Week 15 saw NFL head coaches put in their all in game-planning as they witnessed their teams play their hearts out for a coveted playoff spot and finish the 2024 regular season on a positive note, regardless of the outcome. However, some coaches witnessed their teams continually implode as the 2025 offseason can’t come sooner. There are only three more weeks of regular season football left, and anything can happen at this point. We just can’t wait to see what these coaches will bring to the gridiron when it’s all said and done.
Here are the grades for all 32 NFL teams’ head coaches after week 15 games.
Who are the top NFL head coaches after week 15 of games?
Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Gannon: C+
Gannon’s Cardinals had an okay afternoon but emerged on top of the New England Patriots 30-17. Kyler Murray didn’t throw a touchdown or interception, James Conner scored two rushing touchdowns, and offensive tackle Jonah Williams recovered his teammate’s fumble for a touchdown.
The defense, coached by Nick Rallis, had two sacks and an interception. Gannon was happy to see his team return to the win column and praised the rushing attack for doing their jobs against the Patriots’ defense. Gannon was also impressed with Williams saving a fumble and scoring a touchdown as a result.
Atlanta Falcons: Raheem Morris: C+
Morris’ Falcons finally snapped their four-game losing streak with a close 15-9 Monday night win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Kirk Cousins threw a touchdown to Drake London, and Bijan Robinson had 125 rushing yards. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, had four sacks and two interceptions. Despite the win, Morris said Cousins has to play better and mentioned the team has a lot to fix and clean up for the remaining weeks but is happy with the win.
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Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh: A-
Harbaugh’s Ravens rebounded from their week 13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles by earning a dominating 35-14 victory over the woeful New York Giants. Lamar Jackson threw five touchdowns, Derrick Henry had 67 rushing yards, Mark Andrews, Devontez Walker, and Justice Hill each scored receiving touchdowns, and Rashod Bateman hauled in two touchdowns.
The defense, coached by Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Zach Orr, had three sacks and an interception. Coach Harbaugh praised Jackson’s performance in their recent NFL outing and Mark Andrews, who set the mark for the most touchdowns in the Ravens’ history. Harbaugh and the Ravens have their sights set for their week 16 showdown against their AFC North rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Buffalo Bills: Sean McDermott: A
McDermott’s Bills were involved in another offensive clash against the Detroit Lions. Unlike their week 14 loss, the Bills emerged victorious 48-42 against the Lions. Josh Allen threw two touchdowns and scored two rushing touchdowns, James Cook scored two rushing touchdowns, and Ray Davis and Khalil Shakir both scored receiving touchdowns. The defense, coached by McDermott and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich, had three sacks and a fumble recovery.
McDermott said, “It’s rare air up there with the best teams. That’s how we’re going to have to play every week moving forward.” McDermott’s Bills square off against the New England Patriots coming to town in week 16, then they’ll host New York Jets in week 17, and travel to Foxborough, MA for a rematch against the Patriots in week 18.
Carolina Panthers: Dave Canales: D
Canales’ Panthers had a rough afternoon at home, losing 14-30 against the Dallas Cowboys. Bryce Young struggled, as he threw two interceptions against a touchdown and scored a rushing touchdown. Chuba Hubbard had 32 rushing yards, and Jalen Coker scored a touchdown.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, had one sack and a fumble recovery but no interceptions. Despite Young’s awful performance, Canales said he’ll be the starter for the team moving forward.
Chicago Bears: Thomas Brown: D-
Brown’s Bears had a very rough Monday night, losing 12-30 against their NFC North rivals, the Minnesota Vikings. Caleb Williams threw a touchdown to Keenan Allen with no interceptions, and D’Andre Swift rushed for 79 yards. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Eric Washington, had two sacks and an interception.
Brown said it was a very disappointing loss as the team wasn’t aggressive on offense. Brown said the defense kept the team in the game as much as they could.
