NFL Head Coach Power Rankings Heading into Week 16
The cream rises to the top in the NFL.
A handful of the usual suspects are once again in position to make another playoff run with two games remaining in the regular season. The New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks have exemplified on-field consistency through continuity. Their head coaches have led those organizations for a combined 41 years.
On the other side of the spectrum, two teams—the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Los Angeles Rams—already fired their head coaches in order to start their next searches.
Overall, this year's group of first-year coaches have fared relatively well. Aside from Hue Jackson and Chip Kelly, who are struggling through horrific seasons, Adam Gase, Ben McAdoo, Dirk Koetter, Doug Pederson and Mike Mularkey are a combined 40-30 overall.
The face of the NFL is changing, but the old guard still has an edge.
Click through the slideshow to find out where each of the 32 coaches fall in this week's power rankings.
32. Gus Bradley, Jacksonville Jaguars
1 of 32
Last Week: 31
Quote of the Week: "Gus Bradley has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the (Jacksonville) Jaguars."
A weekly account of Gus Bradley's woeful record as an NFL head coach is no longer needed. His status as the worst coach of the modern ear was cemented when the Jacksonville Jaguars fired him after Sunday's 21-20 loss to the Houston Texans, per a team statement.
In three-plus seasons, the Jaguars owned a 14-48 record under Bradley's supervision. His .226 winning percentage is second-lowest of any head coach who lasted at least 50 games.
"It is unfortunately evident that we must make a change," owner Shahid Khan said in the statement. "I thought it would be best to do it immediately after (Sunday's) result so Gus can step away, relax and regroup with his family during the Christmas and holiday season."
General manager David Caldwell named Doug Marrone the team's interim head coach.
31. John Fassel, Los Angeles Rams (interim)
2 of 32
Last Week: N/A
Quote of the Week: "Just looking around at the stands, how quickly things change in basically 72 hours, from Monday morning to Thursday afternoon—it's just a lesson for me that you always have to be ready to adapt and take on responsibilities that you didn't anticipate. It was an experience I will never forget."
Los Angeles Rams interim head coach John Fassel picked up right where Jeff Fisher left off before being fired. The Rams lost 24-3 to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football and fell to 4-10 overall.
Such a decisive defeat should be difficult for Fassel to forget, per ESPN.com's Alden Gonzalez.
To make matters worse, quarterback Jared Goff, who continues to struggle, suffered a concussion during the contest. The availability of this year's No. 1 overall pick remains in question for Saturday's meeting with the San Francisco 49ers.
Fassel has two games to prove he's not completely overwhelmed, but the team's initial performance with the special teams coordinator at the helm wasn't promising.
"It's discouraging," Fassel said, per Gonzalez. "The players are frustrated that the same things keep happening over and over."
30. Hue Jackson, Cleveland Browns
3 of 32
Last Week: 30
Quote of the Week: "We're putting everything we’ve got on the table to try to get a win here next week and then the following week. So rather than speculating about what-ifs, I would just say that Hue is making the right decision, that everybody should be evaluated because we are trying to get a win. It's not about playing for next year. It’s about doing what we can to get a win here in our last two games."
Left tackle Joe Thomas has been the one constant among the never-ending turnover found within the Cleveland Browns organization. The veteran blocker understands what another losing season means, per the Akron Beacon Journal's Nate Ulrich. The locker room wants to rally for head coach Hue Jackson and not become the second team in NFL history to finish with a 0-16 record.
Their prospects don't look promising, though.
Jackson is considering yet another quarterback change. This time the move won't be injury-related. The Robert Griffin III experiment can finally end. He's not an NFL quarterback. For those who think he is, his 51.8 completion percentage since returning to the lineup disagrees.
Everyone outside of the Browns organization knew this team would be awful, but their play hasn't provided any semblance of long-term hope.
"Anybody would be hurt from that—14 games lost," linebacker Christian Kirksey said. "It's bad in all shapes and forms."
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29. Chip Kelly, San Francisco 49ers
4 of 32
Last Week: 29
Quote of the Week: "We have to create a culture of winning and winning by any means. And right now, our culture isn't that. We have to be able to improve and create that."
San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly needed to build a new culture after the previous mess the organization created by dismissing Jim Harbaugh and firing Jim Tomsula after only one season.
