Fansided
Fansided

NFL Week 10 Possibly a Death Knell for Hot Seat Coaches

By Erik Lambert

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 15: Head coach Ben McAdoo of the New York Giants looks on from the sideline during a game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 15, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 15: Head coach Ben McAdoo of the New York Giants looks on from the sideline during a game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 15, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Based on what has happened across NFL week 10 of 2017, it’s safe to say this might be the week that got several coaches on the hot seat fired.

It certainly was a day for ugly losses perpetuated by bad game plans and bad game management. Three men in particular stood out for their varying levels of blundering. All of them faced winnable situations. All of them found a way to blow it. Whether the losses get them fired immediately? That’s up for debate but it’s clear that owners and GMs will be looking back on November 12th as the defining moment for their decision to issue the walking papers.

John Fox (Chicago Bears):  Losing to the Aaron Rodgers-less Packers

For years the Bears have used the excuse that they could beat the Packers if Aaron Rodgers was out of the picture. Well Fox clearly had his “hold my beer” moment. He and his staff were thoroughly outcoached for the second-straight time this season by their arch rivals. Brett Hundley was perfect in the 4th quarter and the Bears offense once against couldn’t find any rhythm thanks to mind-numbing penalties. All of it falls at the feet of Fox, who is now 1-5 against the Packers. In Chicago that’s a fireable offense in itself.

Ben McAdoo (New York Giants):  Losing to the winless 49ers

It’s becoming clearer by the day that the New York Giants made a huge mistake firing Tom Coughlin. Sure he was old and the team was in the midst of a playoff drought, but the saying goes that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Ben McAdoo is proving that as he’s completely lost control of the team. Things hit rock bottom in San Francisco where they lost to the winless 49ers. Allowing 31 points in the process to rookie QB C.J. Beathard on top of it.

Hue Jackson (Cleveland Browns):  Bad play calling in winnable game

Most people thought the Cleveland Browns would lose in Detroit and were right. Thing is if they’d watched the game they would’ve thought the Browns almost had a shot at it. Unfortunately their head coach got in the way. Jackson cost them a touchdown late in the first half.  It involved one of the most puzzling calls of the season, a quarterback sneak from the 2-yard line with 15 seconds left.

It was predictably stopped and Cleveland didn’t even get points. If they had scored there and still gotten the two TDs they would in the 3rd quarter, they’d have had a 14-point lead. Instead they kept Detroit close and collapsed late. Like clockwork.

Home/NFL Hot Takes