Cincinnati Bengals: Zac Taylor: B
Taylor’s Bengals started their battle against the Tennessee Titans slow and sloppy but managed to turn things around and win 37-27. Joe Burrow threw three touchdowns against two interceptions, Chase Brown scored a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown, and Sam Hubbard and Tee Higgins both scored touchdowns. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, had a sack, four interceptions, and two fumble recoveries.
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the Taylor’s Bengals, as he and Burrow were seen in a heated argument on the sidelines. Taylor said he had some headset issues at that moment, while Burrow was frustrated with the state of the Bengals, also at that moment.
Also Read: Grading All 32 NFL Teams’ Head Coaches After Week 14 Games Of The 2024 Season
Cleveland Browns: Kevin Stefanski: D-
Stefanski’s Browns had a brutal Sunday afternoon, losing 7-21 in humiliating fashion to the Kansas City Chiefs. Jameis Winston threw four interceptions and was sacked five times, Nick Chubb left the game with a broken foot, ending his 2024 season, Jerry Jeudy had 108 receiving yards, and Jerome Ford scored the team’s only touchdown.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, couldn’t land a single sack or interception against Patrick Mahomes. Because of Winston’s regrettable performance, Stefanski told the press he hasn’t committed to naming a starter for the team’s Week 16 game just yet.
Dallas Cowboys: Mike McCarthy: B+
McCarthy’s Cowboys had a very nice afternoon, defeating the Carolina Panthers 30-14. Cooper Rush threw three touchdowns, Rico Dowdle had 149 rushing yards, and Jalen Brooks, Jalen Tolbert, and CeeDee Lamb each scored a touchdown. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, had two fumble recoveries, six sacks, and two interceptions.
Coach McCarthy’s NFL team may have won in dominating fashion, but he did have a questionable call when he tried to have kicker Brandon Aubrey attempt to kick a 70-yard field goal before halftime, which ultimately backfired. Regardless, the win helped McCarthy and the Cowboys keep their playoff hopes alive.
Denver Broncos: Sean Payton: B
Payton’s Broncos returned to action from their week 14 bye week and won 31-13 against the Indianapolis Colts. Bo Nix threw three touchdowns against three interceptions, the Broncos’ rushing attack was held to a combined 72 yards, and Courtland Sutton, Adam Trautman, and Nate Adkins each scored a touchdown.
The defense, coached by Vic Fangio, had two sacks, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries, and one of them returned for a 50-yard touchdown by Nik Bonitto. Even though Payton’s rushing attack struggled for most of the game, the defense continued to step up and make things brutal for the Colts’ offense as the Broncos’ playoff window opened further.
Detroit Lions: Dan Campbell: B-
Campbell’s Lions played an offensive showdown against the Buffalo Bills but lost 42-48 in an intense thriller of a game. Jared Goff threw five touchdowns with no interceptions, Jahmyr Gibbs scored a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown, and Dan Skipper, Tim Patrick, Jameson Williams, and Amon-Ra St. Brown each scored a touchdown.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, had no sacks or interceptions. Campbell’s Lions did take a couple of hits on offense and defense, with David Montgomery suffering a knee injury requiring surgery, Alim McNeill suffering an ACL tear, and Carlton Davis suffering a broken jaw, which are all massive losses moving forward.
Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur: A-
LaFleur’s Packers had an incredible Sunday night in the Pacific Northwest, winning 30-13 against the Seattle Seahawks. Jordan Love threw two touchdowns to Romeo Doubs with no interceptions, Josh Jacobs scored a rushing touchdown, and Christian Watson had 56 receiving yards.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, had a whopping seven sacks and two interceptions on the night. Coach LaFleur was impressed by his NFL team’s efforts all game long, especially on defense, for making things rough for the Seahawks throughout.
Houston Texans: DeMeco Ryans: B-
Ryans’ Texans had a good afternoon at home, not only winning 20-12 against the Houston Texans and clinching the AFC South. C.J. Stroud had two touchdowns with no interceptions, Drew Ogunbowale had 35 rushing yards, and Nico Collins scored two touchdowns. The defense, coached by Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burker, had three sacks, three interceptions, and a fumble recovery.