But the above quote didn't come from Kelly. Instead, quarterback Colin Kaepernick provided the sound bite his coach should be stressing, per ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner.
The 49ers are still in disarray. The rumor mills are already churning with general manger Trent Baalke being the potential target for dismissal.
Less than four years ago, San Francisco came within four points of a Super Bowl victory. It seems so long ago. Actually, the team's 28-0 opening-day victory over the Los Angeles Rams already feels like a lifetime ago.
Kelly's squad is 1-13 after Sunday's 41-13 loss to the Atlanta Falcons and in the midst of the franchise's longest losing streak.
"At the end of the day, we are not getting the job done now," veteran Antoine Bethea said. "From the top to the bottom, we’re not getting the job done, so we have to figure it out."
28. Todd Bowles, New York Jets
5 of 32
Last Week: 28
Quote of the Week: "I was just made aware of (the video), and me and Sheldon will have a conversation very soon. We don’t condone any of that. We’re going to have a discussion and take care of it."
When can you tell a coach's time is running short? When his players are lashing out publicly like the New York Jets' Sheldon Richardson did before Saturday night's 34-13 loss against the Miami Dolphins.
"Snapchat takeover gang gang in this (expletive)," Richardson said, via USA Today's Lorenzo Reyes. "You know, pre-game (expletive). Where the hoes at, though."
Apparently, Richardson added something along the lines of "(expletive) this game" or "(expletive) this guy."
Of course, head coach Todd Bowles wasn't happy with the outburst.
"Sheldon plays hard," he said. "Inappropriate comments, should have never been said. It's inexcusable, but he plays hard."
The irony of this situation is neither party could be with the team after this season. The Jets already attempted to move Richardson at the trade deadline. After a 4-10 start, Bowles' hold on his job is tenuous at best. The two are just adding more drama to an already lost season.
27. Mike McCoy, San Diego Chargers
6 of 32
Last Week: 26
Quote of the Week: "(A reporter) asked the question, 'Are you closer to leaving (San Diego) than staying?' I said, 'That would probably be an accurate statement.'"
As if the San Diego Chargers' season couldn't get any worse, the looming threat of a potential move to Los Angeles came to the forefront with owner Dean Spanos' comments, per the San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee.
Spanos remains adamant that he'll wait until after the season to make a decision, but he's reportedly leaning toward moving the franchise.
As this hangs over the organization, the team is still expected to remain competitive. Instead, the Chargers fell 19-16 Sunday to the rival Oakland Raiders, whose fans filled the stadium. San Diego is now 5-9 overall.
"We're a team and we're sticking together through this fight," head coach Mike McCoy said, per the Chargers official site.
It's an impossible situation for any coach to navigate. Just ask Bill Belichick about his final season with the Cleveland Browns.
26. John Fox, Chicago Bears
7 of 32
Last Week: 27
Quote of the Week: "I'm not going to play the blame game."
Chicago Bears head coach John Fox might not be willing to play the blame game, per WGN Radio's Adam Hoge, but many will after the team's crushing 30-27 loss Sunday to the rival Green Bay Packers.
Cornerback Cre'Von LeBlanc will be the focal point of the fanbase's wrath after he surrendered a 60-yard completion to Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson with under a minute to play. The reception led to the game-winning Mason Crosby field goal.
To the first-year defensive back's credit, he took the blame after the contest.
"(I should have) had better technique," LeBlanc said. "Should have stayed on top and challenged the wide receiver more."
More importantly, should he have been placed in that situation? The play wasn't a result of a busted coverage.
"Not to my knowledge," veteran Tracy Porter said. "(LeBlanc) was doing what he was supposed to be doing. It’s just that he had an entire field and Aaron was able to throw the ball away from him and Jordy just made an adjustment on the ball."
Leaving an undrafted rookie in a one-on-one situation against Nelson is a flawed concept from the start. It's an even more glaring mistake considering the circumstances. If there's any more blame to go around, it should extend to the coaching staff for not making the proper in-game adjustment.
25. Doug Pederson, Philadelphia Eagles
8 of 32
Last Week: 23
Quote of the Week: "I wanted to win the football game. And even our chances in overtime were less than 50 percent winning this game. As an underdog going into this game, we were going to win the game in regulation."
