Week 12 saw NFL head coaches earn some very nice wins, whether they were in blowouts or very close trap games against divisional rivals.
Other coaches had a rough afternoon or night, as they watched their teams completely fall apart on the field and have to make a lot of adjustments before week 13 begins. We’re heading down to the nitty gritty of football, as there are only a few weeks left before the regular season concludes and the playoffs begin.
Here are the grades for all 32 NFL teams’ head coaches after week 12 games.
Who are the top NFL head coaches after week 12 of games?
Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Gannon: D
Gannon’s Cardinals played a trap game, where the offense was unable to score any touchdowns in their 6-16 loss on the road against the Seattle Seahawks. Kyler Murray threw an interception against no touchdowns, the Cardinals’ rushing attack was held to 49 yards on the ground, and Trey McBride had 133 receiving yards.
The Cardinals’ defense, coached by defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, played only marginally better than the offense, as they had five sacks and an interception against Geno Smith. Gannon told the press it was a missed opportunity with a lot to correct before their week 13 match-up against the Minnesota Vikings on the road.
Atlanta Falcons: Raheem Morris: Bye Week
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Morris’ Falcons have had a rough week 10 and 11 as they were dropped by the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos, respectively. Morris and the Falcons need to turn things around in their week 13 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers coming to town.
Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh: A-
John Harbaugh’s Ravens started the night slowly against his brother, Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers, until the start of the second quarter when the Ravens turned the accelerator on and won 30-23 in primetime. Lamar Jackson threw two touchdowns and scored a rushing touchdown, Derrick Henry had 140 rushing yards, Justice Hill scored a rushing touchdown, and Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman both scored touchdowns.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Zachary Orr, had four sacks against Justin Herbert and kept the Chargers’ wide receivers and tight ends out of the end zone. With the win, John Harbaugh continued to show he had the upper hand against his brother, NFL head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Buffalo Bills: Sean McDermott: Bye Week
McDermott’s Bills won an impressive battle against the Kansas City Chiefs in week 11 and have the AFC East in their control. The Bills return to action in week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers coming to town on Sunday Night Football.
Carolina Panthers: Dave Canales: B
Canales’ Panthers may have lost 27-30 against the Kansas City Chiefs in last-second fashion but managed to show signs of improvement throughout the game. Bryce Young threw a touchdown to David Moore with no interceptions, and Chuba Hubbard scored a rushing touchdown. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, had five sacks against Patrick Mahomes but no defensive turnovers.
Canales’ Panthers may not have a winning record, but his leadership has the roster playing hard lately, and his coaching shows he’s the right man for the job moving forward.
Chicago Bears: Matt Eberflus: C
Eberflus’ Bears put up a fight in the fourth quarter, as they managed to tie things up with the Minnesota Vikings, but the team ultimately fell 27-30 in overtime. Caleb Williams threw two touchdowns against no interceptions, Roschon Johnson scored a touchdown, and DJ Moore and Keenan Allen scored touchdowns. The defense, coached by Eric Washington, had three sacks and a fumble recovery and held Justin Jefferson to 27 receiving yards.
Eberflus made some very questionable calls during the game and said after the game, “I believe we have to execute better down the stretch. We have to coach better down the stretch. It’s an everybody thing.” Despite that quote, Caleb Williams continued to shine, as he kept the team afloat most of the game while Eberflus’ coaching seat continued to heat up.
Cincinnati Bengals: Zac Taylor: Bye Week
Taylor’s Bengals have played well and have come up short in a lot of close games this season so far. The team needs to finish the 2024 season strong, as the final full month of the regular season is coming. The Bengals open up in December with a week 13 home stand against the Pittsburgh Steelers coming to town.
Also Read: Grading All 32 NFL Teams’ Head Coaches After Week 11 Games Of The 2024 Season
Cleveland Browns: Kevin Stefanski: B-
After Stefanski’s Browns lost 14-35 against the New Orleans Saints, rumors about him being on the hot seat began circulating. However, Stefanski’s Browns played a great game in the snow, as they stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 24-19 upset win. Jameis Winston threw an interception and scored a rushing touchdown, Nick Chubb scored two rushing touchdowns, and Jerry Jeudy had 85 receiving yards.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, had four sacks and a fumble recovery and held the Steelers’ rushing attack to 120 yards on the ground. Despite Deshaun Watson’s off-the-field troubles, Stefanski’s NFL team played tough and gritty and showed he was the right man to lead the team as the head coach.