After clinching the AFC South, Ryans’s mind was focused on the team’s upcoming week 16 match-up against the Kansas City Chiefs, as his approach is one game at a time.
Indianapolis Colts: Shane Steichen: D+
Steichen’s Colts had a brutal afternoon in the Mile High City, losing 13-31 against the Denver Broncos. Anthony Richardson threw two interceptions and scored a rushing touchdown, Jonathan Taylor rushed for 107 yards but dropped the ball before crossing the goal line in the third quarter, and Michael Pittman Jr. had 58 receiving yards.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, had a sack and three interceptions. Although the lost fumbles and interceptions hurt Sheichen’s Colts on offense, Bradley’s defense kept the team afloat with three interceptions of their own. However, the Colts’ playoff hopes teeter on a thin piece of floss, ready to get tossed in the trash.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Doug Pederson: C
Pederson’s Jaguars had a bit of a rough afternoon, losing 25-32 against the visiting New York Jets. Mac Jones threw two touchdowns to Brian Thomas Jr. against two interceptions, and Travis Etienne Jr. had 65 rushing yards. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, had a sack and no interceptions.
Pederson praised Davante Adams’ performance and said Jones played well, and the offensive line protected him well but threw a pass too high for a Sauce Gardner interception, which sealed the game in the Jets’ favor. Coach Pederson’s coaching seat continues to heat up, as the team has three more weeks to go in the NFL regular season.
Kansas City Chiefs: Andy Reid: A-
Reid’s Chiefs played tremendously well against the Cleveland Browns and won 21-7, further solidifying their hold on the one-seed to the AFC Playoffs. Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdowns with no interceptions, Xavier Worthy scored a rushing touchdown, and Noah Gray and JuJu Smith-Schuster both scored touchdowns.
The defense, coached by Steve Spagnuolo, had five sacks, two fumble recoveries, and four interceptions. Turnovers were a key factor in the Chiefs’ dominating victory, but the team did lose Patrick Mahomes to an ankle injury. Reid said Mahomes’ ankle is sore and hurt, but it is not broken, giving the Chiefs Kingdom some hope.
Las Vegas Raiders: Antonio Pierce: D-
Pierce and the Raiders had another brutal night, losing 9-15 against the Atlanta Falcons. Desmond Ridder threw a touchdown to Ameer Abdullah against two interceptions, and Jakobi Meyers had 59 receiving yards. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, had three sacks and an interception.
An incredibly painful night for the Silver and Black as Pierce told the press he isn’t worried about his job, said he’s under contract, and said he was very disappointed with the loss and wanted to see better from his team. There are only three more weeks left, and the 2025 offseason can’t come any faster for Pierce and the Raiders to begin rebuilding.
Los Angeles Chargers: Jim Harbaugh: D+
Harbaugh’s Chargers started their clash against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a 17-13 lead, but it all slipped away when the team lost 17-40 by the end. Justin Herbert threw two touchdowns with no interceptions. The Chargers’ rushing attack was awful, as they had a combined 32 yards on the ground, and Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston both scored touchdowns.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, had two fumble recoveries, a sack, and an interception. Harbaugh blamed himself and the rest of the coaching staff after the team’s painful loss, as nothing went right for the Bolts in the second half of the game.
Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay: C-
Coach McVay’s Rams didn’t play their best game against the San Francisco 49ers but won 12-6 in an NFL game that didn’t see a single touchdown on the board. Matthew Stafford threw no touchdowns or interceptions, Kyren Williams had 108 rushing yards, and Puka Nacua had 97 receiving yards.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Chris Shula, had three sacks and an interception. After the game, McVay said, “Sometimes you gotta win ugly, and there’s no style points.” Kicker Joshua Kary kicked four field goals and made three of them in the fourth quarter to help the Rams win.
