Week eight was a wild week in the NFL as some head coaches saw their teams earn very dominating wins or in walk-off fashion, leaving fans wanting more.
However, some coaches saw their NFL teams take a step back as their coaching seats continued to get hotter until their team’s owners had no choice but to douse the fire and replace them in 2025.
With this wild week in the book, we’re looking forward to seeing what other schemes and strategies these head coaches have to show us in week nine.
Here are the grades for all 32 NFL teams’ head coaches after week eight games.
Who are the top NFL head coaches after week 8 of games?
Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Gannon: A-
Gannon’s Cardinals showed resiliency and determination as they returned from down 7-13 against the Miami Dolphins in South Beach and won 28-27 in last-second fashion, thanks to Chad Ryback’s game-winning field goal. Kyler Murray threw two touchdowns against no interceptions and wasn’t sacked at all, James Conner scored a rushing touchdown, Trey McBride had 124 receiving yards, and Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson scored touchdowns. On defense, the Cardinals had a sack, and Budda Baker had 12 tackles and a pass deflection. Head coach Gannon’s Redbirds are a very gritty NFL team that knows how to win games and continues to be a force to be reckoned with.
Atlanta Falcons: Raheem Morris: A-
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Morris’ Falcons played very nicely, as they defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-26 on the road. Kirk Cousins threw four touchdowns against no interceptions, Bijan Robinson rushed for 63 yards and scored a receiving touchdown, Kyle Pitts scored two touchdowns, and Darnell Mooney scored a touchdown. On defense, the Falcons had two sacks and a fumble recovery, thanks to the secondary snagging the ball when needed, but no sacks. Morris’ unit battled until the end and has full control of the NFC South… for now.
Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh: B
Harbaugh’s Ravens played well but couldn’t finish the job, as they were stunned 24-29 against the Cleveland Browns on the road. Lamar Jackson may have thrown two touchdowns against no interceptions, but the Ravens’ offense had trouble converting on third down as they were 2-10 on third down conversions. Derrick Henry scored a rushing touchdown, Zay Flowers had 115 receiving yards, and both Mark Andrews and Nelson Agholor scored touchdowns. Harbaugh’s and defensive coordinator Zachary Orr’s defense had two sacks and a fumble recovery, which wasn’t enough to slow the Browns’ offense down. Harbaugh and company have to improve on converting on third down as they return home to square off against the Denver Broncos in week nine.
Buffalo Bills: Sean McDermott: B+
McDermott’s Bills traveled to the Pacific Northwest and snagged themselves a very nice 31-10 road win over the Seattle Seahawks. Josh Allen threw two touchdowns against his first interception of the 2024 season, James Cook rushed for 111 yards on 25 carries and scored two touchdowns, and Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid both scored touchdowns. McDermott’s defense had a sack and interception while holding the Seahawks’ rushing attack to 32 yards all game long. This NFL head coach’s squad was relentless as they will return home for a week nine divisional showdown against the Miami Dolphins coming to town.
Carolina Panthers: Dave Canales: C-
Canales’ Panthers lost a tough 14-28 road battle against the Denver Broncos, despite some decent play from Bryce Young while Andy Dalton was recovering from injuries sustained in a car accident. Young threw two touchdowns against two interceptions, Chuba Hubbard rushed for 56 yards, and Jalen Coker and Xavier Leggette scored touchdowns. The Panthers’ defense had two sacks and two fumble recoveries on the afternoon. The Panthers’ head coach was asked by reporters if his NFL team were still interested in trading Bryce Young. Canales said he wanted to address the issues from a football perspective. Canales’ Panthers played better than they did in week seven but still have a lot of work to do as they return home and welcome the New Orleans Saints to town in week nine.
Chicago Bears: Matt Eberflus: D+
Eberflus’ Bears played a very close, low-scoring affair against the Washington Commanders but lost 15-18, thanks to Jayden Daniels’ walk-off Hail Mary touchdown pass to Noah Brown. Caleb Williams didn’t throw a touchdown or interception but lost a fumble, D’Andre Swift had an incredible game with 129 rushing yards and a touchdown, and Rome Odunze had 41 receiving yards. Eberflus’ defense, coached by Eric Washington, had two sacks while the spotlight was on Tyrique Stevenson for taunting the Commanders’ fans until he tipped the ball into Noah Brown’s hands, ending the game. Eberflus said losing a game like this was a tough one to swallow, as the Bears looked unprepared despite having two weeks to get ready for the game. The Bears continue their road trip, as they travel to the desert and meet the Arizona Cardinals for a week nine match-up.