Dallas Cowboys: Mike McCarthy: B
McCarthy may be on the hot seat, but the Cowboys earning a stunning 34-26 win on the road against the Washington Commanders may just have saved his job… for now. Cooper Rush threw two touchdowns against no interceptions, CeeDee Lamb had 67 receiving yards, Rico Dowdle had 86 rushing yards, and Jalen Tolbert and Luke Schoonmaker both scored touchdowns.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, had four sacks, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. A shocking and stunning afternoon for McCarthy’s Cowboys as they snapped a five-game losing streak and kept their 2024 season alive.
Denver Broncos: Sean Payton: B
Despite the slow start and poor clock management, Payton’s Broncos looked good in their 29-19 win over the woeful Las Vegas Raiders. Bo Nix threw two touchdowns to Courtland Sutton against no interceptions, Jaleel McLaughlin had 44 rushing yards, and Devaughn Vele had 80 receiving yards. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, had five sacks (three against Gardner Minshew and two against Desmond Ridder) and an interception and fumble recovery against Minshew.
Payton was excited about beating the Raiders but was all business, as he said the team is now focused on their next game, a week 13 match-up against the Cleveland Browns at home on Monday Night Football.
Detroit Lions: Dan Campbell: B
Campbell’s Lions played an excellent game in their 24-6 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Jared Goff didn’t throw a touchdown or interception, Jahmyr Gibbs scored two rushing touchdowns, David Montgomery scored a rushing touchdown, and Jameson Williams had 64 receiving yards. The Defense, coached by defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, had no sacks or turnovers but made up for it by holding the Colts’ rushing attack to a combined 96 yards on the ground and kept the Colts from scoring a touchdown all game long.
After the game, Campbell said shutting down Jonathan Taylor was what the Lions needed to do during the game, and they accomplished that by holding him to 35 rushing yards.
Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur: A-
LaFleur’s Packers had a tremendous afternoon at home as they defeated the injury-plagued San Francisco 49ers 38-10. Jordan Love threw two touchdowns against no interceptions, Josh Jacobs scored three rushing touchdowns, and both Tucker Kraft and Malik Heath scored touchdowns.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, had two sacks, two fumble recoveries, and an interception and held the 49ers’ rushing attack to a combined 44 yards on the ground but had trouble containing George Kittle. LaFleur praised Josh Jacobs’ incredible game, while Jordan Love commanded a good offense thanks to LaFleur and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich’s coaching.
Houston Texans: DeMeco Ryans: C-
Ryans’ Texans may have played a close battle against the Tennessee Titans in their 27-32 loss, as the team dealt with a lot of problems throughout the game. C.J. Stroud threw two touchdowns against two interceptions, the Texans’ rushing attack was held to 40 yards on the ground, and Nico Collins and Cade Stover both scored touchdowns.
The defense, coached by Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke, had eight sacks and an interception by Jimmie Ward, who returned for a 65-yard pick-six against Will Levis. Ryans’ squad had issues with clock management for some chunks of the game. Ryans and the Texans travel to the Sunshine State for a week 13 showdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Indianapolis Colts: Shane Steichen: D
Steichen’s Colts played a brutal game at home, as they were dismantled 6-24 against the Detroit Lions. Anthony Richardson threw no touchdowns or interceptions but wasn’t sacked at all. Jonathan Taylor rushed for 35 yards, and Michael Pittman Jr. had 96 receiving yards. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, had three sacks against Jared Goff but no interceptions and couldn’t stop Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Steichen’s Colts struggled offensively in the ground attack, as Jonathan Taylor rushed for 35 yards.
However, the offensive line managed to protect Richardson, even though the team has hinted at making some changes to the line. Steichen said, “Yeah, we’ll look at the offensive line. We’ll look at everything. But again, I got a lot of faith in those guys. Man, they’re going to keep battling like crazy. We’ll be fine.” The Colts travel to Foxborough, MA, for a week 13 showdown against the New England Patriots.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Doug Pederson: Bye Week
Pederson’s third season with the Jaguars has been nothing but a disaster. With each new loss, Pederson’s coaching seat continues to get warmer and warmer. Pederson and the Jaguars return home in week 13 and will host the Houston Texans coming to town.
Kansas City Chiefs: Andy Reid: B+
Reid’s Chiefs played a very close neck-and-neck battle against the Carolina Panthers and barely won 30-27 in last-second fashion. Patrick Mahomes threw three touchdowns with no interceptions but was sacked five times, Kareem Hunt had 68 rushing yards, Noah Gray scored two touchdowns, and DeAndre Hopkins scored a touchdown.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, had two sacks but no interceptions. With the win, Reid becomes the third NFL head coach to achieve 19 10-win seasons. That said, the Chiefs’ offense still has some things to improve upon, with the team still dealing with injuries.
