Week four of the NFL season saw some great head coaches continuing to rack up wins as we’re slowly getting to see real contenders. A couple of head coaches earned their team’s first wins of the 2024 NFL season, in style.
Don’t blink. There is a ton of football left on the schedules, and anything can happen. However, some head coaches saw their teams take a massive step back and need to make some drastic changes immediately, or their respective teams will be left in the dust.
Here are the grades for all 32 NFL teams’ head coaches after week four.
How did your favorite NFL head coach fare after week 4 of games?
Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Gannon: D
Gannon’s Cardinals took a massive step back in their 14-42 loss to the Washington Commanders. Kyler Murray threw a touchdown to Marvin Harrison Jr., but he was sacked four times. On top of that, the Cardinals’ defense failed to stop the Commanders’ rushing attack as they ran right through the Cardinals for 216 yards and scored four touchdowns against them.
Gannon told the press that the Red Birds hadn’t done a good enough job stopping the run and were constantly behind the eight-ball. The Cardinals need to rebound from this game quickly as they get focused on their week five matchup on the road against the San Francisco 49ers.
Atlanta Falcons: Raheem Morris: C
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Raheem Morris’ Falcons bounced back in a very competitive and close 26-24 win over their NFC South rivals, the New Orleans Saints. Even though Kirk Cousins threw no touchdowns against one interception, he commanded the offense well enough for special teams to do their thing, as KhaDarel Hodge scored a touchdown off a muffed punt and Younghoe Koo kicked four field goals. On defense, the Falcons had a sack and a 47-yard pick-six from Troy Andersen.
After the game, Morris said that the statistics are for losers, as Kyle Pitts had no catches during the entire game. Despite the win, the Falcons must get focused for their week five matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh: A-
John Harbaugh’s Ravens shined in primetime as they defeated the Buffalo Bills 35-10. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry played outstandingly on offense, while the Ravens’ defense kept the Bills out of the end zone all game. Harbaugh said games like this are why he enjoys what he does for work and hopes the fans will remember the game, as the Ravens made a statement in primetime. This is exactly why people shouldn’t count them out moving forward.
Buffalo Bills: Sean McDermott: D
McDermott’s Bills had a rough Sunday night, as they were defeated 10-35 by the Baltimore Ravens, with the defense unable to find any answers on stopping Derrick Henry all night, as well as a young rookie receiving core not being able to connect, in primetime. It was the perfect recipe for disaster for McDermott and company. However, there is still time to right the ship as it’s only been four weeks in the regular season, and more football will be played as the season continues.
Carolina Panthers: Dave Canales: B-
Despite losing a tough 24-34 competitive battle against the Cincinnati Bengals, Canales’ Panthers played well. Andy Dalton threw two touchdowns against an interception and wasn’t sacked at all, Chubba Hubbard scored a rushing touchdown, and Dionte Johnson and Xaiver Leggete both scored touchdowns.
Canales told the press the team is still learning through some growing pains, even as the communication is improving each week. Canales and the Panthers’ newfound focus will be tested in week five when they travel to the Mid-West and square off against the Chicago Bears.
Chicago Bears: Matt Eberflus: B+
Everflus’ Bears took a step in the right direction on all sides of the ball as they defeated the Los Angeles Rams 24-18. Caleb Williams threw a touchdown pass to DJ Moore while D’Andre Swift went off as he rushed for 93 yards and scored a rushing touchdown. Defensively, Eberflus’ unit was relentless as they sacked Stafford three times while Jaquan Brisker had an interception. Eberflus told the press he believes the Bears are improving, thanks to their growth as a team, even though they have to continue building offensive chemistry with Williams under center.
Cincinnati Bengals: Zac Taylor: B+
Zac Taylor’s Bengals secured a very nice 34-24 first win of the season over the Carolina Panthers in a very competitive game. Taylor said it was a very good game, even though there were things to clean up for next time. Joe Burrow threw two touchdowns in the game, but he threw his first interception of the season. The Bengals’ defense had an interception of their own, but they didn’t get a single sack all game. Taylor’s Bengals will be just fine as they continue to build upon this win and prepare for their week five clash against the Baltimore Ravens.
