The divisional round of the NFL playoffs is where the cream of the coaching crop rises to the top—or crumbles under the weight of postseason pressure. With eight teams battling for a shot at the conference championships, every decision, every adjustment, and every timeout carries the weight of an entire season’s hopes and dreams.
It’s not just about the final score—it’s about how these leaders guided their squads through the highest-stakes moments of the year. Here’s how the eight remaining NFL head coaches stack up after the divisional round!
Who are the top-ranking head coaches in the NFL after the Divisional Round?
8. Houston Texans: DeMeco Ryans
The loss hurts, but there is no denying that DeMeco Ryans has laid a solid foundation for the Texans’ future. He has instilled a sense of toughness and accountability that has revitalized the franchise. Stroud’s growth under Ryans’s leadership has been super encouraging, and with the way this team played hard all year in spite of the onslaught of injuries, Houston has to be feeling good about its young NFL head coach.
7. Detroit Lions: Dan Campbell
Dan Campbell’s Lions had a season for the history books—a franchise-record 15 wins, the NFC’s top seed, and their second real shot in a row at a Super Bowl after decades of irrelevance. But in the end, the postseason spotlight exposed some cracks in Detroit’s foundation, and Campbell has to shoulder some of the blame for Saturday night’s playoff meltdown. The Lions were outcoached, outplayed, and, frankly, outclassed by a Washington team that came in with nothing to lose.
To be fair to Campbell and Detroit, the injuries have been a thorn in their side all year, but there were too many times on Saturday night that Washington outclassed them.
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6. Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay
Sean McVay’s game plan was solid against Philly on Sunday, and McVay found ways to keep his team in the fight despite an early blitz from the Eagles. Frankly, this was a team that, in many folks’ eyes, overachieved this year, making that run to the postseason down the stretch in a down year for the NFC West.
Coach McVay will probably want a couple of calls back, and he’ll need to work with his NFL team on better protecting the football, but with all of the injuries they endured this year, the crafty young coach does deserve some credit.
5. Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh
John Harbaugh has built a reputation as one of the NFL’s most consistent and resilient head coaches, and yes, he has won a Super Bowl, but Sunday’s 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills marks another frustrating chapter in the Ravens’ postseason story of late.
Harbaugh’s team came close—rallying down the stretch and nearly forcing overtime—but it was the handful of lapses in execution that defined the game and will haunt both the players and their coach alike.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Head Coaches From WORST To FIRST After The Final Week Of The 2024 Season
4. Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Sirianni
Nick Sirianni continues to prove why he’s one of the best head coaches in the NFL, despite what his haters, even the ones in his own city, say. In a snow-drenched playoff slugfest against the Los Angeles Rams, Sirianni leaned on his team’s identity—physicality, big plays, and relentless defense—to punch their ticket to another NFC Championship Game. The 28-22 victory wasn’t perfect, but Sirianni’s ability to adapt and maximize his roster’s strengths shined once again.
3. Washington Commanders: Dan Quinn
Coach Dan Quinn deserves all the credit in the world for the Washington Commanders’ stunning NFL playoff run. The man has taken a franchise long buried in mediocrity and turned it into a legitimate contender in a single season.
His defensive acumen was on full display Saturday night as Washington forced five turnovers against a Detroit Lions offense that had been nearly unstoppable all year. Quinn’s game plan was clear: pressure Jared Goff, force him into mistakes and capitalize on them. It worked to perfection.
Coach Quinn will have his work cut out for him next week trying to slow down Saquon Barkley and the Eagles—let’s see if he’s up for the task!
2. Buffalo Bills: Sean McDermott
The Bills came into this matchup with questions about their roster depth and defense, particularly after being run over by Baltimore earlier in the season, but Sean McDermott did extremely well to adjust accordingly. Buffalo’s defense forced three turnovers, including a critical fumble recovery late in the second quarter that set up a Josh Allen touchdown.
In a year that many believe could be McDermott’s last in Buffalo, he has managed to elevate the team to the AFC Championship Game, marking another successful season for the culture-first NFL head coach.
1. Kansas City Chiefs: Andy Reid
Andy Reid continues to cement his legacy as one of the greatest head coaches in NFL history. With Kansas City’s 23-14 win over Houston, Reid joined an elite group of coaches with 300 career wins and extended the Chiefs’ streak to seven consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances. Reid’s steady hand and brilliant game-planning were on full display once again. The man just knows how to coach winning football, plain and simple!
Also Read: Final Grades For All 32 NFL Teams’ Head Coaches After The Final Week Of The 2024 Season