Las Vegas Raiders: Antonio Pierce: D
Pierce’s Raiders had a 13-9 halftime lead over the Denver Broncos, but his team let it all slip away in their 19-29 loss by the end. Gardner Minshew threw a touchdown to Ameer Abdullah against an interception, was sacked three times, and suffered a broken collarbone. Jakobi Meyers had 121 receiving yards, and Brock Bowers broke the Raiders’ reception record with 74 receptions this season.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, had one sack and no interceptions against Bo Nix. Pierce and interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner need to improve the rushing attack and make sure Desmond Ridder is ready to step up for the Silver and Black moving forward.
Los Angeles Chargers: Jim Harbaugh: C
Harbaugh’s Chargers played an okay game against his brother John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens but came up short as they lost 23-30. Justin Herbert scored a rushing touchdown but didn’t throw a touchdown or interception, J.K. Dobbins had 40 rushing yards but left the game with a knee injury, Gus Edwards scored a touchdown, and Ladd McConkey had 83 receiving yards.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, had one sack and had a tough time trying to bring down Derrick Henry all night. This loss would be Jim Harbaugh’s third loss against John Harbaugh in the regular and post-season, while the Chargers have some things to clean up on offense moving forward.
Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay: C
McVay’s Rams had a night they would like to forget about as they were defeated by the Philadelphia Eagles 20-37. Matthew Stafford threw two touchdowns against no interceptions but was sacked five times. Kyren Williams scored a rushing touchdown, and Cooper Kupp and Demarcus Robinson both scored touchdowns. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Chris Shula, failed to slow down the Eagles’ rushing attack, as they ran for a combined 314 yards on the ground, and Saquon Barkley ran 255 of those yards.
McVay said that after the loss, the game was humbling, but it’s all about how you respond in the next game. McVay and the Rams travel to the Big Easy for a week 13 showdown against the New Orleans Saints.
Miami Dolphins: Mike McDaniel: B+
McDaniel and the Dolphins had a great afternoon in South Beach as they defeated the New England Patriots 34-15. Tua Tagovailoa threw four touchdowns, De’Von Achane caught two receiving touchdowns, and Jaylen Waddle and Jonnu Smith both scored touchdowns. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, had four sacks, a fumble recovery, and an interception. McDaniel’s playmaking against the Patriots looked phenomenal, as the Dolphins made the Pats’ afternoon in South Beach a miserable one.
Minnesota Vikings: Kevin O’Connell: B+
O’Connell’s Vikings won a very competitive 30-27 overtime neck-and-neck battle against the Chicago Bears. Sam Darnold threw two touchdowns against no interceptions, Aaron Jones scored a rushing touchdown, and Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor both scored touchdowns. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Brian Flores, had three sacks and a fumble recovery and held the Bears’ rushing attack to a combined 78 yards on the ground.
O’Connell described his Vikings’ team as one of the most special groups he’s ever coached, despite giving up the lead late in the game. Thankfully, in overtime, John Parker Romo kicked the game-winning kick and helped secure the win for O’Connell’s Vikings.
New England Patriots: Jerod Mayo: D-
Mayo and the Patriots had a painful afternoon in South Beach, as they lost 15-34 despite a comeback attempt in the fourth quarter. Drake Maye threw a touchdown to Austin Hooper against an interception, the Patriots’ rushing attack was held to a combined 86 yards on the ground, and DeMario Douglas had 62 receiving yards.
The defense, coached by Mayo and defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington, had two sacks and a fumble recovery from Christian Gonzalez, which was returned for a 63-yard touchdown. Despite the efforts from Maye and Gonzalez, Mayo’s NFL team was a complete mess on offense and defense, and Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel out-coached Mayo for most of the game.
New Orleans Saints: Darren Rizzi: Bye Week
Interim head coach Darren Rizzi has changed the culture of the Saints ever since the team fired Dennis Allen. Rizzi has won two games so far and has revitalized the Saints as a whole. The Saints return to action in week 13 as they get prepared to welcome the Los Angeles Rams to town.
New York Giants: Brian Daboll: F
Daboll’s Giants started Tommy DeVito, as they benched Daniel Jones and then, per his request, released him, but they still struggled mightily in their 7-30 loss at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. DeVito threw no touchdowns or interceptions but was sacked four times, Devin Singletary had a rough afternoon on the ground with three rushing yards despite scoring the team’s only touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Malik Nabers had 64 receiving yards.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, couldn’t even stop the Bucs’ rushing attack from torching them all game long. Daboll’s poor clock management and questionable play-calling led to the team’s utter downfall, as their nightmare of a season continues to unravel faster than a ball of yarn rolling down a steep hill.
