiders left tackle Donald Penn isn't happy, per CSNBayArea.com's Scott Bair. The veteran expressed his disgust after the Raiders lost an opportunity to control their destiny in the AFC West with Thursday's 21-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Despite the disappointment, the Raiders are still positioned well.
"I feel pretty confident that both of our teams will end up in the playoffs," head coach Jack Del Rio said. "There are still three games to be played. We'll see how it ends up."
The teams have the same 10-3 record, but the Chiefs own the tiebreaker. However, an unexpected loss from Kansas City could put Oakland back in the driver's seat. Until then, the Raiders remain one of the AFC's best teams.
"Like Coach (Del Rio said), 'What we want in our goals and what we're after, those things are still out there for us,'" running back Latavius Murray said. "We won't let (Thursday's outcome) determine who we are and what we want to accomplish."
4. Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks
29 of 32
Last Week:3
Quote of the Week: "(Earl Thomas' injury) had no impact. None. Steven Terrell didn't have a play to make all night long. The ball never went there."
As soon as the Seattle Seahawks placed safety Earl Thomas on injured reserve, his absence would eventually be blamed if the defense didn't play well.
With the All-Pro defensive back out of the lineup, the Seahawks lost 38-10 Sunday to the Green Bay Packers, and Seattle's defense surrendered three passing touchdowns to quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Steven Terrell's performance in Thomas' stead didn't have a big impact on the outcome, as head coach Pete Carroll said, per the Seattle Times' Bob Condotta. In fact, Terrell received a positive grade for his play from Pro Football Focus.
Instead, a five-interception performance from quarterback Russell Wilson proved to be the biggest factor in the team's fall to 8-4-1.
"I mean, we turn the ball over six times," cornerback Richard Sherman said. "You can't play both sides."
Thomas will be missed—he's a tremendous talent. But Terrell did nothing to receive any of the blame in his second-career start.
3. Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys
30 of 32
Last Week: 2
Quote of the Week: "I think it's good for us to get a loss at this time in the season so you can sit back, we can reevaluate what's going on. We can regroup and get ready to finish the season."
It's easy to rationalize a loss when a team is still 11-2 overall, as Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott did after Sunday's 10-7 defeat at the hands of New York Giants, per the Dallas Morning News' Jon Machota.
Elliott hasn't experienced many losses during his football career dating back to his prep days, but quarterback Dak Prescott brought his point into focus.
"You never want to say it's good to lose, me as a competitor I hate to lose," he said. "It's a bad feeling. But it kind of gets you resettled, gets you back right.
After losing to the Giants to open the season, the Cowboys won 11-straight contests.
"I don't think that with the enthusiasm and the youth and the combination of the makeup of this team that anybody’s got their dauber down in there. At all," owner Jerry Jones said, per ESPN.com's Todd Archer.
Losing to a rival is never easy. Twice is even worse. But the responses from the team's rookie stars exemplify why this team has been so successful.
2. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
31 of 32
Last Week: 4
Quote of the Week: "The grit they showed to battle through these last three games can help you and it shows a good foundation under this football team. You’ve got to do it every week (but) for three weeks here they sure have done a nice job of building something they can bank on."
Nothing about the Kansas City Chiefs screams they're an elite NFL team. Their offense is ranked 24th overall. The other side fell to 27th overall in total defense. If fans were to name superstars found around the league, it would take a long time before they mentioned a member of the Chiefs.
Yet, Andy Reid's squad is counted among the league's best with a 10-3 record after Thursday's regular season-defining 21-13 victory over the Oakland Raiders.
Kansas City is resilient and tough to overcome, as Reid alluded, per the Kansas City Star's Blair Kerkhoff.
The Chiefs are now in first place in the AFC West since they own the tiebreaker over the Raiders. But there is plenty left to do during the final three weeks. Keeping ahead of their rival and playing for home-field advantage in the playoffs remain top priorities.
"It feels great (to be atop the AFC West)," linebacker Dee Ford said. "But we're not going to take it for granted, and we're not going (to) take our foot off the gas."
1. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
32 of 32
NFL Head Coach Power Rankings Heading into Week 15
"It was a big game for us. You play at home in December on Monday night against a great defense, it was important for us to come out and play well. We knew it was gonna be a 60-minute game."
Even the Baltimore Ravens' formerly top-ranked defense couldn't hold down the New England Patriots and leading MVP candidate Tom Brady.
The quarterback knew just how important the 30-23 victory was as Bill Belichick's squad re-established itself as the league's best team, per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com). Brady threw for 406 yards and three touchdowns, and New England improved to 11-2 overall.
There is no Patriots dynasty without Brady. The same can be said about the team's head coach.
"It's like what we expected," Belichick said after the game, per the Boston Herald's Steve Buckley. "I thought our guys hung in there."
Standards are so high in New England that a 400-yard passing performance is now "expected." The Patriots are expected to overcome all of their mistakes. They're supposed to be the NFL's best team, because that's what their head coach demands.
This remains the biggest difference between the Patriots organization and any other around the league. When Belichick says they're expected to play at such a high level on a consistent basis, he and his team actually believe it.
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