To go for it or not to go for it, that is the question.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson followed Herman Edwards' advice and played to win the game Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, according to ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert.
Down one point with four seconds remaining after quarterback Carson Wentz scored a touchdown, Pederson decided to keep the offense on the field for a two-point conversion. The quarterback's pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage, and the Eagles lost 27-26.
"I loved (the call)," Wentz said, per USA Today's Turron Davenport. "Our coach is aggressive, and he believed in us. We thought they were going to blitz, and they did. It was a good call, but they made a good play."
Pederson believes in his team, but they're still 5-9 after starting the season 3-0. The loss didn't shake the team's confidence in the first-year head coach, though.
"I love my head coach," wide receiver Nelson Agholor said. "He wants to go win football games. That’s a way of life. Why not? He’s our head ball coach, and I have a lot of faith in him."
24. Rex Ryan, Buffalo Bills
9 of 32
Last Week: 25
Quote of the Week: "Of course you'd appreciate (a vote of confidence), but it's not necessary."
Rex Ryan's status as the Buffalo Bills head coach remains up in the air even after Sunday's 33-13 victory over the Cleveland Browns. He's not expecting the team's ownership group to hand down another vote of confidence like it did a year ago, per the Buffalo News' Nick Veronica.
With two games left the play, the Bills still have opportunity to finish the season with an above-.500 record for the second time since the 2004 campaign. There's also an outside shot they could make the playoffs with victories over the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets.
"I know what my job is," Ryan said. "My job is to get this team ready to go, so that’s what's important to me. I guess I’m a little more confident in myself and my abilities than maybe others are."
Ryan's swagger has never been in question, but his overall effectiveness has. The goal in Buffalo is simple: make the playoffs for the the first time in 17 years. The team doesn't even need to win a postseason contest. It just needs to make it.
If the Bills can't win out and push for a postseason berth, Ryan's status will once again be brought into question.
23. Chuck Pagano, Indianapolis Colts
10 of 32
Last Week: 24
Quote of the Week: "There's no trophies for second place, right? ... You can finish fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and everybody goes home happy. That ain’t real life. There's only one trophy. There's only one division champ. That's how they're treating it, and that's how we're treating it."
Who wants to inform Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano that there are eight NFL division champions, not to mention four more wild-card playoff spots?
Yes, the Colts should strive to capture an AFC South crown, as Pagano stated, per the Indianapolis Star's Zak Keefer. But his point completely missed the mark.
In fact, Indianapolis still has a shot, albeit slim, to make the playoffs without winning its division, but the team has to win its final two games.
"We would like to take a whole lot back," veteran safety Mike Adams said, per ESPN.com's Mike Wells. "Fortunately we're peaking at the right time. Unfortunately we need help from other people."
The Colts played arguably their best game Sunday with a 34-6 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. They'll need to continue that level of play against the Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars to keep any hope of achieving their postseason goal.
22. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals
11 of 32
Last Week: 18
Quote of the Week: "Sucks. We are so used to it the past five years going to the playoffs every year. Been a culture here. This is the first time we haven’t been in a long time and it hurts."
Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko answered a simple question about missing the playoffs, but his response echoed throughout the entire team, per the Cincinnati Enquirer's Paul Dehner Jr.
For the first time since the 2010 campaign, the Bengals won't be postseason participants after Sunday's 24-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"There were high expectations before the year to right the ship, get that playoff win and make a run," guard Clint Boling said. "We just haven't been able to do it. Been a disappointing year."
What makes matters worse is the fact Cincinnati led 20-9 at halftime before Pittsburgh scored 15 unanswered points. With the loss, the Bengals dropped to 5-8-1 overall.
"I'm always responsible whenever we don't win," head coach Marvin Lewis said, per ESPN.com's Katherine Terrell. "It's always my job. I feel like I've not found the right buttons to push to get us to where we need to be."
As such, Lewis' standing as the longest-tenured AFC North head coach is in jeopardy.
21. Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers
12 of 32
Last Week: 21
Quote of the Week: "It was a lot of 'Josh Norman is coming back to play us. We are used to that with the media. You guys are trying to get the big story. We were more focused on what we needed to do to win."
