National Football League

NFL Hot Seat: 5 Coaches who must win in Week 14

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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As the NFL regular season starts to wind down, these five head coaches need to pick up some wins to avoid being put on the hot seat.

The NFL playoff picture is starting to come together, and with just a few weeks left in the regular season, the hot seat is starting to warm up for a number of head coaches.

Some preseason Super Bowl favorites like the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers have been major disappointments this season. Others like the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers are still trying to figure out their identities in hopes of making late postseason runs.

Now that the regular season is almost over, let’s take a look at a few head coaches who need a win to avoid being placed on the hot seat in Week 14.

Bill O'Brien

Houston Texans

This was supposed to be the year that the Houston Texans finally realized their full potential. Unfortunately, due to a season-ending injury to J.J. Watt and some bad play from quarterback Brock Osweiler, the Texans’ lead in the AFC South is suddenly starting to disappear.

After a 6-3 start to the season, the Texans have now lost three straight games heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. During this losing streak, the Texans have averaged just 15.3 points per contest while turning the ball over seven times.

Now, the Texans are at risk of losing their division lead to a 6-6 Colts team that is riding high after a 41-10 blowout over the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. In 14 previous trips to Indianapolis, the Texans have lost 13 of them, winning their first game ever in Indy last season.

Head coach Bill O’Brien was able to post back-to-back 9-7 seasons in his first two seasons with the Texans. However, it’s starting to look like that’s his ceiling as a head coach. If his team can’t make the postseason this year, then the Texans might be ready to move on and find a coach who can turn Houston into a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Dec 4, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley reacts after a play in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

Gus Bradley

Jacksonville Jaguars

Staying in the AFC South, there’s no way that Gus Bradley comes back to coach the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017, right? The Jaguars are currently just 2-10 this season, and any signs that this team might turn the corner last season have quickly faded away over the past couple of months.

During his tenure with the Jaguars, Bradley’s team has gone a combined 14-46, never winning more than five games in a season. The Jaguars close the season out with a game against the Minnesota Vikings this week followed by games against each of their division rivals.

Jacksonville ranks near the bottom of the league in total offense and defense as well as dead last with a minus-18 turnover differential. Blake Bortles has been responsible for a number of turnovers, throwing 15 interceptions.

Considering the Jaguars already fired offensive coordinator Greg Olson earlier this season, no one would be surprised to see Bradley gone after the end of the regular season. A loss to the Vikings this week would just put another nail in the coffin.

Dec 4, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis looks on from the sidelines in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 32-14. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Marvin Lewis

Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has one job this week: don’t lose to the Cleveland Browns. If he doesn’t reach that goal, then he can kiss his job goodbye.

Lewis is the second-longest tenured coach in the NFL behind Bill Belichick, coaching the Bengals since the start of the 2003 season. During his time in Cincinnati, Lewis has gone 115-99-3. However, perhaps more importantly, he has yet to win a single playoff game, going 0-7 in the postseason.

A 4-7-1 record to start this season means that the Bengals’ playoff hopes are quickly starting to fade away. They’ll have a very good chance to grab their fifth win this week against a winless Cleveland Browns team. Still, the Browns have at least been able to compete against some teams this year, and this might be their last legitimate chance to avoid an 0-16 season.

Lewis has been able to keep his job for long enough, and if the Bengals are serious about winning a Super Bowl one day, then they’re going to have to part ways with their long-time head coach after this season is over. They’re probably not going to lose to Cleveland, but even if it’s close, it’ll be a sign that it’s time for Lewis to go.

Dec 4, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera during the fourth quarter in a game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks won 40-7. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

Ron Rivera

Carolina Panthers

It seems crazy that a head coach who took his team to the Super Bowl just last season could be put on the hot seat. However, given the way this season has gone for the Carolina Panthers, management is going to be putting Ron Rivera under a microscope.

The Panthers are dead last in the NFC South this season with a 4-8 record. To make matters worse, they’re coming off of an embarrassing 40-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and are taking on an injury-plagued San Diego Chargers team that has snuck up on some opponents this year.

Letting Josh Norman walk in free agency looks like a big mistake now. The Panthers currently rank 28th in the NFL with 26.8 points per game allowed while letting opposing quarterbacks post a 95.5 passer rating.

Rivera was responsible for helping rebuild the Panthers into a Super Bowl contender, but this season the team just doesn’t look like it has the same energy that it did in 2015. If the Panthers keep losing games as the season wraps up, the front office might have no choice but to make a splash by finding a new head coach.

Nov 27, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles coaches against the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Todd Bowles

New York Jets

With the way that this season has gone for the New York Jets, head coach Todd Bowles is just desperately trying to hold on to his job. Coming off of a 41-10 beatdown from the Colts, the Jets are now 3-9 and are looking like one of the worst teams in the league.

Things have now gotten so bad in New York that Bowles has announced backup QB Bryce Petty will be starting under center for the final four games instead of Ryan Fitzpatrick. While the Jets probably aren’t going to pick up many more wins, their players are at least going to want to take down a terrible San Francisco 49ers team this week.

Petty has played a little bit this season, but it hasn’t been pretty when he’s been out on the field. In 59 pass attempts, Petty has already thrown three interceptions while posting just a 59.8 passer rating. Many are wondering why the Jets aren’t giving second-round pick Christian Hackenberg a chance to get some playing time, but it’s unlikely that he’d be much better.

If Petty and the Jets can’t take down a 1-11 49ers team this week, then fans are going to be livid, and they’ll likely be more receptive to another head coach taking over the rebuilding process in 2017.