NFL Predictions Week 6: 5 Coaches on the Hot Seat as Season Nears Crucial Point

The 2011 NFL season has passed the quarter mark, and inevitably some teams have not achieved the success that their fanbases and front offices expected.

Some coaches will begin to feel the heat because, as the ancient proverb goes, you can't fire the players.

There have been instances where teams were able to rally around their coaches and save the season. The Detroit Lions seemed to put together a long winning streak every other year in the 1990s to save Wayne Fontes' job.

A more recent example is Norv Turner's reign with the San Diego Chargers. 

Though much more often, a team will not be able to overcome a slow start and succumb to the mounting pressure. Whether the coach is able to keep his job will depend on a variety of factors, including injuries and his contract.

The following slides will highlight those coaches whose seats are sure to surpass the boiling point and examine their odds of remaining as the head coaches of their respective teams next year.

Houston Texans' Gary Kubiak

Gary Kubiak seemed to be leading the Houston Texans to respectability a few years ago when he steered them to an 8-8 record in 2007.

However, they have failed to take any real steps forward after 2007 by proceeding to win eight, nine and six games the following three years.

The run of mediocrity seemed to be coming to end this year since the AFC South is wide open. The Indianapolis Colts are dismal due to Peyton Manning's neck injury. The Texans currently sit atop the AFC South with the Tennessee Titans at a surprising 3-2.

However, key injuries threaten to derail this once-promising season.

The Texans must stay afloat without Andre Johnson, their top offensive playmaker,  for at least the next two weeks. They also learned recently that former first overall draft pick Mario Williams is out for the season, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Normally, injuries such as these would absolve a head coach if the season fails to meet expectations, but ownership may feel a change is necessary to send a message of no more excuses for not making the playoffs. 

Philadelphia Eagles' Andy Reid

The Philadelphia Eagles entered the season with the dreaded "Dream Team" label, but have only endured a nightmare to date.

They have won one of five games so far and it is only a matter of time before Philadelphia fans and the media begin calling for some action regarding head coach Andy Reid.

There have been some questionable decisions made by Reid: The choice of longtime offensive line coach Juan Castillo as defensive coordinator being the biggest eyebrow raiser.

Additionally, Reid has continued to struggle managing the game clock, and his team has not been able to pick up first downs and touchdowns in short yardage situations.

All the foregoing notwithstanding, Andy Reid appears to have the backing of Eagles' ownership as his long tenure would suggest, but so did Tennessee Titan's former head coach Jeff Fisher.

This will be an interesting soap opera to watch as the season progresses. 

New York Jets' Rex Ryan

The New York Jets do not lack for bravado thanks to the boisterous Rex Ryan, but they have lacked wins this season.

In a division that includes the 4-1 New England Patriots and the 4-1 Buffalo Bills, the Jets may be running out of time to bounce back, as they currently sit at 2-3.

Should this team fail to make the playoffs, the New York media will undoubtedly be relentless in their questioning of the head coach.

There are a few factors that would appear to indicate that Ryan's job will be safe. Jets' ownership is known for being cheap, and this is illustrated by the team being almost $9 million under the cap. In addition, Rex's contract was recently extended through the 2014 season which means it would be expensive to let him go.

Ultimately, one poor season will not unravel Ryan's tenure in the Big Apple. He, along with General Manager Mike Tannenbaum, have built a consistently relevant team that has been to recent AFC Championship games.

Jacksonville Jaguars' Jack Del Rio

Jacksonville did not enter the season with extremely high expectations, but they are not completely devoid of talent either.

Running back Maurice Jones-Drew is annually among the league's best skilled players who were brought in on the defensive side of the ball.

Yet, the Jaguars are currently 1-4 with a point differential of -56.

This offseason they let go of franchise quarterback David Garrard and have turned the job over to rookie Blaine Gabbert.

Usually, this would buy a head coach time since most rookie signal callers are not successful in their debut season.

This will not be the case for Jack Del Rio.

He has only made the playoffs twice in eight seasons and has not posted a winning record since 2007.

Jacksonville and Del Rio are in need of a changes.

Miami Dolphins' Anthony Sparano

The Miami Dolphins are a mess, and Anthony Sparano's days are certainly numbered.

Chad Henne, their starting quarterback, was recently placed on the injured reserve list with a separated shoulder and is now out for the season. Despite showing some signs of improvement this season, Henne's offense was ranked near the bottom of the league in total offense.  

The defense has played well at times and is ranked in the top half of the league, but that has not been enough for the struggling Dolphins to pull out even one victory.

After leading the Dolphins to the playoffs in his first year, Miami has regressed each season. It culminated in the embarrassing courtship of Jim Harbaugh, even though Sparano had not been fired.

Furthermore, the Dolphins have not been able to win in Miami with a shocking home record of of 1-7 last year.

It is impossible to see the Dolphins' ownership honoring the two-year extension that they signed Sparano to last January with such intolerable production.