Also Read: 5 WORST NFL Head Coaches In The Game Today, And The 5 BEST That Always Dominate
Cleveland Browns: Kevin Stefanski: D+
Stefanski’s Browns had a rough afternoon in Sin City as they lost a tough 16-20 battle against the Las Vegas Raiders. Deshaun Watson threw a touchdown against an interception and was sacked three times. Stefanski said the team needs to get better at keeping a strong rhythm throughout entire games and losing that momentum to their opponents.
The Browns’ defense, coached by defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, managed to sack Gardner Minshew twice. Stefanksi and the Browns did have some good news come to them as Nick Chubb is set to return to practice, which will help the Browns rush attack moving forward.
Dallas Cowboys: Mike McCarthy: C+
Mike McCarthy may have saved his job for now as his Cowboys secured a close 20-15 win on the road against the New York Giants. Dak Prescott played a great game, as he threw two touchdowns against no interceptions, and Rico Dowdle and CeeDee Lamb both scored touchdowns.
The defense, despite losing key guys to injuries, fought very hard to keep the Giants from entering the end zone. Head coach McCarthy and the Cowboys have some work to do despite the nice road win coming up in week five as they square off against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week five.
Denver Broncos: Sean Payton: C+
Payton’s Broncos may not be the flashiest team, as they stunned the New York Jets 10-9. Bo Nix threw for 60 yards and threw his first touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton. On defense, the Broncos had five sacks and a fumble recovery even without Alex Singleton, whose season sadly came to an end thanks to a ruptured ACL injury.
Payton’s confidence in Nix is increasing, and this win shows that the process is working for the Broncos. The Broncos return home for a week five showdown against their divisional foes, the Las Vegas Raiders.
Detroit Lions: Dan Campbell: A-
Campbell’s Lions concluded week four with a bang when they put on an offensive clinic in their 42-29 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Jared Goff played the best game of his career without throwing an incompletion or interception as he threw two touchdown passes and caught a touchdown from Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Defensively, the Lions had three sacks and an interception against Geno Smith. However, in the locker room, Campbell gave game balls to Kerby Joseph and Jameson Williams instead of Goff and felt awful about it since he didn’t realize Goff hadn’t thrown an incompletion. Regardless, Campbell has the Lions moving in an excellent direction as they head into their week five bye week.
Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur: B-
LaFleur’s Packers started the game silently, as they were down 28-0, yet attempted a comeback which failed, as the team lost 29-31 to the Minnesota Vikings. Jordan Love threw four touchdowns against three interceptions, while Jayden Reed went off with 139 receiving yards and a touchdown, and Dontayvion Wicks scored two touchdowns.
While the Packers were down 28-0 in the second quarter, head coach LaFleur tried to call a timeout, which the refs didn’t hear, and was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct as he was trying to get their attention. Despite the loss, LaFleur was proud of how the team battled in their comeback efforts, but still have some kinks to clean up.
Houston Texans: DeMeco Ryans: B+
Ryans’ Texans turned things around with a close and impressive 24-20 divisional victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. C.J. Stroud had a very nice game-winning drive to Dare Ogunbowale with just 18 seconds left in the game, while rookie safety Calen Bullock made a game-saving tackle by preventing Tank Bigsby from getting into the end zone. After that, the Texans’ defense kept the Jaguars from scoring for the rest of the game.
Ryans was very pleased with the defensive efforts of his team throughout the game. Ryans’ Texans now have to get set for a tough week five test against the Buffalo Bills coming to town.
