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5 Head Coaches Who Could Be Fired For Failing In the 2015 NFL Playoffs

5 Head Coaches Who Could Be Fired For Failing in the 2015 Playoffs

NFL 2015 Playoffs
Brian Spurlock - USA Today Sports

Getting fired for making the playoffs to many seems like an unfair idea. It is also not something that will happen to many NFL head coaches. However, there are a few who might find themselves on the hot seat with an early exit during this postseason. Here are five coaches who want to perform well in January.

5. Chuck Pagano - Indianapolis Colts

Chuck Pagano
Jim Brown - USA Today Sports

5. Chuck Pagano - Indianapolis Colts

Chuck Pagano
Jim Brown - USA Today Sports

This one is relatively unlikely. Pagano has done a pretty good job with the Colts. He has finished 11-5 all three seasons with the team, twice winning the AFC South. His next step will be getting over the hump. With an obvious franchise quarterback in Andrew Luck, at a certain point, you're expected to move past the Divisional Round, which Pagano hasn't done yet. Let's see if he can do it this season.

4. Jim Caldwell - Detroit Lions

Jim Caldwell
Andrew Weber - USA Today Sports

4. Jim Caldwell - Detroit Lions

Jim Caldwell
Andrew Weber - USA Today Sports

This is another one that probably won't happen, as Caldwell has led the Lions to the playoffs, something the long-suffering franchise certainly isn't used to. But there always seems to be rumors swirling around Caldwell. Couple with that Ndamukong Suh being suspended (which could signal an early playoff exit) and it is at least fair to wonder what could be with such a dynamic team like the Lions.

3. Jason Garrett - Dallas Cowboys

Jason Garrett
Geoff Burke - USA Today Sports

3. Jason Garrett - Dallas Cowboys

Jason Garrett
Geoff Burke - USA Today Sports

Jason Garrett has finally delivered on the Cowboys' yearly hopes, securing a good record and a playoff berth. The Cowboys, though, are a team known for lofty expectations. Garrett has been on the hot seat multiple times for his team's 8-8 record over the past few seasons. Even though he improved that, Jerry Jones and Cowboys fans still expect a lot out of this trip to the playoffs.

2. Ron Rivera - Carolina Panthers

Ron Rivera
Brett Davis - USA Today Sports

2. Ron Rivera - Carolina Panthers

Ron Rivera
Brett Davis - USA Today Sports

Two straight playoff trips usually is a huge positive for most NFL franchises. But when your team backs into the playoffs with a record of 6-8-1, coming out of a division that may not have deserved any playoff teams, it's hard to say the Ron Rivera's job is completely safe. The Panthers clearly regressed this year, with an often porous defense and inconsistent offense. Rivera should hope for at least a competitive playoff showing.

1. Marvin Lewis - Cincinnati Bengals

Marvin Lewis
Ken Blaze - USA Today Sports

1. Marvin Lewis - Cincinnati Bengals

Marvin Lewis
Ken Blaze - USA Today Sports

The obvious choice for the biggest hot seat of the playoff teams is Marvin Lewis. Lewis has been widely criticized year in and year out for his team's failures in the big games. He has been the Bengals coach since 2003 and has never moved past a Wild Card game. In many of those games, they were the higher seed. With this talented team, he needs to find success in the playoffs, and fast.

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