Josh Norman Revenge Week quickly faded into the background as the Carolina Panthers handled the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football.
During the days leading up to 26-15 victory, the Panthers knew their former teammate would dominate headlines, as defensive end Wes Horton stated, per ESPN.com's David Newton.
But the team's much-maligned secondary came to play and surrendered 306 passing yards to the NFL's second-ranked air attack. Veteran safety Kurt Coleman snagged an interception when he undercut a seam pass from Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins.
"That's what you're looking for (growth in the secondary)," Carolina coach Ron Rivera said. "This is a good combination of receivers (the Redskins) have, it's a good combination of tight ends. They're dangerous in terms of explosiveness."
With two straight victories, the 6-8 Panthers are playing as well as they have all season, but the effort came a little too late.
20. Bill O'Brien, Houston Texans
13 of 32
Last Week: 22
Quote of the Week: "I've let the team know this afternoon that Tom Savage will be the starting quarterback against the Cincinnati Bengals."
Let the Tom Savage era begin for the Houston Texans.
Head coach Bill O'Brien named Savage the starter Monday after he led the team to a 21-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, per the Houston Chronicle's Aaron Wilson.
In doing so, O'Brien admitted the Texans organization made a mistake when it signed Osweiler to a four-year, $72 million contract with $37 million guaranteed.
"We don't make decisions on how much a guy gets paid," the coach said before making his decision, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The best quarterback should and will play. Savage completed 23 of 36 passes for 260 yards after O'Brien benched his starter.
"It's a football decision," O'Brien said, per Wilson. "It's about what's best for the team. You have to go with what's best for the team."
19. Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals
14 of 32
Last Week: 15
Quote of the Week: "I don't think we came together as a team. There were very few games this year that we played well in all three phases, which is disappointing."
Momentum is a fabrication to trick the mind into positive thinking. For example, a team can't carry what it did during a previous season into the following campaign. The 2016 Arizona Cardinals are the perfect example.
A year ago, the Cardinals ran roughshod through their schedule with a 13-3 record and an NFC Championship Game appearance.
After Sunday's 48-41 loss to the New Orleans Saints, Bruce Arians' squad fell to 5-8-1 overall. According to general manager Steve Keim during an interview on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (via ESPN.com's Josh Weinfuss), the team never meshed during training camp.
"You know you can't win many football games when one side of the ball lets you down," Keim added.
The general manager wasn't singling out one particular side of the Cardinals team. Instead, he's referring to the inconsistency found throughout the roster.
This jives with Tyrann Mathieu's comment from October when the defensive back stated the team needed to find its motivation. This group never did find its driving force, and its season will come to an unceremonious end after the next two games.
18. Jay Gruden, Washington Redskins
15 of 32
Last Week: 17
Quote of the Week: "We were out-coached today, there's no question about that. And they played better than us."
Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden didn't sugarcoat his feelings after Monday's 26-15 loss to the Carolina Panthers, per the Washington Post's Mike Jones.
With the loss, Washington dropped to 7-6-1. A once-promising season continued to fall apart when Gruden's squad lost its third game in the last four.
As such, the team now sits a half-game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the final playoff spot.
"We're not in (the) playoffs. We have to focus on Chicago," Gruden said after the game, per WTOP.com's George Wallace.
The Redskins need plenty of help to make the postseason. They'll have to avoid yet another loss next weekend against the Bears before facing the New York Giants, who have won eight of their last nine games.
If Gruden gets out-coached again, Washington's season will be finished.
17. Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
16 of 32
Last Week: 19
Quote of the Week: "I don't think (general manager) Mickey (Loomis) would hold him back or ask for all that much in return at this point."
The silly season is almost upon us. The 2016 campaign is still two games from completion, yet discussions of the New Orleans Saints considering a possible trade of head coach Sean Payton already surfaced.
One league source didn't even think it would cost another team all that much to acquire the Super Bowl-winning head coach, per CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora.
"League sources said the Saints—adrift in another lost season and with veteran quarterback Drew Brees spiraling in recent weeks—would consider moving the coach should there be suitors, and it would not likely require hefty trade compensation," La Canfora reported.
