NFL Head Coach Hot Seat: Coughlin On the Rise Again
By Erik Lambert
Dec 15, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin looks on against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
It took a little longer than expected by the list is quickly filling with head coaches who are stepping into seriously hot water as far as their NFL jobs are concerned. Who are the latest names to note?
Dennis Allen – Oakland Raiders – Seat: Hot
There was an underlying feeling that it would take some patience before the Oakland Raiders got things turned around but apparently that has gone out the window. Dennis Allen has burned away all the good will he had left as his defense got torched for 56 points by Alex Smith and Jamaal Charles. At home no less. It almost tops the game where they allowed Nick Foles to throw seven touchdown passes. The bottom line is the Raiders still aren’t winning and the unit that Allen was supposed to be known for has crash and burned badly. That does not bode well for his future.
Jason Garrett – Dallas Cowboys – Seat: Hot
A beatdown in frigid Chicago followed by a letdown at home against Green Bay. Getting hammered by a Bears team without Jay Cutler was bad enough. Blowing a 23-point lead in the second half at home against the Packers was way worse. The Dallas Cowboys remain on track for their third-straight 8-8 finish, and it can’t be blamed on Tony Romo anymore. Head coach Jason Garrett has had ample opportunities to get this underachieving team over the hump and has blown it consistently when the calendar reaches December. There is no question he is an offensive specialist, but the man has proven multiple times that he just can’t handle running an entire team.
Marvin Lewis – Cincinnati Bengals – Seat: Warm
Another road loss continued to postpone the anticipated celebration of winning the AFC North for the first time since 2005 for the Cincinnati Bengals. Marvin Lewis should still get his team to clinch but these constant letdowns on the road does not bode well for the postseason. The Bengals have easily their most talented roster in years yet they keep finding ways to lose. Make no mistake. Reaching the playoffs for the third time in four years is not good enough anymore. Lewis has not won a game in January during his entire tenure. The Houston Texans are out of the picture and the rest of the AFC is not nearly as daunting as last season. If he can’t do it this year, he’s done.
Mike Munchak – Tennessee Titans – Seat: Hot
A heroic last-second comeback almost got it done for the Tennessee Titans against Arizona but they couldn’t bring home the bacon. Their hopes for the NFL playoffs are dashed and their future uncertain heading into 2014. Quarterback has become an issue once again despite obvious improvements across the roster. It all points to one inescapable conclusion: Mike Munchak doesn’t have what it takes to get them playing better. He is by no means a terrible coach but his inability to solve the QB quandary and maintain any sort of consistency from his players is proving to be his undoing.
Tom Coughlin – New York Giants – Seat: Warm
It looked a string of victories may have just saved the job for Tom Coughlin with the New York Giants. There’s no question he’s had leeway thanks to two Super Bowl titles, but another ugly loss to a top tier team only further rams home that his control over the Giants has been slipping for some time. Aside from their championship run in 2011, New York has not made the playoffs in four out of five years. Coughlin has done a marvelous job for the team but with the roster in need of serious work, it may be a job best left to a younger coach.