Miami Dolphins: Mike McDaniel: C
McDaniel’s Dolphins had a tough afternoon in the Lone Star State, losing 12-20 against the Houston Texans. Tua Tagovailoa struggled for most of the game, as he threw a touchdown pass to Jonnu Smith against three interceptions, and the Dolphins’ rushing attack was held to 52 yards on the ground. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, had four sacks and a fumble recovery.
McDaniel’s coaching wasn’t an issue, but his team’s lack of execution on the field was the issue. This loss also hurt the Dolphins’ chances of reaching the playoffs, which became much slimmer.
Minnesota Vikings: Kevin O’Connell: B
O’Connell’s Vikings had a great Monday night, defeating the Chicago Bears 30-12 at home. Sam Darnold threw a touchdown to Justin Jefferson against an interception, and Aaron Jones and Cam Akers both scored rushing touchdowns. The defense, coached by Brian Flores, had two sacks and a fumble recovery.
O’Connell said the Vikings are playing special football, and the team has to earn everything that’s in front of them. O’Connell’s Vikings are in an excellent position to make noise in the playoffs when the regular season concludes.
New England Patriots: Jerod Mayo: D
Mayo’s Patriots had a disappointing time in the desert, losing 17-30 against the Arizona Cardinals. Drake Maye threw a touchdown to DeMario Douglas against an interception and scored a rushing touchdown, and Rhamondre Stevenson had 69 rushing yards. The defense, coached by Mayo and DeMarcus Covington, couldn’t even land a sack or interception against Kyler Murray. Mayo and his team failed to make mid-game adjustments, as the team looked sloppy and ready to pack it in until the 2025 season.
New Orleans Saints: Darren Rizzi: C-
Rizzi’s Saints fought hard in the second half of their clash against the Washington Commanders but lost 19-20 due to Juwan Johnson failing to catch the ball in a two-point conversion attempt in the last seconds of the game. After benching Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler stepped in and threw a touchdown to Foster Moreau, Cedrick Wilson Jr. threw a touchdown pass to Alvin Kamara via trick play, and Kendre Miller had 46 rushing yards.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Joe Woods, had eight sacks against Jayden Daniels. Rizzi praised Wilson Jr.’s trick play, which was a great pass and a great call, for helping keep the Saints in the game, but the failed two-point conversion attempt ultimately sunk the Saints’ chances of winning the game.
New York Giants: Brian Daboll: D-
Another week and another loss for Daboll’s Giants, as they lost 14-35 to the Baltimore Ravens. Tommy DeVito left the game with a concussion, Tim Boyle threw a touchdown pass to Malik Nabers against an interception, and Devin Singletary scored a rushing touchdown. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, had a fumble recovery in the first quarter, which went nowhere, and three sacks.
Coach Daboll told his young players that they could control what they could control, which is frowned upon in an NFL locker room. Daboll’s coaching seat continued to see an increase in heat to the point where you could bake a crispy New York pizza on it.
New York Jets: Jeff Ulbrich: B-
Ulbrich’s Jets earned themselves a rare yet nice 32-25 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Duval County. Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdowns with no interceptions, Breece Hall scored a rushing touchdown, Garrett Wilson scored a touchdown, and Davante Adams scored two touchdowns. The defense had two sacks and two interceptions against Mac Jones. Ulbrich praised how the team stuck together, snapping their five-game losing streak.
Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Sirianni: A-
Sirianni’s Eagles had a tremendous day at home, winning 27-13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jalen Hurts threw two touchdowns and scored a rushing touchdown, Saquon Barkley had 65 rushing yards, and A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith both scored receiving touchdowns. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, had two sacks and a fumble recovery.
Sirianni said Hurts did a great job getting the ball to both Smith and Brown and that it was another good day for the Eagles. Sirianni also praised the team’s efficiency with the ball against opposing defenses.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin: C+
Tomlin’s Steelers didn’t play their sharpest football, losing 13-27 against the Philadelphia Eagles, but they did secure a playoff berth, thanks to the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts losing the same day. Russell Wilson threw a touchdown to Pat Freiermuth with no interceptions, the Steelers’ rushing attack was held to 56 yards on the ground, and Calvin Austin III had 65 receiving yards.