The Saints have experienced diminishing returns over the past three seasons. After finishing 7-9 during the previous two campaigns, New Orleans is 6-8 overall. Another poor performance comes on the heels of agreeing to a five-year extension with Payton this past offseason.
A fresh start for the coach and organization might be the best for both parties.
16. Mike Zimmer, Minnesota Vikings
17 of 32
Last Week: 12
Quote of the Week: "There are times I've thrown up before games. I get nervous and uptight and worry. When I missed (the Dallas game), you kind of realize, at least for me, how much I missed and appreciate gameday."
Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer already experienced what it's like to have the game taken away from him even for a short period, per the Star Tribune's Mark Craig.
So a 34-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts isn't the worst thing he's gone through this season. However, Zimmer still wondered why his team lacked motivation Sunday with the playoffs still a possibility.
"I don't think it was a lack of effort," Zimmer said, per ESPN.com's Ben Goessling. "I think they were, maybe lethargic is the right word. I kind of felt it in pregame, and I don't know the reason."
Part of a coach's job is to motivate, yet the Vikings still had plenty on the line entering Sunday's contest. A win would have kept them in a tight race for the final wild-card spot. Instead, Zimmer's lethargic squad continues to trend in the wrong direction after losing seven of their last nine games.
Obviously, the Vikings aren't the same team as the one that started 5-0. Injuries and a downturn in play have relegated this once-promising season into a two-game Hail Mary attempt to make the postseason.
15. Mike Mularkey, Tennessee Titans
18 of 32
Last Week: 20
Quote of the Week: "It was well thought out. It was a mindset that we wanted to win the game, then and there."
Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.
In a week where head coaches made multiple questionable decisions throughout the league, Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Mularkey's choice to attempt a two-point conversion Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs just may have been the most dumbfounding.
When the Philadelphia Eagles' Doug Pederson makes a similar decision, his team doesn't operate within the same set of circumstances. The Eagles are a below-.500 team with the playoffs out of reach.
The Titans have far more to play for at this juncture as they faced one of the AFC's best teams. Yes, Mularkey wanted to win the game, per Jim Wyatt of the Titans official site. But Tennessee got lucky when they didn't convert said two-point conversion yet found a way to capture a 19-17 victory as time expired on a Ryan Succop 53-yard field goal.
"Call it divine intervention or whatever it was, but there was a belief that he was going to make it," the coach said about the game-winning kick.
If Succop missed, Mularkey's earlier snafu could have cost the Titans their season. The coach is rather lucky his kicker eventually converted the field goal.
14. Dirk Koetter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
19 of 32
Last Week: 16
Quote of the Week: "We're having some trouble in multiple spots. We've been too inconsistent overall on offense. We got out of our rhythm. We've been on a nice little roll of not turning the ball over, and we got back to putting our defense in bad positions."
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers turned into legitimate playoff hopefuls after their defense was simplified and the defenders just flew to the football. However, the Bucs defense couldn't hold up against the Dallas Cowboys offense.
As such, quarterback Jameis Winston and his crew needed to step up in prime time to prove they're worthy NFC contenders. They didn't. Instead, the Buccaneers lost 26-20, and Winston committed four turnovers.
Head coach Dirk Koetter identified his offense as the main culprit in the team's recent failure above, per the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud.
When Winston is good, he's very good. When he's bad, he's horrid.
"We saw the streaky side a little bit of Jameis," Koetter said after the contest.
Despite's the former No. 1 overall pick's inconsistency, the second-year signal-caller is still excited about the team's direction.
"We just have to keep winning and see how it plays out," he said, per ESPN.com's Jenna Laine. According to Winston, the team will be successful as long they "hit next week hard. ... I'm going to keep fighting and I am not worried about not fighting."
13. Adam Gase, Miami Dolphins
20 of 32
Last Week: 14
Quote of the Week: "I haven’t been around a team like this. Guys understand that they are truly on a team."
Place adversity in Adam Gase's way, and the first-year Miami Dolphins head coach will find a way to crush it.
A 1-4 start to the season? No problem.
An injury to the team's franchise quarterback? The coach can handle that, too.
With Ryan Tannehill out for an undetermined amount of time due to ACL and MCL sprains, the Dolphins rolled to a 34-13 victory Saturday over the New York Jets with Matt Moore behind center. The veteran threw a career-high four touchdown passes.
