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Power Ranking NFL Playoff Teams Based on Their Head Coach

Mark L. Baer - USA TODAY Sports

As we all saw last season, a single coaching decision can be the difference between winning and losing the Super Bowl. Having a great head coach gives you a better chance of succeeding in the postseason, period. Ranking this year’s playoff teams based on their head coaches, here is how each stacks up.

12. Houston Texans - Bill O'Brien

Houston Texans - Bill O'Brien Getty Images
O'Brien has looked like a very average coach in the NFL in his short time so far, but this year presents an opportunity for him to prove himself. Until the Texans win some games in the playoffs, though, he's not going to be looked at as anything more than an average coach.

O'Brien has looked like a very average coach in the NFL in his short time so far, but this year presents an opportunity for him to prove himself. Until the Texans win some games in the playoffs, though, he's not going to be looked at as anything more than an average coach.

11. Washington Redskins - Jay Gruden

Washington Redskins - Jay Gruden Getty Images
Gruden actually did a great job with the Redskins this season, but he has no experience where he's headed this weekend. Taking on the Packers, who are in the playoffs nearly every year, will be a daunting task. It's time for Gruden to show he can produce in the playoffs like his brother did.

Gruden actually did a great job with the Redskins this season, but he has no experience where he's headed this weekend. Taking on the Packers, who are in the playoffs nearly every year, will be a daunting task. It's time for Gruden to show he can produce in the playoffs like his brother did.

10. Denver Broncos - Gary Kubiak

Denver Broncos - Gary Kubiak Getty Images
Kubiak is one of the most skilled offensive minds in the league, but without a sure thing at quarterback, his hands are going to be full this playoff season. Luckily for him, the defense is rolling, so he's going to have to use some in-game strategy to get his team into Super Bowl 50.

Kubiak is one of the most skilled offensive minds in the league, but without a sure thing at quarterback, his hands are going to be full this playoff season. Luckily for him, the defense is rolling, so he's going to have to use some in-game strategy to get his team into Super Bowl 50.

9. Cincinnati Bengals - Marvin Lewis

Cincinnati Bengals - Marvin Lewis Getty Images
Lewis has been employed with the Bengals through a few rough patches, which says a lot about him. Famously, he hasn't been successful in the playoffs, though. If the Bengals totally flop against the Steelers this weekend, it's not out of the realm of possibility that he could be let go.

Lewis has been employed with the Bengals through a few rough patches, which says a lot about him. Famously, he hasn't been successful in the playoffs, though. If the Bengals totally flop against the Steelers this weekend, it's not out of the realm of possibility that he could be let go.

8. Minnesota Vikings - Mike Zimmer

Minnesota Vikings - Mike Zimmer Benny Sieu, USA Today Sports
Based on the Vikings' improvement over the past two years, it appears that Zimmer is one of the up-and-coming coaches in this league. At every turn, he and his team have surprised people this season, so perhaps they will continue that in the playoffs. Certainly, he will have to get some big stops from his defense to beat the two-time defending NFC champion Seahawks.

Based on the Vikings' improvement over the past two years, it appears that Zimmer is one of the up-and-coming coaches in this league. At every turn, he and his team have surprised people this season, so perhaps they will continue that in the playoffs. Certainly, he will have to get some big stops from his defense to beat the two-time defending NFC champion Seahawks.

7. Green Bay Packers - Mike McCarthy

Green Bay Packers - Mike McCarthy Getty Images
The Packers have been a perennial playoff team under McCarthy's watch, but he hasn't always been on top of his game in the playoffs. Green Bay won a Super Bowl with him at the helm, so it's hard to completely knock him, but the team has gotten used to early exits lately. McCarthy needs to make sure that changes this year.

The Packers have been a perennial playoff team under McCarthy's watch, but he hasn't always been on top of his game in the playoffs. Green Bay won a Super Bowl with him at the helm, so it's hard to completely knock him, but the team has gotten used to early exits lately. McCarthy needs to make sure that changes this year.

