Week five was another great week of football, and we saw some NFL head coaches earn excellent wins at home or on the road.
However, week five saw a mid-season firing, showing us that not everyone’s job is safe. As for the coaches who did suffer painful losses and still have their jobs, there is still time to right the ship and have respectable wins.
Either way, always be prepared for the unexpected in life, which is pretty much the 2024 season so far.
Here are the grades for all 32 NFL teams’ head coaches after week five games.
How did your favorite NFL head coach fare after week 5 of games?
Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Gannon: B+
Gannon’s Cardinals played a neck-and-neck battle with the San Francisco 49ers and won 24-23 after being down 10-23 at halftime. Kyler Murray threw a touchdown against an interception and scored a rushing touchdown. James Conner ran for 86 yards, and the pass protection was there to protect Murray. Gannon said it was a great win against a greatly coached 49ers team, as the Cardinals played an incredible second half on all three phases of the game.
Atlanta Falcons: Raheem Morris: B+
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Morris and the Falcons sent the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a message, as they are officially 2-0 in divisional matchups after their 36-30 overtime win against Tampa. Kirk Cousins threw for over 500 yards and threw four touchdowns against one interception, Darnell Mooney scored two touchdowns, and KhaDarel Hodge scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime. Morris said the importance of winning divisional games sends a high-magnitude message as the Falcons look to defeat their NFC South opponents and possibly conquer the NFC South.
Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh: A-
John Harbaugh’s Ravens have turned the page from their 0-2 start, as they won their third straight game in a very intense 41-38 overtime win against the Cincinnati Bengals. Lamar Jackson threw four touchdowns against no interceptions, Derrick Henry scored a rushing touchdown, and Isaiah Likely scored two touchdowns. On defense, the Ravens managed to get three sacks and an interception. Harbaugh was very proud of the offense, defense, and special teams, as they kept fighting against a very physical Bengals team. Harbaugh was especially pleased with the Ravens’ defense for getting the necessary stop on defense, as they made things difficult for the Bengals to kick their field goal attempt in overtime.
Buffalo Bills: Sean McDermott: C
McDermott’s Bills nearly pulled off a comeback attempt in their week five matchup against the Houston Texans but lost 20-23 in the final seconds of the game. Josh Allen threw a touchdown to Keon Coleman against no interceptions, and James Cook scored a touchdown. McDermott blamed himself for poor clock management late in the game and said he’s got to do a better job in those kinds of situations and try to force the Texans to burn their timeouts. McDermott and company travel back east for a primetime showdown with the New York Jets for week six.
Carolina Panthers: Dave Canales: F
It was a rough afternoon for Canales and the Panthers in the Windy City, as they were crushed 10-36 by the Bears. Despite the struggles from Andy Dalton, as he threw an interception against no touchdowns and was sacked three times, Canales said Bryce Young did a good job, even though Dalton will remain the starter moving forward. Canales said the Panthers’ run game was good, but the Bears’ defense played fantastic as the Panthers’ offense couldn’t get their drives going on third down, which was an issue for the majority of the game. Canales and the Panthers return home for a week six divisional showdown against the Atlanta Falcons.
Chicago Bears: Matt Eberflus: B+
Eberflus’ Bears had a great afternoon as they played excellent complementary football in their 36-10 victory over the Chicago Bears. The Bears’ offense had a great afternoon as Caleb Willimas threw two touchdowns against no interceptions, D’Andre Swift scored a rushing touchdown, and DJ Moore scored a receiving touchdown. Eberflus’ defense had four sacks, which made things miserable for the Panthers’ offense all game long, as they had an interception in the victory. Eberflus and the Bears have their work cut out for them as they travel abroad to London and square off against the Jacksonville Jaguars in week six.