It's just the latest example of the team performing well despite multiple key injuries. Now in his sixth year with the organization, this is the best incarnation of the Dolphins Moore has experienced as shown in the quote above, per ESPN.com's James Walker.
Whatever happens, the locker room believes their coach will place them in a position to succeed.
"The guys love playing for (Gase) and the guys love following him," defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said last week, per the Chicago Tribune's Rich Campbell. "He's a fearless leader. He's tough. He's honest. Even when we were 1-4, he didn't flinch."
12. Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers
21 of 32
Last Week: 13
Quote of the Week: "The early indication is he's better today than he was going into the game. We feel good about that."
Aaron Rodgers' injured calf may be the most talked-about calf in NFL history. But the Green Bay Packers quarterback apparently feels better this week, according to his head coach Mike McCarthy, per ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky.
Rodgers' performance Sunday during the Packers' 30-27 victory over the Chicago Bears showed why his presence is vital to the team's success. With the game on the line, the quarterback connected with wide receiver Jordy Nelson for a 60-yard bomb that led to the game-winning field goal.
"(The calf) actually felt a little better as the game wore on and had some heat on it," Rodgers said. "As the adrenaline got going, I felt like I was able to do a little more than I expected coming into the game, so I definitely didn't take any steps back."
Green Bay can't afford to have its quarterback take any steps back.
At 8-6, the team is still pushing for a potential NFC North crown. While the Packers are a talented team overall, the NFL is a quarterback-driven league, and Rodgers remains one of the best even if he's not 100 percent healthy.
11. Jim Caldwell, Detroit Lions
22 of 32
Last Week: 10
Quote of the Week: "We work on everything. I shouldn’t say everything, that’s too all-inclusive. But there’s not anything we don’t discuss, talk about or rehearse."
Coaches don't get enough credit for having their teams prepared in the event of any game situation.
For example, Detroit Lions returner Andre Roberts made a crafty move Sunday against the New York Giants when he stepped out of bounds and fell on a kickoff to warrant a penalty on his opponent.
Lions head coach Jim Caldwell made sure his players understand each contingency, per ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein.
"I know the rule, so when I saw it over there, I knew I’d have a chance at it," Roberts said. "Made it happen."
In the grand scheme of things, the play didn't matter since the Lions lost 17-6 to the Giants, but the play demonstrated how prepared a team can be in any situation.
For the Lions, this is extremely important since they've trailed in nearly every game this season and need each advantage they can get.
10. Ben McAdoo, New York Giants
23 of 32
Last Week: 11
Quote of the Week: "It's a map of the field. It's more of a thought process than it is a play sheet."
Each and every weekend, New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo can be seen on the sideline staring at his ridiculously large play sheet. The oversized, laminated piece of paper apparently holds the secrets of all time and space, according to NJ.com's Dan Duggan.
"That's a whole week's worth of work put into that thing," backup quarterback Josh Johnson said. "It's just summarized up into that little sheet. It looks chaotic, but it's not chaotic. ... You know what you're looking for. It's well organized and prepared."
Whatever McAdoo is doing, it's working. The Giants won eight of their last nine games, including impressive victories over the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions in consecutive weeks.
With Sunday's 17-6 victory, McAdoo holds the best win percentage of any active head coach. Granted, it's still his first season and no one expects him to maintain this pace over the long haul, but it shows how successful of a transition the team made from Tom Coughlin to their former offensive coordinator.
9. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
24 of 32
Last Week: 9
Quote of the Week: "All-time worst call ever."
How do you really feel, Coach John Harbaugh?
While the Baltimore Ravens' decision to throw the ball late in Sunday's game—which resulted in an interception—nearly cost them a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, much worse calls can be found around the NFL this season.
Although, there hasn't been one that would have ruined the Ravens' season.
"I like an aggressive mindset, but that was way too aggressive," Harbaugh said after the game. "It's the worst play call we've had, and it's my fault. ... We should have never been in that situation (with Philadelphia having a chance to win) as a result of that."
In the end, Baltimore walked away with a 27-26 victory after the Eagles failed to convert a two-point try with only seconds remaining. The Ravens could breathe a sigh of relief after the contest and be content in the fact they're still only one game behind the Miami Dolphins for the final AFC playoff spot.