The defense, coached by Tomlin and Teryl Austin, had three sacks and two fumble recoveries. Tomlin shrugged off the loss and said, “It’s a loss. I mean, let’s not get dramatic.” Tomlin’s Steelers have a tough three weeks ahead of them with match-ups against the Baltimore Ravens in week 16, a Christmas match-up against the Kansas City Chiefs in week 17, and a week 18 match-up against the Cincinnati Bengals won’t be a cakewalk, but they will put up a fight no matter what.
San Francisco 49ers: Kyle Shanahan: D-
Shanahan’s 49ers had a brutal Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams, losing a very boring 6-12 battle against their NFC West rivals. Brock Purdy threw an interception with no touchdowns, Isaac Guerendo had 57 rushing yards, and George Kittle had 61 receiving yards. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Nick Sorenson, couldn’t land a single sack or interception against Matthew Stafford.
A miserable night for Shanahan and the 49ers, with only three more weeks left to go. Rumors have emerged about the Chicago Bears wanting to snag Shanahan from the 49ers, which has become mainstream. Could it happen after the 2024 season for this NFL coach? We’ll just have to wait and find out.
Seattle Seahawks: Mike Macdonald: D
Macdonald’s Seahawks rocketed back to earth, losing 13-30 against the Green Bay Packers. Geno Smith threw an interception and left the game with a knee injury, forcing Sam Howell into action, even though he threw an interception himself, Zach Charbonnet scored the team’s only touchdown on the night, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 83 receiving yards.
The defense, coached by Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde, had no sacks but a fumble recovery that led to Charbonnet’s touchdown in the fourth quarter. Macdonald said the Packers out-coached them and took the blame for the loss. However, Macdonald said Geno Smith’s knee is still there, and he is a tough-as-nails quarterback.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Todd Bowles: B+
Bowles’ Bucs had a great afternoon in Hollywood, winning 40-17 against the Los Angeles Chargers after being down 13-17 at halftime. Baker Mayfield threw four touchdowns against an interception, Bucky Irving had 117 rushing yards, Rachaad White and Jalen McMillan both scored touchdowns, and Mike Evans hauled in two touchdowns.
The defense had a fumble recovery, three sacks, and an interception. Bowles credited the team’s growth to their impressive road victory over the Chargers. Coach Bowles even praised Evans for the impressive afternoon he had against the Bolts, as the team will continue to rely on his talents with three more weeks left in the NFL regular season.
Tennessee Titans: Brian Callahan: D
Callahan’s Titans had a rough afternoon at home, losing 27-37 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Will Levis threw three interceptions and was benched for Mason Rudolph, who threw two touchdowns against an interception. Tony Pollard scored a rushing touchdown, Tyjae Spears scored both a rushing and receiving touchdown, and Josh Whyle scored a receiving touchdown. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, had a sack, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery.
With Levis’s awful performance in a very painful loss, Callahan’s coaching seat continued to heat up, even though they made decent in-game adjustments by throwing Rudolph in the fold.
Washington Commanders: Dan Quinn: C-
Quinn’s Commanders started their road clash against the New Orleans Saints hot but cooled off and survived 20-19 due to the Saints failing on a two-point conversion attempt in the final seconds of the game. Jayden Daniels threw two touchdowns to Terry McLaurin but was sacked eight times, and Brian Robinson Jr. had 65 rushing yards.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., had three sacks and an interception against Jake Haener. Quinn made a questionable decision by making his newly acquired kicker, Greg Joseph, kick a 54-yard field goal, which he missed when he could’ve punted the ball instead. However, the Saints failed to get a two-point conversion off in the final seconds of the game, giving the Commanders the win.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Head Coaches From WORST To FIRST After Week 15 Games Of The 2024 Season