Cincinnati Bengals: Zac Taylor: B-
Despite the Bengals playing a very physical game on all fronts of the ball, in their 38-41 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Zac Taylor faced some questions as he took the ball out of Burrow’s hands in the overtime period. Before that, Burrow cooked a great game, as he threw five touchdowns against four interceptions, and Ja’Marr Chase scored two touchdowns. Despite the great offensive performance by the Bengals, Tee Higgins said he should’ve gone more aggressive with the Bengals’ offense in the overtime period, while Taylor said they were in a good position to win the game with the field goal, even though it went wide left. The Bengals are currently 1-4 and need to rebound quickly if Taylor wants to cool his coaching seat.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Head Coaches From WORST To FIRST After Week 4 Of The 2024 Season
Cleveland Browns: Kevin Stefanski: D
Stefanski and the Browns had an embarrassing afternoon as they lost a painful 13-34 game on the road against the Washington Commanders. Despite the defense coached by defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz playing well, they had three sacks, a fumble recovery, and an interception. Stefanski plans to stick with Watson at quarterback, even though he was benched at the end of the game for Jameis Winston. If Watson and the Browns continue to struggle and lose games, Stefanski might want to start going on the job board sites. The temperature on his coaching seat is slowly getting warmer.
Dallas Cowboys: Mike McCarthy: B
McCarthy managed to save his job, as he and the Cowboys won a thrilling and close 20-17 Sunday night battle against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dak Prescott played a good game, and the Cowboys’ defense was relentless against the Steelers’ running and passing attacks, even though they didn’t snag any interceptions. McCarthy also had a gift handed to him in the form of Mike Tomlin using the Steelers’ final timeout, which gave McCarthy time to scheme the game-winning touchdown with seconds to go. It’s a great win for McCarthy and the Cowboys, as they return home for a showdown against the Detroit Lions in week six.
Denver Broncos: Sean Payton: B+
Sean Payton’s Broncos were ready to roll as they defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 34-18. Payton did get into a heated argument with Bo Nix on the sideline, even though he threw two touchdowns against no interceptions and scored a rushing touchdown. The Broncos’ defense, coached by defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, played viciously well, as Patrick Surtain II scored a 100-yard pick-six in the game. Payton said it was a very good division win at home, as they came up with the big plays they needed.
Detroit Lions: Dan Campbell: Bye Week
Campbell coached an outstanding game in week five and needs to get his team prepared for their week six matchup in Dallas against the Dallas Cowboys.
Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur: B
Matt LeFleur’s Packers pulled off an impressive 24-19 road victory over the struggling Los Angeles Rams. Jordan Love threw two touchdowns against an interception, Josh Jacobs finally scored his first rushing touchdown, and Tucker Kraft had a great game as he hauled in two touchdowns. On defense, Xavier McKinney had an incredible performance with an interception and a fumble recovery. LeFleur was proud of his guys for putting up a fight and showing resiliency against Sean McVay’s Rams. LeFleur and the Packers return home and square off against the Arizona Cardinals in week six.
Houston Texans: DeMeco Ryans: B+
Despite some mistakes made in the game, DeMeco Ryans’ Texans avoided a Buffalo Bills comeback and won 23-20, thanks to Ka’imi Fairbairn’s game-winning field goal. C.J. Stroud threw a touchdown to Nico Collins against an interception, but Collins will miss time with a hamstring injury. Ryans praised how calm some of the guys were despite being in a hectic situation as the Bills were coming back into the game, while guys on defense were able to make their stops and be relentless to help the team pull off the win.
Indianapolis Colts: Shane Steichen: C
Steichen’s Colts lost a painful 34-37 game to the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road despite excellent performances from Joe Flacco and Alec Pierce. Steichen may have made better use of the three time-outs left in the final seconds of the game to plan how to stop the Jaguars’ game-winning drive. Steichen would call a time-out when there were 27, 24, and 21 seconds left on the clock. The Colts had the ball with 17 seconds left, and Flacco got sacked, ending the game in favor of the Jaguars, as the game came down to explosive plays. After the game, Steichen also said Anthony Richardson would be the starting quarterback once he’s medically cleared to play.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Doug Pederson: B
Pederson may have saved his job for now, as he and the Jaguars earned a very intense 37-34 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Trevor Lawrence threw two touchdowns against an interception, and Tank Bigsby scored two rushing touchdowns. After the win, Pederson said the win was a huge weight lifted off everyone’s shoulders. Now Pederson and the Jaguars have to build upon this win as they travel to London for their week six matchup against the New England Patriots.