Indianapolis Colts: Shane Steichen: B
Steichen may have lost Anthony Richardson to a hip injury as Joe Flacco led the Colts to an impressive 27-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sheichen’s offense was able to bulldoze their way through the Steelers’ defense thanks to Flacco’s leadership and Jonathan Taylor rushing for 88 yards on the ground.
However, Steichen was blamed for Anthony Richardson’s hip injury when he decided to run a quarterback run play, which resulted in Richardson sliding on the ground awkwardly after taking a hit from Minkah Fitzpatrick. Hopefully, Richardson will not be out long-term and can return to action for Sheichen and the Colts as their season continues.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Doug Pederson: C-
Pederson’s Jaguars played significantly better than they did in week three, but they still couldn’t close the deal as they lost 20-24 to the Houston Texans. Despite some good play from Trevor Lawrence, Tank Bigsby, Christian Kirk, and Brian Robinson Jr., it wasn’t enough, as the Texans scored in the final moments of the game while the Jaguars collapsed and couldn’t get a score in the fourth quarter.
Pederson was pressed about the play-calling and said he could take it. However, the play-calling wasn’t the issue, as Trevor Lawrence missed some important layups. Despite the 0-4 start, the head coach also said he’s not concerned about his job status. If the losses continue to pile on, Pederson better start hitting the job board sites in search of another opportunity elsewhere.
Kansas City Chiefs: Andy Reid: B+
Andy Reid’s Chiefs won a come-from-behind competitive 17-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, but the Chiefs took a hit at the receiver position when Rashee Rice left the game with a knee injury, which the team currently fears is a possible torn ACL. If Rice is out long-term, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Xavier Worthry, and tight end Travis Kelce have to step it up in the passing game.
Defensively, the Chiefs had two sacks and kept the Chargers’ run game at bay by holding them to 55 yards on the ground. Reid and the Chiefs are also open to trading for a veteran receiver before the trade deadline, but Reid said they have to be experienced in the Chiefs’ offense moving forward.
Las Vegas Raiders: Antonio Pierce: B-
Antonio Pierce’s Raiders turned things around in a very good 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns. Despite Gardner Minshew not throwing a touchdown or interception all game, the Raiders scored two rushing touchdowns, while the Raiders’ defense had three sacks and an interception against Deshaun Watson.
Pierce told the press that the Raiders aren’t going to celebrate as if they won the Super Bowl, as there’s more business to accomplish and more games to play. The Raiders’ next challenge for week five has the team on the road, squaring off against the Denver Broncos in a divisional showdown.
Los Angeles Chargers: Jim Harbaugh: C-
Harbaugh’s Chargers started their game against the Kansas City Chiefs on a good note with a 10-0 lead, but penalties and the Chiefs’ defense prevented the Chargers from scoring more points in their 10-17 loss. Justin Herbert threw a touchdown against no interceptions. However, the Chargers were hindered by nine penalties, seven of which were on offense. Harbaugh said he would take the blame for the large amount of penalties.
On top of that, the Chargers’ run game struggled, as they were held to 55 yards on the ground. Harbaugh and the Chargers enter a bye week for week five and will need this opportunity to rest and recharge for week six when they square off against the Denver Broncos on the road.
Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay: D+
Sean McVay’s Rams had a rough afternoon in the Mid-West as they lost to the Chicago Bears 24-18. Matthew Stafford threw an interception against no touchdowns despite passing Eli Manning for 10th in passing yards all-time, while Kyren Williams and Tutu Atwell carried the offense. The Rams’ defense couldn’t even stop D’Andre Swift, as he had 93 rushing yards and scored a touchdown.
McVay blamed uncharacteristic mistakes regarding mental errors for the Rams’ downfall in Chicago. All McVay and the Rams can do is learn from their mistakes and move on to their week five matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
Miami Dolphins: Mike McDaniel: D-
Life without Tua Tagovailoa continues to impact McDaniel and the Dolphins as they lost 12-31 to the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football. Former Baltimore Ravens’ backup quarterback Tyler Huntley did score a rushing touchdown, but he didn’t throw any touchdown passes or interceptions and lost a fumble. The Dolphins’ run game and passing attack also struggled all night as McDaniel said the offense needs to change, and everything is on the table since Huntley is more of a running quarterback who previously benefited from the Ravens’ offense thanks to Lamar Jackson’s style of play.
