Wildcard Weekend is officially over, and the head coaches whose teams survived the first round of the NFL playoffs live to fight another day, thanks to aggressive coaching and excellent offensive and defensive schemes. However, the losing coaches, who were more conservative with their play-calling and game management, may have sealed their fates with their teams’ downfall. Regardless of the outcome, coaching never ceases.
The winners need to figure out how to slow down their opponents in the Divisional Round, and the losers need to map out their future improvement plans in the 2025 offseason for a better 2025 regular season.
Here are the grades for all 12 NFL teams’ head coaches after Wildcard Weekend.
Which NFL head coaches had the best grades after Wildcard Weekend?
Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh: B+
Harbaugh’s Ravens live to fight another day after they won 28-14. Lamar Jackson threw two touchdowns with no interceptions, Derrick Henry scored two rushing touchdowns, and Justice Hill and Rashod Bateman scored touchdowns. The defense, coached by Zach Orr, had four sacks but no interceptions.
Harbaugh’s team dominated the Steelers for most of the game, as he continued to be amazed at Lamar Jackson’s performance in the game. Harbaugh’s Ravens travel to Western New York for the Divisional matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
Buffalo Bills: Sean McDermott: B+
McDermott’s Bills put their foot on the gas pedal after being down 3-7 against the Denver Broncos in the first quarter and won 31-7, ready for the Divisional Round. Josh Allen threw two touchdowns with no interceptions, James Cook scored a rushing touchdown, and Curtis Samuel and Ty Johnson scored touchdowns. The defense, coached by McDermott and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich, had two sacks but no interceptions.
Coach McDermott said anytime you can win in the NFL playoffs, it’s a good win. McDermott’s Bills controlled the clock for most of the game and prevented the Broncos from crossing the goal line in the second, third, and fourth quarters of the game.
Denver Broncos: Sean Payton: D
Payton’s Broncos started their Wildcard showdown against the Buffalo Bills with a 7-3 lead in the first quarter, but the Bills came back and didn’t look back, defeating the Broncos 7-31. Bo Nix threw a touchdown to Troy Franklin with no interceptions, the Broncos rushing attack was held to 79 rushing yards, and Courtland Sutton had 75 receiving yards.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, had two sacks but no interceptions. Coach Payton said it was a very disappointing finish to the 2024 NFL season, as they didn’t do enough throughout the game. However, Nix played well and is the future for the Broncos moving forward.
Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur: D
LaFleur’s Packers had a rough afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field, losing 10-22 against the Philadelphia Eagles in humiliating fashion. Jordan Love threw three costly interceptions with no touchdowns, Josh Jacobs scored the team’s only touchdown, and Jayden Reed had 46 receiving yards. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, only had two sacks but no interceptions.
Coach LaFleur said he hopes this playoff loss and not having a home playoff game adds to his team’s motivation for a better 2025 NFL season, which is easier said than done thanks to competition from the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. We’ll just wait and see what kind of moves the Packers will make in the offseason.
Houston Texans: DeMeco Ryans: B+
Ryans’ Texans played incredibly well at home and ended the Los Angeles Chargers’ season in a stunning 32-12 Wildcard victory. C.J. Stroud threw a touchdown to Nico Collins against an interception, and Joe Mixon scored a rushing touchdown. The defense, coached by Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke, had four sacks and four interceptions (one was returned by Eric Murray for a 38-yard pick-six).
Ryan praised the Texans’ defense for stepping up against the Chargers, as the team held the Chargers’ rushing attack to 50 yards on the ground. Ryan also took a small jab at Rex Ryan by saying, “How was that bye week?” after Ryan said the Chargers had a bye week against the Texans. Ryan and the Texans travel to Arrowhead Stadium for the AFC Divisional round against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Los Angeles Chargers: Jim Harbaugh: D
Harbaugh’s Chargers had a rough Saturday afternoon against the Houston Texans, losing 12-32 in humiliating fashion. Justin Herbert threw a touchdown to Ladd McConkey against four costly interceptions, and the Chargers rushing attack was held to a combined 50 yards on the ground. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Jesse Mintz, had three sacks, two fumble recoveries, and an interception.