Cincinnati Bengals: Zac Taylor: C-
Taylor’s Bengals started the game off strong with a Joe Burrow touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase to get the Bengals up 7-0. Unfortunately, Burrow and Chase’s efforts weren’t enough, as the Bengals fizzled out and lost 17-37 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Taylor said the second half wasn’t good enough, as the Bengals lost the turnover battle and couldn’t get points on the board in the fourth quarter. The Bengals’ rushing attack was held to a combined 58 yards on the ground while Chase Brown scored a rushing touchdown in the third quarter. A rough afternoon for the Bengals as they regroup and get prepared for their week nine match-up when they host the Las Vegas Raiders coming to town.
Also Read: 5 WORST NFL Head Coaches In The Game Today, And The 5 BEST That Always Dominate
Cleveland Browns: Kevin Stefanski: B+
Stefanski’s Browns had a very nice afternoon as they stunned the Baltimore Ravens 29-24. Jameis Winston played very well, as he threw three touchdowns against no interceptions but lost a fumble, Nick Chubb had 52 rushing yards, David Njoku scored a touchdown, and Cedric Tillman scored two touchdowns. On defense, the Browns had three sacks and were fierce against a very strong Ravens’ offense, thanks to defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s aggressive style of coaching. Stefanski and company have a win to build upon as they get prepared to host the Los Angeles Chargers in week nine.
Dallas Cowboys: Mike McCarthy: D
McCarthy’s Cowboys started their Sunday night battle against the 49ers all right but failed to finish the game, as they lost 24-30 under the lights in Santa Clara, CA. Dak Prescott threw two touchdowns against two interceptions, the Cowboys’ rushing attack was held to 56 yards on the ground, and CeeDee Lamb had 146 receiving yards and scored two touchdowns. McCarthy’s and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s unit had two sacks, as the 49ers’ passing attack was too much for them. McCarthy’s Cowboys have a lot to work on before their week nine match-up against the Atlanta Falcons on the road. Otherwise, McCarthy’s coaching seat will continue to heat up if the Cowboys continue losing.
Denver Broncos: Sean Payton: B
Payton’s Broncos played very well, as they defeated the Carolina Panthers 28-14. Bo Nix threw three touchdowns against no interceptions, Courtland Sutton had 100 receiving yards, and Jaleel McLaughlin, Nate Adkins, and Adam Trautman all scored touchdowns. The defense, coached by Payton and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, had two sacks and two interceptions against Bryce Young. Payton was pleased the Broncos earned the win but wasn’t happy with the team losing two fumbles and the way they finished. Regardless of the execution, Payton’s Broncos have the win. Payton’s Broncos travel east for a matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on the road.
Detroit Lions: Dan Campbell: A
Campbell’s Lions dominated on all sides of the football as they crushed the Tennessee Titans 52-14 in front of their home crowd. Jared Goff threw three touchdowns against no interceptions, Jahmyr Gibbs scored a rushing touchdown, David Montgomery scored a rushing touchdown and threw a touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta, and Brock Wright, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Kalif Raymond all scored touchdowns, while Raymond also scored a punt return for a touchdown. On defense, the Lions had two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and a sack. Campbell, along with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, and special teams coordinator David Fipp, all deserve credit for an outstanding coaching job, all game long, in the dominating victory.
Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur: B+
LaFleur’s Packers narrowly escaped Duval County with a 30-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, thanks to Brandon McManus kicking the game-winning field goal in the final seconds. Jordan Love threw an interception against no touchdowns but left the game with a groin injury. LeFleur said he is very concerned about Love’s injury. Malik Willis stepped in and threw a touchdown to Tucker Kraft, and Josh Jacobs scored two rushing touchdowns. However, the defense, coached by defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, needs to prevent opposing offenses from attempting a comeback. Regardless, the Packers earned the win and returned home for a tough divisional match-up against the Detroit Lions in week nine.