Kansas City Chiefs: Andy Reid: A-
The Chiefs may not have the flashiest receivers for Patrick Mahomes, even though head coach Andy Reid knows how to make the best of whoever is on their NFL roster, as they defeated the New Orleans Saints 26-13. Kareem Hunt and Juju Smith-Schuster had excellent performances in the Monday night victory and praised Reid for setting them up for success. The Chiefs’ defense, coached by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, made things very painful for the Saints’ rushing attack, as they were held to a combined 46 yards on the ground. Reid praised the next-man-up mentality of the Chiefs as they continue to step up and keep their undefeated season alive.
Las Vegas Raiders: Antonio Pierce: D
It was another tough afternoon for Pierce’s Raiders as they fell on the road to the Denver Broncos. Gardner Minshew struggled for most of the game as he threw a touchdown against two interceptions before getting benched for Aidan O’Connell. The one bright spot for Pierce’s Raiders was the performance of the defense led by Maxx Crosby, despite the Broncos having 289 yards against the Silver and Black. Pierce said he doesn’t know who the starting quarterback will be for week six as the Raiders host the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Los Angeles Chargers: Jim Harbaugh: Bye Week
Despite all of the injury setbacks the Chargers have endured so far this season, Harbaugh must rally the troops when they return to action in week six.
Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay: C
McVay and the Rams fell apart in their 19-24 home loss against the Green Bay Packers. Matthew Stafford threw a touchdown against an interception, and Kyren Williams had a great game on the ground with 102 rushing yards and a touchdown but lost a fumble. On defense, Jaylen McCollough shined as he scored a pick-six. Head coach McVay said there were a lot of opportunities to win the game as the Rams’ defense played well, but the Rams’ offense struggled, as they had some costly turnovers in their NFL contest, which affected the outcome of the game in the end.
Miami Dolphins: Mike McDaniel: C-
Despite a very ugly 15-10 win on the road against the New England Patriots, Mike McDaniel made the best of who he had on the field in the victory. Tyler Huntley played slightly better despite throwing an interception against no touchdowns. The Dolphins’ run game had a good afternoon, and the Dolphins’ secondary played well. However, the Dolphins’ special teams were a mess, despite kicker Jason Sanders kicking three field goals, and the Dolphins had six penalties for 54 yards of scrimmage. It’s back to the drawing board for McDaniel and the Dolphins as the team tries to earn their third win of the 2024 season after their week six bye week.
Minnesota Vikings: Kevin O’Connell: B+
O’Connell’s Vikings had a very gritty win abroad, as they defeated the New York Jets 23-17 in London. The Vikings’ offense had an off day as Sam Darnold threw an interception against no touchdowns and was sacked three times, while the Vikings rushing attack was held to a combined 82 yards on the ground. The Vikings’ defense, coached by defensive coordinator Brian Flores, was ruthless against Aaron Rodgers and the Jets’ offense for the majority of the game. O’Connell and the Vikings return home for a bye week in week six and won’t return to action until week seven when they square off against the Detroit Lions.
New England Patriots: Jerod Mayo: D
Mayo’s Patriots had a rough afternoon, as they dropped their fourth straight game in a painful 10-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Jacoby Brissett threw no touchdowns or interceptions, Rhamondre Stevenson scored a touchdown, and the Pats’ defense played slightly okay. Mayo told the press that the team needed to be better at executing plays and put a better team out on the field. The Patriots also had 12 penalties for 105 yards of scrimmage and have a tough week six test at home as they host the Houston Texans.
New Orleans Saints: Dennis Allen: D+
After starting the 2024 season 2-0, Dennis Allen’s Saints are free-falling back to earth after their 13-26 painful loss on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs. Derek Carr threw two touchdowns against an interception before exiting the game with an oblique injury. Allen said the Saints were outplayed and out-coached all game, as they couldn’t get anything going. If the Saints continue to implode, it may be time for Allen to open up Indeed and start looking for a new job.
New York Giants: Brian Daboll: B
Daboll managed to keep his coaching seat cool in week five as the Giants stunned the Seattle Seahawks 29-20. Daniel Jones threw two touchdowns against no interceptions, while the star of the game, Bryce Ford-Wheaton, blocked a kick and returned it for a 60-yard touchdown. Daboll’s offense also performed well, even without Devin Singletary and Malik Nabers, who are recovering from injuries. Daboll also had control of the Giants’ offensive playcalling throughout the game, as it helped the team escape Seattle with a win. Daboll and company will be tested again in week six when the Cincinnati Bengals come to town.