If McDaniel and company make changes to the offense, they have to do it very quickly as the Dolphins hit the road for their week five matchup against the New England Patriots.
Minnesota Vikings: Kevin O’Connell: B+
O’Connell’s Vikings started the game strong with a 28-7 halftime lead, but the lead evaporated in the second half as the Packers attempted a comeback, which ended up not being enough as the Vikings won 31-29. Sam Darnold played very well, as he threw three touchdowns against one interception. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison both scored receiving touchdowns, while Addison also scored a rushing touchdown, and the Vikings’ defense intercepted three of Jordan Love’s passes. O’Connell told the press the Vikings need to play much better and avoid nearly collapsing to their NFC North foes.
New England Patriots: Jerod Mayo: D
Despite some decent play from the Patriots’ defense, Jerod Mayo’s team struggled on the offensive side of the ball in their 13-30 painful loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Jacoby Brissett struggled as he threw a touchdown against an interception and was sacked six times. Despite Brissett’s struggles, Mayo told the press Brissett will remain the Patriots’ starter for now.
Mayo also said the Pats have to do better with the turnover battle and avoid turning the ball over, as Brissett and Rhamondre Stevenson both lost fumbles in the game as well. Mayo’s Patriots return home in week five and will host the Miami Dolphins.
New Orleans Saints: Dennis Allen: D+
Dennis Allen’s Saints dropped another winnable game in a very close 24-26 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Derek Carr threw an interception, which was returned for a 47-yard pick-six by Troy Andersen, Alvin Kamara scored a rushing touchdown, and Taysom Hill scored two rushing touchdowns before suffering a rib injury. The Saints’ defense held their own despite the loss. Allen said to the press he knows he has a good football team in the locker room that has to play better and head coach the team better moving forward.
New York Giants: Brian Daboll: D
Brian Daboll’s job is once again in question as his Giants’ fell 15-20 at home to the Dallas Cowboys. Daniel Jones threw an interception against no touchdowns, and the rushing attack was held to 26 yards on the ground throughout the entire game. Daboll’s defense only generated a sack and had no turnovers all night. Former Giants’ defensive end Chris Canty said on ESPN’s Get Up that he believes Daniel Jones will be around a lot longer than head coach Daboll, as he believes Daboll was the biggest loser after week four.
New York Jets: Robert Saleh: D-
Saleh’s Jets fell flat on all sides of the ball in their week four 9-10 loss to the Denver Broncos at home. Rodgers didn’t throw any touchdowns or interceptions and was sacked five times, the Jets’ defense held Bo Nix to 60 passing yards but couldn’t sack him all game, and Breece Hall had his worst game as a Jet, as he rushed for only four yards on 10 carries. This is an ugly loss that falls on Saleh’s shoulders as the team looks to rebound quickly for their week five matchup abroad in London against the Minnesota Vikings.
Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Sirianni: D
It was a very brutal afternoon for Sirianni and the Eagles as he let a revenge game slip away in the Eagles’ 16-33 Wildcard weekend rematch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jalen Hurts threw a touchdown pass and scored a rushing touchdown, but the Eagles looked slow and unprepared as they were beaten on the road. It would be no surprise if Sirianni was fired before the season’s end if the losing continues. Luckily for the Eagles and Sirianni, the team enters week five with a bye week, so they can regroup and hopefully turn things around come week six.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin: C+
Tomlin’s Steelers lost a tough 24-27 heartbreaker to the Indianapolis Colts despite a comeback attempt in the second half. Tomlin’s team had some miscommunication issues in the first half of the game, as they were getting shut down for the majority of the half. Tomlin lost a challenge regarding Joe Flacco completing a pass to Josh Downs, which gave the Colts a first down.