New York Jets: Jeff Ulbrich: Bye Week
Ulbrich’s Jets have been a mess, as their 2024 season has gone down in flames so far. Ulbrich and the Jets need to right the ship in the last few weeks of the regular season as they get set to host the Seattle Seahawks in week 13.
Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Sirianni: A
Sirianni’s Eagles had a very nice game against the Los Angeles Rams in their 37-20 victory. Jalen Hurts threw a touchdown pass to A.J. Brown, Kenneth Gainwell scored a rushing touchdown, and Saquon Barkley rushed for 255 yards on 26 carries and scored two rushing touchdowns. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, had five sacks and no interceptions against Matthew Stafford.
Sirianni, offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, and running backs coach Jemal Singleton deserve a lot of credit for how impressive the run game was against the Rams all night long, as the Rams’ defense couldn’t stop Barkley.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin: C
Tomlin’s Steelers played a decent game but fell 19-24 in a trap game against the Cleveland Browns. Russell Wilson threw a touchdown to Calvin Austin III against no interceptions but was sacked four times, and Jaylen Warren scored a rushing touchdown. The defense, coached by Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, had a sack, two fumble recoveries, and an interception.
Great teams with winning records losing in trap games happen all of the time in sports, but Tomlin and the Steelers need to rebound from this loss quickly, as there’s blood in the water of the AFC North, and the Baltimore Ravens are on the hunt for first place in the conference.
San Francisco 49ers: Kyle Shanahan: C-
Shanahan is a great NFL head coach, but his 49ers have been ravaged by injuries, and those injury woes were truly felt as the team lost 10-38 on the road against the Green Bay Packers. Brandon Allen threw a touchdown to Geroge Kittle against an interception, and Christian McCaffrey had a quiet afternoon with 31 rushing yards. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Nick Sorenson, only had two sacks and no interceptions, and they couldn’t stop Josh Jacobs from having an incredible performance on the field.
The 49ers were without Brock Purdy, Nick Bosa, and Trent Williams, who were all dealing with injuries, which made things very difficult for Shanahan’s team throughout the day. The only bright spot Shanahan’s 49ers had was George Kittle scoring a touchdown with 82 receiving yards.
Seattle Seahawks: Mike Macdonald: C+
Macdonald’s Seahawks came to life as they dismantled the Arizona Cardinals in a 16-6 divisional win at home. Geno Smith threw a touchdown to Jaxon Smith-Njigba against an interception, but the Seahawks’ rushing attack was held to 65 yards on the ground. The defense, coached by Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde, had five sacks, and Coby Bryant had an interception returned for a 69-yard pick-six.
Macdonald’s brilliance as a defensive-minded coach shined as they made the Cardinals’ offense have a miserable afternoon. However, the Seahawks’ rushing attack needs to improve. As Macdonald said, the team knows who they are, as well, and to keep hammering away at it, and he is very excited for what’s to come.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Todd Bowles: A-
Bowles’ Buccaneers had a nice game, with a 30-7 win over the woeful New York Giants, and snapped a four-game losing streak. Baker Mayfield threw no touchdowns or interceptions but scored a rushing touchdown, while Mike Evans had 68 receiving yards.
The real offensive spark came from the rushing attack as Mayfield, Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, and Sean Tucker each scored touchdowns, thanks to the play-calling from offensive coordinator Liam Coen and running backs coach Skip Peete, for coaching a diverse rushing unit. Bowles’ defense had four sacks and a fumble recovery. A nice afternoon for the Bucs as they look to get their season back on track.
Tennessee Titans: Brian Callahan: B-
Callahan’s Titans had a good afternoon and shocked the Houston Texans 32-27 on the road. Will Levis threw two touchdowns against a costly interception, Tony Pollard scored a rushing touchdown, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Chig Okonkwo both scored touchdowns. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, had four sacks, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions.
Callahan and Wilson did a great job with their play calling, while offensive coordinator Nick Holz needs to fix the right side of the offensive line, as Levis was sacked eight times.
Washington Commanders: Dan Quinn: C-
Quinn made a couple of questionable decisions for the Commanders, as they were stunned 26-34 against the Dallas Cowboys. Jayden Daniels threw two touchdowns against two interceptions and scored a rushing touchdown. The rest of the Commanders’ running backs couldn’t top 22 yards, while Daniels had 74 yards, and Terry McLaurin and Zach Ertz both scored touchdowns. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., had a tough time slowing down Rico Dowdle.
Although they did get him to fumble the ball in the game, that fumble wasn’t enough for the Commanders. Quinn and the Commanders need to rebound from this loss immediately if they want to finish the 2024 season on a positive note and potentially reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Head Coaches From WORST To FIRST After Week 12 Of The 2024 Season