Houston Texans: DeMeco Ryans: B+
Ryans’ Texans played a nice game, as they defeated the Indianapolis Colts 23-20. C.J. Stroud had a nice rebound game under Ryans’s watch as he threw a touchdown to Tank Dell against no interceptions, while Joe Mixon scored a rushing touchdown. The Texans’ defense, coached by Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke, had five sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery against the Colts’ offense. Ryans said after the game that losing Stefon Diggs to a non-contact knee injury was unfortunate, as the team has to get ready for their week nine road trip against the New York Jets on Halloween, just in time for tricks and treats.
Indianapolis Colts: Shane Steichen: C-
Steichen’s Colts played all right but couldn’t get the job done, as the offense fell flat in the team’s 20-23 loss against the Houston Texans. Anthony Richardson threw a touchdown against an interception, Jonathan Taylor scored a rushing touchdown, and Josh Downs scored a touchdown. On defense, Steichen’s Colts did a decent job keeping the team afloat, and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley deserves credit for a good coaching job. The well-known NFL head coach had a rough time with play-calling, as it hurt the Colts offensively, not to mention Richardson missing a play because he needed rest. That is not a good look on the Colts. Steichen and the Colts have another tough road test ahead of them as they travel north to square off against the Minnesota Vikings in week nine.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Doug Pederson: C
Despite the Jaguars’ comeback attempt, Pederson’s team lost 27-30 against the Green Bay Packers in last-second fashion. Trevor Lawrence threw two touchdowns against an interception and scored a rushing touchdown, Tank Bigsby had 78 rushing yards, and Brian Thomas Jr. and Evan Engram both scored touchdowns. On defense, the Jags had a sack and interception against the Packers. However, Pederson’s team saw a slew of injuries, including losing Christian Kirk to a season-ending broken collar bone. Pederson said the guys were extremely disappointed as they fought their tails off despite the loss. Pederson and company have a tough road test ahead of them as they prepare to take on the Philadelphia Eagles on the road in week nine.
Kansas City Chiefs: Andy Reid: A-
Reid’s Chiefs escape Sin City with a nice 27-20 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdowns against an interception, Travis Kelce had 90 receiving yards and scored a touchdown, Xavier Worthy scored a touchdown, and Kareem Hunt scored a touchdown. The Chiefs’ defense, coached by Reid and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, had five sacks and a fumble recovery and is the heart and soul of the team. The legendary NFL head coach praised the defense and the offense for keeping Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby at bay and was also pleased with newly acquired wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in his Chiefs debut. Reid’s Chiefs return home and will welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to town in week nine on Monday Night Football.
Las Vegas Raiders: Antonio Pierce: D+
Pierce’s Raiders played decently against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion, Kansas City Chiefs, but fell short as they lost 20-27. Gardner Minshew threw two touchdowns against no interceptions, but he lost a fumble and was sacked five times. The Raiders’ rushing attack was a mess as they were held to 33 yards on the ground, and Jakobi Meyers and DJ Turner both scored touchdowns. On defense, Pierce’s Raiders had an interception and a sack, but Maxx Crosby had a very quiet afternoon thanks to the Chiefs’ offensive line holding him at bay. Pierce and the Raiders had ample opportunities to win the game, but bad quarterback play from Minshew held them back, and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s run game struggled all afternoon. Pierce and the Raiders travel east for a showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals on the road in week nine.
Los Angeles Chargers: Jim Harbaugh: B+
After a really bad and forgetful week seven loss against the Arizona Cardinals, Harbaugh’s Chargers rebounded with a very nice 26-8 victory over the woeful New Orleans Saints. Justin Herbert looked sharp as he threw two touchdowns to Ladd McConkey, and J.K. Dobbins scored a rushing touchdown on the ground. On defense, the Chargers’ pass rush was aggressive against both Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener, and they had five sacks in the afternoon. Despite the injury woes, Harbaugh knows how to utilize his talent and make the best out of what he has.
Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay: B+
McVay and the Rams returned to the win column as they defeated the Minnesota Vikings 30-20 in a controversial game. Matthew Stafford had four touchdowns against an interception, both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp returned to action after suffering injuries in weeks one and two and played a big role in the win, and the Rams’ defense played aggressively against Sam Darnold, although Byron Young should’ve been flagged for grabbing Darnold’s facemask in the Vikings’ end zone. McVay also became the Rams’ winningest head coach of all time with 80 wins, passing John Robinson, who had 79 wins. A great win for McVay and the Rams as they look to get their season back on track in a very competitive NFC West.