The Steelers head coach also called out Justin Fields by saying he needed to play a cleaner game despite him throwing a touchdown pass and scoring two rushing touchdowns. Tomlin and company will bounce back from this road loss as the Steelers get prepared for their week five showdown against the Dallas Cowboys under the lights in primetime.
San Francisco 49ers: Kyle Shanahan: B
Even though the 49ers are banged up with nagging injuries, Shanahan’s squad came away with a well-earned 30-13 win over the New England Patriots. Jordan Mason had a great game as he scored a rushing touchdown, and Brock Purdy threw a touchdown pass to George Kittle. However, Shanahan confirmed to reporters that Christian McCaffrey has Achilles tendinitis in both of his legs, which is a massive blow to the team moving forward. Defensively, the 49ers sacked Jacoby Brissett six times, and Fred Warner scored a 45-yard pick-six. Now the 49ers have to get ready to host the Arizona Cardinals in week five.
Seattle Seahawks: Mike MacDonald: B-
MacDonald’s Seahawks’ undefeated season came to an end as they lost 29-42 to a very physically aggressive Detroit Lions team. Geno Smith played fairly well, as he threw a touchdown against an interception, Kenneth Walker III scored a rushing touchdown, and DK Metcalf had 104 receiving yards. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb deserves a lot of credit for keeping the Seahawks in the game.
Defensively, the Seahawks struggled to contain Jared Goff and the Lions’ offense, and MacDonald said they weren’t the team they wanted to be. The Seahawks also had no Boye Mafe, Uchenna Nwosu, Leonard Williams, and Byron Murphy II who are all dealing with injuries. MacDonald and the Seahawks have to regroup for week five when they host the New York Giants.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Todd Bowles: B+
Bowles, Bucs head coach, took care of business and foiled the Philadelphia Eagles’ revenge game in a 33-16 win over the Eagles. Baker Mayfield threw two passing touchdowns and scored a rushing touchdown. Mike Evans had a massive afternoon with 94 receiving yards and a touchdown, and Bucky Irving scored a rushing touchdown. Bowles said to the press he enjoyed watching his team start the game fast and clicked early on as they dominated the Eagles on all fronts. Bowles and the Bucs now have to get prepared for their week five matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
Tennessee Titans: Brian Callahan: C+
Callahan’s Titans didn’t play the prettiest game all week, as Will Levis suffered a shoulder injury, and Mason Rudolph came in and led the team to their first win of the 2024 season in a 31-12 victory against the Miami Dolphins. The Titans’ rushing attack was on point as Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears both scored touchdowns, but the passing attack needs improvement, as DeAndre Hopkins and Tyler Boyd both caught two receptions for 31 yards. Defensively, the Titans, led by defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, kept the Dolphins’ offense at bay all night.
Head coach Brian Callahan said that after the game, the Levis will still be the starter for the Titans if he’s healthy, despite Rudolph’s performance. Luckily for Callahan and the Titans, the team has a bye week for week five and will return to action in week six when they face the Indianapolis Colts at home.
Washington Commanders: Dan Quinn: B+
Quinn’s Commanders went to work and torched the Arizona Cardinals 42-14 in a massive statement win. Jayden Daniels had another great passing day as he threw for 233 yards, threw a touchdown to Terry McLaurin against an interception, and scored a rushing touchdown. The Commanders’ rushing attack couldn’t be stopped either, as they had a combined 216 yards and scored four rushing touchdowns.
Full credit goes to Commanders’ offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury for making Daniels very comfortable all game. Kingsbury used to be the head coach of the Cardinals from 2019 until he was fired in 2022. Quinn’s defense has some work to do, although they had four sacks against Kyler Murray. Regardless, Quinn, so far, has the Commanders moving in the right direction.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Head Coaches From WORST To FIRST After Week 3 Of The 2024 Season
