Frequently, when teams in the National Football League dismiss their head coaches, it doesn’t seem as though they initially contemplate an essential question: Will the subsequent coach be an improvement?
Concerning the Tennessee Titans, the response upon firing Mike Vrabel was definitively negative. It could be a considerable time before they secure someone as accomplished as Vrabel.
The Titans dismissed Brian Callahan following a 1-5 start on the preceding Monday. Dismissing a head coach so early in the campaign morphs into an evaluation of the franchise and the issues that surfaced. Regarding the Titans, a crucial moment occurred in January 2024 when they surprisingly dismissed a respected coach due to a power dynamic with general manager Ran Carthon. The general manager would be dismissed a year later.
Vrabel is scheduled to return to Nashville this weekend as the head coach of the New England Patriots, serving as a stark reminder of the Titans’ errors and the decline in their circumstances since his dismissal. Vrabel has guided the Patriots, previously at 4-13 in each of the past two seasons, to a 4-2 start. The Titans have a 4-19 record since dismissing Vrabel. Their sequence of dismissing and employing mismatched general managers and coaches mirrors the ownership’s situation. There has been a lack of a strategic plan. This should have been evident when they dismissed Vrabel, recognized as one of the finest coaches in the NFL. The opening will be less attractive due to roster deficiencies and skepticism regarding the ownership.
The Titans will seek a new head coach, specifically one capable of fostering quarterback Cam Ward’s progress more effectively than Callahan had achieved this season. The more significant issue was that the Titans already possessed an exceptional coach but did not appear to recognize it.
Below are the NFL Power Rankings following six weeks of the NFL season:
32 (previous ranking 32): New York Jets (0-6)
Justin Fields directed an offense that amassed -10 net passing yards. He endured nine sacks, most of which were attributed to him holding the ball for too long. The Jets are dysfunctional, and Fields’ performance is a primary factor. Despite a significant opportunity, he is demonstrating that he is not a suitable starting quarterback in the NFL.
The Titans dismissed Brian Callahan, which is not surprising. His record as their head coach was 4-19. Mike McCoy, formerly with the Chargers, assumes the role of interim coach. Despite concerns regarding the interim position, the situation in Tennessee is dire, and McCoy’s performance cannot be worse than Callahan’s.
The Dolphins are in disarray. They appeared to score a game-winning touchdown but were unable to maintain the lead for a minute and suffered a loss to the Chargers. Subsequently, Tua Tagovailoa criticized teammates for arriving late or not attending player-only meetings. Mike McDaniel is encountering difficulties.
The Saints are demonstrably superior to the three teams below them in the rankings, although this reflects more on the struggles of the Jets, Titans, and Dolphins. The Saints consistently compete on a weekly basis. They do not provide an easy matchup for opponents, which is a positive indicator for head coach Kellen Moore.
There were a few encouraging signs from the offense with Joe Flacco, which is acceptable. Still, it is not ideal. Additionally, Flacco is not a young player poised for further development as the season progresses. At least Ja’Marr Chase is now able to catch some passes.
Defeating the Titans carries limited significance. The Raiders did not perform well; however, the Titans are considerably worse. Geno Smith continues to struggle. Ashton Jeanty had an unproductive day. How did this team achieve a victory at New England?
Dillon Gabriel had an unproductive game against the Steelers, which is understandable for a rookie in his second start … unless his backup is Shedeur Sanders, which triggers wild theories and contentious debates. The Browns willingly agreed to this scenario.
The Cardinals registered their first 400-yard game of the season on Sunday. They had exceeded 293 yards only once in their initial five games. Week 6 marked their initial game with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback, succeeding Kyler Murray. Interpret this as you wish.
A significant victory against the Eagles. Nevertheless, Giants fans might be concerned that Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo will not endure the entire season given their reckless approach to contact. It is entertaining in the moment but unsustainable as a long-term strategy. Despite this, it is a positive period to be a Giants fan.
The 2025 Cowboys resemble the 2024 Bengals. Dak Prescott is performing at an MVP level (though he is unlikely to win the award due to the Cowboys’ record), but the supporting team is undermining his efforts. Dallas’ defense is noticeably poor. The Cowboys have failed Prescott.
The Panthers should not simply reinstate Rico Dowdle into a timeshare, should they? Dowdle has amassed an impressive 473 yards from scrimmage in the past two games. While these performances were against Miami and Dallas, which possess weak defenses, Carolina needs to continue relying on Dowdle and observe the results.
The Ravens have a bye week to regroup. Their schedule for the next eight games includes: vs. Bears, at Dolphins, at Vikings, at Browns, vs. Jets, vs. Bengals, vs. Steelers, at Bengals. They have an opportunity to make a strong run.
