Eight NFL Coaches Who May Be On The Hot Seat By The End Of Week Four

Coaches spend the offseason trying to fix whatever went wrong the previous year. All that hard work can be all for naught sooner than later, though, if the team loses.

Everyone wants to go 4-0 in September, but it's simply not possible for every team to achieve.

Something's got to give. Could it be a GM's patience that's the first to go?

Here are the coaches that could be on the hot seat sooner than later in 2010.

Author's note: dousing your coach in water will not get him off the hot seat.

Lovie Smith

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CHICAGO - DECEMBER 13: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears waits for a challenge call during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on December 13, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. The Packers defeated the Bears 21-14. (Photo by Jonathan

The Bears didn’t have any draft picks, so they opted to have their draft in free agency by essentially buying their new players. Adding Julius Peppers and Chester Taylor has to lift expectations at least a little bit.

The Bears’ first game of the season is at home against the Detroit Lions. After the spending spree of the 2010 offseason, they'd better get things started off on the right foot for Lovie Smith's sake.

Marvin Lewis

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GEORGETOWN, KY - JULY 31: Marvin Lewis the Head Coach of the Cincinnati Bengals is pictured during the Bengals training camp at Georgetown College on July 31, 2010 in Georgetown, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Lewis is in the last year of his contract, and while he led the Bengals to the division title, he has also led them to mediocrity or worse more often than not.

They face a tough pair of opponents to start in New England and Baltimore, but if they're not rolling after games against Carolina and Cleveland—especially if their locker room chemistry falters with the addition of T.O.—the fingers will start to fly at Marvin Lewis.

Josh McDaniels

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DENVER - NOVEMBER 26: Head coach Josh McDaniels of the Denver Broncos looks on from the sidelines as he leads his team against the New York Giants during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on November 26, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug P

How long is mediocrity acceptable? The Broncos have gotten off to hot starts the past two years, but have faltered down the stretch under the pressure of a potential playoff berth.

Two games against Jacksonville and Seattle may give Denver a little breathing room if they avoid an upset, but two games against Indianapolis and Tennessee could give them headaches. Needless to say, if the Broncos exit Week Four lower than .500, McDaniels could be sitting on the hot seat.

Tom Coughlin

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 13: Tom Coughlin, head coach of the New York Giants, reacts during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Giants Stadium on December 13, 2009 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

It seems like Tom Coughlin is on-again, off-again with the hot seat speculation from one season to the next. It seems like only yesterday the Giants started 0-2 in 2007 and New York media began calling for Coughlin's firing.

Of course, they went on to win the Super Bowl that season, so anything's possible.They had a disappointing one-and-done playoff appearance in 2008, and after starting 5-0 in 2009, they finished 8-8, so the hot seat could already be warming up for Coughlin.

Besides a game at Indianapolis, their other three games (vs. Carolina, Tennessee, and Chicago) are all very winnable. If the Giants are less than impressive, though, expect the temperature to rise on Coughlin's seat.

Jack Del Rio

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - JULY 30: Head coach Jack Del Rio of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first day of Training Camp at EverBank Field on July 30, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Ever since a playoff season in 2007, the Jaguars have failed to put it together. The ripple effect can be felt throughout the organization, as ticket sales are way down.

None of the first four games (vs. Denver, @ San Diego, vs. Philadelphia, and vs. Indianapolis) are gimmes by any means. In fact, with such a tough schedule, perhaps Jags GM Gene Smith will be forgiving. Forgiving enough for 1-3? 0-4? Only time will tell...

Tom Cable

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NAPA, CA - AUGUST 01: Head coach Tom Cable of the Oakland Raiders shouts to his team during the Raiders training camp at their Napa Valley Training Complex on August 1, 2010 in Napa, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

It's odd enough that Al Davis observed a great deal of patience through Cable's first full season as head coach considering not only the losing record, but the off-field controversy of allegedly choking an assistant.

For once, though, expectations for the Raiders are up. A few good offseason moves including a solid draft have many wondering how high of a ceiling to expect for the Raiders in 2010. With four games to start against some soft competition (@ Tennessee, vs. St. Louis, @ Arizona, and vs. Houston) the Raiders can reasonably expect to win.

If they don't, though, how much longer will Davis remain patient?

Raheem Morris

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NEW ORLEANS - DECEMBER 27: Head coach Raheem Morris of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walks on the sidelines during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on December 27, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty

The Buccaneers went 3-13 in Raheem Morris' first year as head coach. At the end of the season, many speculated that he was on the hot seat, but Bucs GM Mark Dominik and the Glazers elected to keep him on for the 2010 season.

Tampa Bay's first four games of the season (vs. Cleveland, @ Carolina, vs. Pittsburgh, and @ Cincinnati) come against some tough competition, but will Tampa Bay's front office and fans embrace a repeat of last year's slow start?

Rex Ryan

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INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 24: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets calls out in the first quarter against the Indianapolis Colts during the AFC Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 24, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Ge

Expectations are soaring so high for the Jets this season that one could almost forget that this was a team that was almost out of the playoffs and got two gimmes at the end of the season to sneak in. Perhaps all the added star power could be contributing to that?

Whatever the reason, there's no denying that New York's first four games (vs. Baltimore and New England, @ Miami and Buffalo) should all prove to be slugfests (excluding Buffalo, most likely). 

The Jets have gone all-in with their offseason moves. With such high expectations, will 2-2 be acceptable? Will 1-3?