As good of a coach as Harbaugh is, the Chargers have a lot of work ahead of them in the 2025 NFL season. Harbaugh told the press he took responsibility for the team’s poor performance against the Texans’ vicious defense and tipped his hat to their outstanding performance. Harbaugh and the Chargers need another playmaking wide receiver, along with a couple more offensive and defensive linemen, in the 2025 season.
Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay: A-
McVay’s Rams played incredibly well in the Wildcard round, easily winning 27-9 against the Minnesota Vikings. Matthew Stafford threw two touchdowns with no interceptions, Kyren Williams rushed for 76 yards and scored a receiving touchdown, and Davis Allen scored a touchdown.
The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Chris Shula, had a fumble recovery returned for a 57-yard touchdown by Jared Verse, an interception, and a whopping nine sacks against Sam Darnold. McVay and the Rams aren’t playing around after a slightly slow start to the 2024 regular season as they continue their quest for a potential playoff run.
Minnesota Vikings: Kevin O’Connell: D
O’Connell’s Vikings had a rough night on the road in their 9-27 Wildcard loss against the Los Angeles Rams. Sam Darnold threw a touchdown to T.J. Hockenson against an interception, and Aaron Jones rushed for 48 yards on the ground. The defense, coached by defensive coordinator Brian Flores, had two sacks but no interceptions.
A rough night O’Connell’s team would like to forget about it, as Darnold was sacked a whopping nine times and lost a fumble, which Jared Verse recovered for a 57-yard touchdown in the Rams’ favor. The Vikings have a lot of questions at quarterback that they need to solve in the 2025 offseason, with J.J. McCarthy returning to the lineup after missing the 2024 season due to surgery on a torn meniscus.
Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Sirianni: B+
Sirianni’s Eagles had a very dominating afternoon at home, dismantling the Green Bay Packers 22-10. Jalen Hurts threw two touchdowns with no interceptions, Saquon Barkley rushed for 119 yards, and Dallas Goedart and Jahan Dotson.
The defense, coached by Vic Fangio, had two sacks, a fumble recovery, and three interceptions. Coach Sirianni’s NFL squad looked formidable and dangerous on defense, thanks to Fangio’s aggressive coaching. The offense did its job, but it needs to play more aggressively against tougher opponents in the Divisional Round.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin: C
Tomlin’s Steelers had a rough time on the road during the Wildcard weekend and lost 14-28 against the Baltimore Ravens. Russell Wilson threw two touchdowns with no interceptions, the Steelers’ rushing attack was held to 29 yards on the ground, and George Pickens and Van Jefferson scored touchdowns.
The defense, coached by Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, had a sack but no turnovers. Coach Tomlin and the Steelers need to start investing in younger assets who’ll help the Steelers move forward in the 2025 NFL season as opposed to bringing in talented big-name veterans. The ball’s in your field, Tomlin. It’s up to you to make the correct moves this coming offseason.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Todd Bowles: C
Bowles coached an okay game for the Bucs in the Wildcard Round, but the team fell short in their very close 20-23 loss at home against the Washington Commanders. Baker Mayfield threw two touchdowns with no interceptions, Bucky Irving had 77 rushing yards and scored a receiving touchdown, and Mike Evans scored a receiving touchdown. The defense had a sack but no interceptions.
Bowles had chances to go for it on fourth and short on the first and final drives of the game but chose to have some field goals instead. Coach Bowles’ game management needs to change in the 2025 NFL season. Otherwise, the competition will get ahead of them in the NFC South.
Washington Commanders: Dan Quinn: A-
Quinn’s aggressive coaching in the Wildcard round helped the Commanders overcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 in a very close finish. Jayden Daniels threw two touchdowns with no interceptions, the Commanders’ rushing attack was held to a combined 89 yards, and Dyami Brown and Terry McLaurin both scored touchdowns. The defense, coached by Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., had a sack, and Bobby Wagner had a fumble recovery against Baker Mayfield.
Unlike Todd Bowles, Quinn took risks with his game management, and his gambles paid off when Jayden Daniels threw a touchdown to Terry McLaurin in the fourth quarter. Quinn and the Commanders have a tough test ahead of them in the Divisional Round when they square off against the one-seeded Detroit Lions.