How effective has the Texans’ defense been? Houston is conceding 12.2 points per game. Since the 1970 merger, the only teams at or better than this level are the 2000 Ravens, 1986 Bears, 2000 Titans, and 1978 Steelers. If the offense improves, the Texans could gain momentum.
J.J. McCarthy has returned to practice, but the Vikings have not committed to his status for Week 7. Two key questions surround McCarthy’s return: his ability to remain healthy and whether he can perform significantly better than he did at the start of the season.
There was no successful Hail Mary to defeat the Bears this time. The Commanders benefited from fortunate circumstances last season, which is difficult to replicate. On Monday, a botched handoff resulted in a fumble and contributed to a tough loss. The Commanders are performing adequately at 3-3, but some decline was expected.
Caleb Williams performed effectively, and after the Bears benefited from a significant fumble, they tasked D’Andre Swift with closing the game. Swift’s significant runs positioned the Bears for a game-winning field goal. This is a noteworthy victory for Chicago, serving as payback for a painful loss at Washington last season.
Ranking the 49ers so low may be unfair, but the injury to linebacker Fred Warner is significant. The defense might struggle significantly without Warner and Nick Bosa. The offense will be adequate regardless of the players. The defense is an area of concern that could derail the season.
The Steelers are 4-1. The remaining teams in the AFC North are 4-14. This is not the anticipated outcome for this division. Mike Tomlin is performing commendably, which is not surprising.
The Jaguars suffered a loss at home against a strong Seahawks team. There were some encouraging signs: Trevor Lawrence played effectively, and the run defense was impressive. The Jaguars will be competitive, although they might fall slightly short of being elite.
Atlanta’s victory over the Bills on Monday night was among the most impressive of the season. They controlled a Super Bowl favorite on both sides of the ball. The offense is strong, and the defense might be as well. This is a team worth monitoring.
The Chargers can be content with the win, but they were fortunate to face the Dolphins, who are among the NFL’s weakest teams. A positive aspect from Sunday was Kimani Vidal’s effective performance at running back, gaining 124 rushing yards, although the Dolphins can make any back appear effective.
The Rams will be diminished if Puka Nacua misses time due to an ankle injury. They were outgained by a struggling (at the moment) Ravens team on Sunday, but still won relatively easily. A trip to London to face the Jaguars is not ideal.
It is difficult to find significant fault with the Patriots, but their run game requires improvement. Drake Maye led the team in rushing on Sunday. The Patriots’ 3.5 yards per carry ranks 29th in the NFL. They are achieving victories despite these issues running the ball.
The Seahawks are performing well. They thoroughly outperformed a Jaguars team that was 4-1 and coming off a win against the Chiefs. The Seahawks are the only team ranked in the top four of DVOA on offense, defense, and special teams. Given injuries to the Rams and 49ers, Seattle is in a favorable position.
Kansas City has not regressed. Their win over the Lions indicated they are still a formidable team, although their luck in close games has deteriorated. With Rashee Rice’s return, their performance will only improve, which is not welcome news for those who dislike the Chiefs.
The Packers performed adequately to defeat the Bengals, but they did not resemble the dominant team from the first two weeks. The Packers are still competitive but might not be quite as strong as they appeared earlier in the season. This will be determined as the schedule becomes more challenging.
The Eagles are currently struggling, but they will recover. Their roster possesses too much talent to fail. While their performance has been subpar in recent weeks, this is not uncommon. The Eagles experienced a similar downturn last September. Their situation will improve, albeit with considerable anxiety among Philly fans as the Eagles rectify the issues.
Denver is a capable team, but its offense needs to improve. The Broncos’ offensive problems were overshadowed by the Jets’ more dismal offensive performance. The Broncos can contend for the AFC West title, but not if the offense lacks consistency.
The Bills’ near-perfect run in September has suffered setbacks in October. The loss to Atlanta was concerning because the defense conceded 355 yards in the first half alone, and the offense was largely ineffective. There are issues that need to be addressed.
The Colts were not exceptional on Sunday, but winning without playing well is also revealing. The season is long, and not every performance will be impressive. One thing is evident: rookie tight end Tyler Warren is an exceptional player, representing a significant first-round acquisition for the Colts.
There is no reason for concern regarding the Lions. They lost on the road to a desperate Chiefs team with numerous injuries in the secondary. This is not unusual. Detroit remains an excellent team, assuming their injury luck improves.
Are the Buccaneers the best team in the NFL? Probably not. They have benefited from an unsustainable run in close games. They continue to win, which sets them apart from most other teams. They will eventually improve as they become healthier.