Miami Dolphins: Mike McDaniel: C-
McDaniel’s Dolphins welcomed Tua Tagovailoa back as he played well, even though the team lost 27-28 in last-second fashion to the Arizona Cardinals. Tagovailoa threw a touchdown pass to De’Von Achane while Achane rushed for 97 yards, and Raheem Mostert scored two rushing touchdowns. However, the Dolphins’ defense, coached by defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, was a massive letdown, as they failed to sack Kyler Murray and couldn’t stop the Redbirds from getting into the end zone for the majority of the game. McDaniel needs to get the Dolphins back on track with Tagovailoa back in the lineup, or else their playoff chances will vanish faster than your Aunt Ethel’s chips at a casino in Hollywood, FL.
Minnesota Vikings: Kevin O’Connell: C
O’Connell’s Vikings had a rough Thursday night, as they lost a controversial 20-30 battle against the Los Angeles Rams. Sam Darnold threw two touchdowns against no interceptions, while Justin Jefferson had a very nice game with 115 receiving yards. The Rams’ defense, coached by defensive coordinator Brian Flores, couldn’t get a single sack against Matthew Stafford, but Byron Murphy Jr. had an interception on the night. Despite the Vikings’ two-game skid, O’Connell defended Darnold’s performance and wants the rest of the team to get better each week. O’Connell’s Vikings return home and will host the Indianapolis Colts in week nine.
New England Patriots: Jerod Mayo: C+
Mayo’s Patriots may not have played the prettiest game, but they did score a nice 25-22 upset win over the New York Jets. Losing Drake Maye to a concussion was a blow, but Jacoby Brissett stepped up and led the team on offense while Rhamondre Stevenson scored two rushing touchdowns. On defense, the Pats had a sack, and Christian Gonzalez kept Davante Adams at 54 receiving yards maximum. Mayo needed this win after he had faced an unending wave of criticism from fans, former coaches, and the press for his past losses. The team is still having issues with the passing attack on offense and needs to improve moving forward.
New Orleans Saints: Dennis Allen: F
Allen’s Saints were humiliated on the road in their 8-26 loss against the Los Angeles Chargers. Spencer Rattler looked awful, as he threw no touchdowns or interceptions and was benched for Jake Haener- who didn’t play much better. Chris Olave had a nice afternoon with 107 yards, and Alvin Kamara had 67 rushing yards. On defense, it was very depressing, as the Saints’ secondary couldn’t stop Ladd McConkey from having an excellent day in the Chargers’ passing attack. All of these errors will continue to reflect badly on Allen, who continues to see his coaching seat get hotter and hotter each week.
New York Giants: Brian Daboll: D
Daboll’s Giants started the game slow against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football. They failed to capitalize on a comeback attempt as they lost 18-26. Daniel Jones threw an interception to end the game against no touchdowns, Malik Nabers had 71 receiving yards, Darius Slayton had 108 receiving yards, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. had 145 rushing yards and scored a touchdown. The defense coached by Daboll and defensive coordinator Shane Bowen put up a fight against the Steelers as they had four sacks and a fumble recovery against Russell Wilson, but the unit allowed 167 rushing yards against them. However, it was little mistakes that upended Daboll’s unit, as pre-snap penalties and guys not getting set before snaps need to be addressed before the Giants get set to host the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium in week nine.
New York Jets: Jeff Ulbrich: D
Ulbrich’s short tenure as Jets’ interim head coach has been rough, as they fell 22-25 on the road against the New England Patriots. Aaron Rodgers may have thrown two touchdowns against no interceptions, and both Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall had nice games statistically, but the Jets burned three timeouts in the first quarter and looked like a mess for the majority of the game. Ulbrich has struggled to adjust as a head coach while also coordinating the defense, which is part of the reason why the Jets season is looking more like a lost cause each week. If the Jets don’t find a way to turn it around, Gang Green is going to have to find a new coach for the 2025 season.
Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Sirianni: B+
Sirianni’s Eagles looked incredible on offense as they dominated the Cincinnati Bengals 37-17 on the road. Jalen Hurts threw a touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith in the third quarter and scored three rushing touchdowns, while Saquon Barkley rushed for 108 yards on the ground. On defense, the Eagles had a sack, interception, and fumble recovery while also holding the Bengals’ rushing attack to 58 yards on the ground. This team’s head coach, Sirianni, has said that they are a very physical NFL team, which is just what is needed to get the win. Sirianni’s Eagles return home and will get ready to host the Jacksonville Jaguars in week nine.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin: B+
Tomlin’s Steelers started the game slow against the New York Giants until the second half when special teams and defense stepped up and earned the team the 26-18 win over the G-Men. Russell Wilson looked good as he threw a touchdown to Calvin Austin III, but was sacked four times and lost a fumble. Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin deserve praise for how physical and aggressive their defense unit was against the woeful Giants’ offense, as they had four sacks, a fumble recovery from T.J. Watt, and the game-ending interception from Beanie Bishop Jr. Special teams coordinator Danny Smith also deserves praise, as Austin III also scored a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown. A strong win for Tomlin’s Steelers as they enter their week nine bye week.
San Francisco 49ers: Kyle Shanahan: B+
Even as Shanahan’s 49ers are battling injuries and lost Brandon Aiyuk for the 2024 season due to an ACL injury, the team won 30-24 at home against the Dallas Cowboys. Brock Prudy threw a touchdown pass to George Kittle and scored a rushing touchdown, and Issac Guerendo scored a rushing touchdown. Shanahan’s and defensive coordinator Nick Sorenson’s defense had two sacks and two interceptions and kept the Cowboys’ rushing attack to a mere 56 yards on the ground. Shanahan’s 49ers enter a bye week in week nine to regroup and get refreshed for when they return to action in week 10.
Seattle Seahawks: Mike Macdonald: D-
Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks may have started 3-0, but they’ve fallen flat in their recent games and continued the trend, as they lost a painful 10-31 beatdown against the Buffalo Bills. Geno Smith threw an interception and no touchdowns, the Seahawks’ rushing attack was held to a mere 32 yards all game, with Zach Charbonnet scoring the team’s only touchdown, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 69 receiving yards. On defense, the Seahawks were roasted by James Cook, as he rushed for 111 yards and scored two touchdowns, while Josh Jobe had one interception against Josh Allen. Macdonald’s Seahawks have perpetuated a bad habit of starting games slowly and then falling behind, forcing Geno Smith to make more throws than he needs to, which hurts the team in key match-ups. If this continues, losses will fall on Macdonald’s shoulders and the rest of the Seahawks’ coaching staff.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Todd Bowles: D+
Bowles’ Buccaneers lost a tough 26-31 divisional battle at home to the Atlanta Falcons in the afternoon. Baker Mayfield threw three touchdowns against two interceptions. Bowles’ offense is truly missing both Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, who are out with injuries while Godwin is done for the 2024 season. On defense, the Bucs couldn’t slow down the red-hot Falcons’ offense as Darnell Mooney and Kyle Pitts went off. Some of Bowles’ coaching decisions have been questionable and have left some fans scratching their heads on whether Bowles can coach the Bucs long-term- or not.
Tennessee Titans: Brian Callahan: D
Despite some good performances from Calvin Ridley and Tony Pollard, Callahan’s Titans looked directionless as they were decimated 14-52 against the Detroit Lions. Mason Rudolph threw a touchdown against two interceptions, while the Titans lost two fumbles as they had no motivation throughout the second half. Special teams coordinator Colt Anderson’s unit struggled, as the Titans failed to contain Kalif Reynolds all game long as he scored a punt return touchdown. Callahan told the press that the Titans aren’t a product people are excited to watch at the moment, as he can’t seem to fix their depressing woes. If the Titans continue to drop games in humiliating fashion, Callahan’s coaching seat is going to get crispier than fried chicken sitting in the hot oil for too long.
Washington Commanders: Dan Quinn: A-
Quinn’s Commanders earned themselves a very nice 18-15 last-second walk-off win against the Chicago Bears via a Jayden Daniels Hail Mary touchdown pass to Noah Brown. Aside from Daniels’ performance, Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for 65 yards, Terry McLaurin had 125 receiving yards, and Zach Ertz had 77 receiving yards. Quinn’s defense, led by defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., had a fumble recovery and two sacks. Quinn and this NFL team’s offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury, deserve a lot of credit for helping craft Daniels’ Hail Mary touchdown pass, as their head coach called it a bada** example of who this Commanders team is. The Commanders travel north to MetLife Stadium for a road match-up against the New York Giants in week nine.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Head Coaches From WORST To FIRST After Week 7 Of The 2024 Season