6. Carolina Panthers - Ron Rivera

Carolina Panthers - Ron Rivera Getty Images
It's hard to believe Rivera was on the hot seat as recently as last season, because now the Panthers are the top team in football record wise. What he does well as a head coach is motivate his players to play. That's easy to do at the college level, but not so much at the NFL level. Now that expectations are sky high for Carolina, it's time for him to assert himself as one of the league's top coaches.

It's hard to believe Rivera was on the hot seat as recently as last season, because now the Panthers are the top team in football record wise. What he does well as a head coach is motivate his players to play. That's easy to do at the college level, but not so much at the NFL level. Now that expectations are sky high for Carolina, it's time for him to assert himself as one of the league's top coaches.

5. Kansas City Chiefs - Andy Reid

Kansas City Chiefs - Andy Reid Mark J. Rebilas, USA Today Sports
In his time with the Eagles, Andy Reid was known for getting his team to the playoffs, but his teams never won the big game. Still, those teams were competitive in the playoffs most of the time. Kansas City is the hottest team in football, so now it's Reid's job to make sure the team keeps on rolling.

In his time with the Eagles, Andy Reid was known for getting his team to the playoffs, but his teams never won the big game. Still, those teams were competitive in the playoffs most of the time. Kansas City is the hottest team in football, so now it's Reid's job to make sure the team keeps on rolling.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers - Mike Tomlin

Pittsburgh Steelers - Mike Tomlin Getty Images
Tomlin has been a very average regular season coach the past few seasons, but when his teams reach the playoffs, they perform well. With the best offense in football, his Steelers should make a deep run this year. His ability to motivate and get his guys ready should ensure they don't let down.

Tomlin has been a very average regular season coach the past few seasons, but when his teams reach the playoffs, they perform well. With the best offense in football, his Steelers should make a deep run this year. His ability to motivate and get his guys ready should ensure they don't let down.

3. Seattle Seahawks - Pete Carroll

Seattle Seahawks - Pete Carroll Getty Images
Despite making the biggest (perceived) coaching mistake in recent Super Bowl history, nobody can deny the results Carroll gets out of his teams. Coming from the college ranks, he has a unique ability to connect with his players and that shows on the field. This year, it's time to see if Carroll can lead Seattle into tough road environments and come out with victories.

Despite making the biggest (perceived) coaching mistake in recent Super Bowl history, nobody can deny the results Carroll gets out of his teams. Coming from the college ranks, he has a unique ability to connect with his players and that shows on the field. This year, it's time to see if Carroll can lead Seattle into tough road environments and come out with victories.

2. Arizona Cardinals - Bruce Arians

Arizona Cardinals - Bruce Arians Getty Images
Arians hasn't been a head coach for very long, but he's already one of the best in the game. He puts together a great staff around him and leads one of the league's best offenses. Arizona might just be the most complete team in the NFC and now Arians gets to show everyone what the Cardinals could have done last postseason had Carson Palmer been healthy.

Arians hasn't been a head coach for very long, but he's already one of the best in the game. He puts together a great staff around him and leads one of the league's best offenses. Arizona might just be the most complete team in the NFC and now Arians gets to show everyone what the Cardinals could have done last postseason had Carson Palmer been healthy.

1. New England Patriots - Bill Belichick

New England Patriots - Bill Belichick Getty Images
It's hard to say any other head coach is anywhere near Belichick's level when he's won four Super Bowls in the last decade and a half. Like him or not, he's one of the best to ever put on a headset. Looking for Super Bowl No. 5, he will be as motivated as ever to win it all and shove it in the face of everyone who discounted last year's Super Bowl victory on the heels of Deflategate.

It's hard to say any other head coach is anywhere near Belichick's level when he's won four Super Bowls in the last decade and a half. Like him or not, he's one of the best to ever put on a headset. Looking for Super Bowl No. 5, he will be as motivated as ever to win it all and shove it in the face of everyone who discounted last year's Super Bowl victory on the heels of Deflategate.

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