8. Gary Kubiak, Denver Broncos
25 of 32
Last Week: 6
Quote of the Week: "Pretty much your classic offense vs. defense divide."
A football locker room is naturally divided between the offense and defense. However, that divide can grow if one side of the ball isn't holding up its end of the bargain.
This appears to be happening in Denver after the Broncos lost 16-3 Sunday to the New England Patriots, according to an anonymous player, per NFL.com's Michael Silver.
Head coach Gary Kubiak is now caught in the middle—both literally and figuratively. According to Silver, Kubiak was forced to break up a shouting match between the defensive backs and offensive linemen after Sunday's contest.
"When our defense is out there, they're an emotional group, and they hold themselves to a high standard," left tackle Russell Okung said. "As an offense, we need to do the same. So, I think (their frustration) is warranted. We've got to be better."
The Broncos scored only 13 points during the past two games—which led to frustration bubbling over from the NFL's second-ranked defense.
At 8-6, Denver fell out of the playoff picture. Without any semblance of offensive production, their chances of returning the postseason—let alone repeating as Super Bowl champs—are quickly fading.
7. Dan Quinn, Atlanta Falcons
26 of 32
Last Week: 8
Quote of the Week: "To have a chance to battle in the division over the next two weeks is a great setup for us."
What a difference a year makes for the Atlanta Falcons.
This entire 2016 campaign has been compared to 2015's collapse. After winning their ninth contest Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers in a 41-13 rout, those comparisons can stop.
The Falcons are now perched atop the NFC South, and head coach Dan Quinn is excited about the opportunity to claim a division crown, per the team's Twitter feed.
"I think it's been great in terms of how the league scheduled for us to finish with division games," Quinn said, per ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure. "It's exactly what you want. So we know the importance of playing well in your division."
Atlanta will also benefit from facing the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, who own a combined 12-16 record. The Falcons already defeated both rivals earlier in the season. With a one-game lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, this year's schedule certainly played into Atlanta's favor.
6. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
27 of 32
Last Week: 7
Quote of the Week: "We have played that team five times in 12 months—it's not a lot of secrets. It's just technical expertise and a lot of butt-kicking, and smiling in the face of adversity."
Smiling in the face of adversity is easy when a team wins. Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin wouldn't have the same attitude, per ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler, if his team didn't muster a 24-20 comeback victory Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
"I don't see much of a change between the first half and the second half except that we stopped kicking our own butt," Tomlin said, per the Steelers official site.
The Steelers are now rolling after winning their fifth straight game and taking command of the AFC North. Although, Tomlin should remain concerned about his talented yet mistake-prone squad.
"We're professionals, you gotta play clean," he said. "We didn't play clean in the first half, so we had something to overcome, but that was something created by us."
If Pittsburgh plays to its potential, the team will earn the designation of being the opponent no one wants to face in the playoffs. With the combination of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back Le'Veon Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown, the Steelers can score on anyone. Plus, Pittsburgh's defense continues to play much better during the latter portions of the season.
Before they get ahead of themselves, Pittsburgh must secure the AFC North during a crucial meeting with the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day.
5. Jack Del Rio, Oakland Raiders
28 of 32
Last Week: 5
Quote of the Week: "One thing we know for sure: We just punched our ticket to the playoffs."
The Autumn Wind is a raider,
Pillaging just for fun.
He'll knock you 'round and upside down,
And laugh when he's conquered and won.
It's been quite some time since the Oakland Raiders were worthy of such clamor.
Former NFL Films president and co-founder Steve Sabol wrote the aforementioned prose 42 years ago with the dulcet baritone voice of the great John Facenda narrating the Raiders' plight.
But the mystique that once surrounded the great franchise had dissipated...until this season.
At 11-3, Oakland is once again counted among the league's best teams. The team laughed and celebrated after they clinched their first postseason berth since 2002 with a 19-16 victory over the San Diego Chargers, per the Raiders Twitter feed.
Head coach Jack Del Rio was the first to proclaim there is more work to be done, but, for now, the Raiders are pillaging again and having fun.
4. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
29 of 32
Last Week: 2
Quote of the Week: "There're situational plays and situations in games where there is a time and a place for everything. So, that's how I go about it. I wouldn't necessarily say that. When you don’t win the game, you’re definitely going to look at something like that."
For the most part, the season has gone as planned for the Kansas City Chiefs. At 10-4, Andy Reid's squad is positioned well with only two regular-season games to play.
However, Reid didn't have a banner game against the Tennessee Titans. His decision-making didn't work out in Kansas City's favor.
The Chiefs possibly left six points on the field in a two-point loss to the Titans when Reid decided not to challenge a De'Anthony Thomas dash toward the pylon. The wide receiver was close enough to the goal line to warrant a second look.
"He thought he was all the way across," the coach said, per the Kansas City Star's Terez A. Paylor. "His foot was, the ball wasn't."
As the game wound to a close, Titans kicker Ryan Succop prepared for a game-winning field goal attempt. Reid chose to ice the kicker just before Succop missed his first try. The specialist made the proper adjustments during the timeout, and his second attempt didn't miss.
"Listen, it didn't work," Reid said. "I've got to do better on that. It backfired."
3. Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys
30 of 32
Last Week: 3
Quote of the Week: "I couldn’t tell you what was said all week, but I kind of found out about some stuff later in the week."
The Dallas Cowboys won again despite a poorly coached effort from Jason Garrett and his staff. The team improved to 12-2 overall after Sunday's 26-20 victory over a previously surging Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad.
Even a few miscalculations couldn't override the team's talented duo of quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott.
Despite not being fed the ball nearly enough early in the contest, Elliott finished with 159 rushing yards and a memorable touchdown.
Prescott responded after questions were raised about whether he'll be replaced by veteran Tony Romo. But the first-year signal-caller didn't even listen to the chatter, as shown above by ESPN.com's Jean-Jacques Taylor. Instead, the rookie completed 88.9 percent of his passes Sunday—which is the second-highest completion percentage ever with at least 30 attempts, per Elias Sports Bureau (via NFL on ESPN).
"I thought he was pretty darn good," Garrett said, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Mac Engel.
Poor clock management and ill-timed play calls can be overlooked as long as Prescott and Elliott continue to play as well as they have.
2. Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks
31 of 32
Last Week: 4
Quote of the Week: "To be a good teacher, you've got to keep the students enthused and energized. That’s what the challenge is, to keep guys who have been here time after time, three years, four years, five years."
Despite the flaws within the Seattle Seahawks roster this season, the team continues to win. Thursday's 24-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams catapulted Pete Carroll's team to the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff standings.
Carroll understands an organization can't rest on its laurels even after years of success, per the Seattle Times' Matt Calkins.
For example, the coach needed to deal with Richard Sherman's outburst during the team's recent contest. The cornerback wasn't happy when offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell decided to call a pass play from the 1-yard line. Carroll didn't let the situation fester and immediately addressed it.
"I love Richard," Carroll said. "He knows that wasn't right. He's just so fiery, and we've seen him before. He'll speak for himself on that. But I feel very good about where he is right now. We're going to be all right."
The coach could have let it go, but he didn't. Carroll kept the lines of communication open and the two hashed out their disagreement.
This is a perfect example of what makes a great coach. Carroll listens, understands and allows his players to be who they are, while finding a way to keep them invested in the team and its overall approach.
1. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
32 of 32
Last Week: 1
Quote of the Week: "It's a huge accomplishment. But it's time to reset and accomplish more this year."
Bill Belichick's record of success grows with each passing year.
With Sunday's 16-3 victory over the Denver Broncos, the New England Patriots became the first team in NFL history to win eight straight division titles. They've also captured 14 of the last 16 AFC East crowns.
The team's head coach enjoyed the moment, but only for a second before he snapped back to his usual unflappable self, per the Boston Herald's Jeff Howe.
New England is on to the New York Jets.
"The (championship) hat is cool and everything," defensive lineman Chris Long said. "But this was a great team win and we've got more work to do."
Belichick's legacy isn't defined by division championships. Super Bowls are the greatest measure of a coach. If the Patriots fall short of raising the Lombardi Trophy for the fifth time, this season won't be deemed complete.
But this year's squad is clearly good enough to capture another AFC East championship, AFC title and Super Bowl victory.
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