New York Jets: Robert Saleh: D+
Robert Saleh and the Jets had a very rough day in London, as they lost to the Minnesota Vikings 17-23. The Jets’ run game was a mess as they were held to 36 yards all game, while Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdowns against three interceptions as he played on a low ankle sprain. Saleh’s defense played a good matchup, as they had an interception and four sacks against Sam Darnold. Saleh said the Jets’ run game hasn’t been good enough, while Garrett Wilson had a great game on offense, and the Jets’ defense played well. However, just two days after the game, Saleh was fired and escorted out of the Jets’ facility. The Jets have named Jeff Ulbrich as the team’s interim head coach until a replacement is found for the 2025 NFL season.
Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Sirianni: Bye Week
Sirianni and the Eagles have had a rough couple of games, and the head coach needs to get them back on track this NFL season. Luckily, the Eagles are expected to get A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Lane Johnson back for week six.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin: C
Tomlin’s Steelers had a decent night defensively but had a rough Sunday night offensively, as they lost a nail-biting 17-20 battle against the Dallas Cowboys. Justin Fields continues to shine, as he threw two touchdowns against no interceptions while the Steelers’ passing and rushing attack struggled. The defense held their own but couldn’t get the job done in the end. Tomlin used his final time-out, which ended up giving the Cowboys the game-winning touchdown with seconds to go. Tomlin said to reporters he didn’t regret using that timeout when the Cowboys’ were at a fourth and goal. Tomlin and company head back to practice and will get prepared for their week six matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders on the road.
San Francisco 49ers: Kyle Shanahan: C-
Shanahan and the 49ers had a very frustrating Sunday afternoon, as the 49ers let a 23-10 lead slip away and lost 23-24 to the Arizona Cardinals. Brock Purdy threw a touchdown against two interceptions, Jordan Mason rushed for 89 yards, and George Kittle scored a touchdown. Shanahan said the Cardinals brought more than what the team had to block, which resulted in Purdy dealing with a failure of pass protection for the majority of the second half. Shanahan also said that this loss was much worse than the 49ers’ week three loss to the Rams, as turnovers were more prevalent, and not being able to score in the second half. Shanahan and the 49ers hit the road and travel north for a matchup against the Seattle Seahawks in week six.
Seattle Seahawks: Mike MacDonald: C
Mike MacDonald’s Seahawks dropped their second straight game in a shocking 20-29 loss to the New York Giants at home. Geno Smith threw a touchdown against no interceptions but was sacked seven times. Kenneth Walker III struggled and only had 19 rushing yards on five carries. Head coach MacDonald said he wanted to get Smith going early and didn’t have many plays going in the first half during their recent NFL game. Meanwhile, the defense managed to have three sacks and a fumble recovery against the Giants. MacDonald and company need to recover fast, as they get prepared for their week six matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on primetime.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Todd Bowles: B-
Despite strong performances from Baker Mayfield and Lavonte David, Todd Bowles and the Bucs failed to close things out in their 30-36 overtime loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The Bucs’ offense put up a strong fight in the first half but was limited to two field goals in the second half, while the Bucs’ defense missed making crucial plays as the Falcons took advantage of it in overtime. Cornerback Zyon McCullum missed tackling KhaDarel Hodge as he scored the game-winning touchdown. Bowles said he was aggressive, but the ball went through his hands. Bowles also said the Bucs had plenty of chances to win the game, and will have to go back to work as they get prepared for their week six matchup on the road against the New Orleans Saints.
Tennessee Titans: Brian Callahan: Bye Week
Even though Callahan and the Titans earned their first win in week four, the team still has a lot work to do if they want to build upon that win moving forward.
Washington Commanders: Dan Quinn: B+
Quinn and the Commanders had a great game at home, as they brought a lot of energy to Northwest Stadium in the team’s 34-13 win over the Cleveland Browns. Quinn’s defense, coached by defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., had seven sacks against Deshaun Watson and a fumble recovery. On offense, Jayden Daniels threw a touchdown against an interception and rushed for 82 yards on the ground. An electric performance by the Commanders as Quinn and company look to get prepared for their week six road trip up to Charm City and square off against the Baltimore Ravens.
Also Read: 5 WORST NFL Head Coaches In The Game Today, And The 5 BEST That Always Dominate
