NFC head-coaching Satisfaction Index: Temperature soaring for Eagles' Nick Sirianni

Besides starting quarterback, the biggest lightning rod for an NFL team is its head coach. As the final week of the regular season and Black Monday approach, underperforming teams may be contemplating firing their HC — we're especially looking at you, Washington and Ron Rivera.

As compiled by Yardbarker NFL writers, here's the head-coaching Satisfaction Index for all 16 NFC teams. A "10" score denotes supreme satisfaction while a "5" denotes all is mostly swell and a "1" is a disaster area.

NFC East

DALLAS COWBOYS | Head coach Mike McCarthy | Satisfaction Index: 9 | A win against the Commanders on Sunday would give McCarthy’s Cowboys a 12-5 record for the third straight season. With a 42-27 record in Dallas (counting playoffs), this HC no longer resides on the hottest seat in the NFL. 

NEW YORK GIANTS | Head coach Brian Daboll | Satisfaction Index: 5 | After leading New York to the playoffs and earning Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year in 2022, Daboll has five wins and the league’s 30th-ranked offense in 2023. Considering three of those wins came with rookie Tommy DeVito at quarterback, maybe coaching isn’t the problem. 

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Head coach Nick Sirianni | Satisfaction Index: 7 | Last season's NFC title is ancient history for the Eagles, who gave up 449 yards and control of the NFC East with a loss at home to the lowly Cardinals in Week 17. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky called it Philadelphia's worst regular-season loss in 20 years and believes Sirianni — whose team has lost four of its past five — will be one-and-done in the playoffs. 

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Head coach Ron Rivera | Satisfaction Index: 1 | “Riverboat Ron” has no winning seasons in four seasons as Washington HC. Once a linebacker for the famed 1985 Chicago Bears, a powerhouse on defense, his last-place Commanders team have allowed the most yards (6,172) and points per game (30) this season. — Bruce Ewing

NFC West 

ARIZONA CARDINALS | Head coach Jonathan Gannon | Satisfaction Index: 5 | The Cardinals (5-11) did what was expected in Gannon’s debut season given the thin roster. But he always had his team playing hard and scored major upsets over Dallas, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

LOS ANGELES RAMS | Head coach Sean McVay | Satisfaction Index: 10 | Expectations were low for the Rams (9-7) in what looked to be a rebuilding season, but McVay has them back in the playoffs and playing for another 10-win season. He has one of the league’s best records since his HC debut in 2017 (76-48 counting postseason) and has coached in two Super Bowls, winning one. 

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Head coach Kyle Shanahan | Satisfaction Index: 9 | Shanahan has led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game in three of the past four seasons and has them in prime position to return this season as the NFC’s top seed. But he has endured ugly losses in big games and must deliver a championship with the all-star-level talent he coaches. 

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | Head coach Pete Carroll | Satisfaction Index: 4 | The Seahawks are always going to have a chance to at least compete for a playoff spot as long as Carroll is head coach. Their ceiling, however, seems limited as mediocrity has set in over the past three years (24-27 counting playoffs). — Adam Gretz

NFC North 

CHICAGO BEARS | Head coach Matt Eberflus | Satisfaction Index: 8 | The Bears will miss the postseason for a third straight season, but minimal yet encouraging progress in year two under Eberflus has likely secured his spot on the sidelines for 2024. Following a three-win season in 2022, Chicago has seven heading into Week 18. The defense, Eberflus' specialty, has become the team's identity, improving from 29th in yards per game allowed a season ago to 12th this season (317.4). 

DETROIT LIONS | Head coach Dan Campbell | Satisfaction Index: 10 | Even considering his ill-fated decision to go for two late in a Week 17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Campbell has the fourth-best odds (+1900) to win Coach of the Year, per Fan Duel as of Wednesday, and with good reason. He has helped secure the franchise's best record (11-5) in roughly a decade and its first division title since 1993.

GREEN BAY PACKERS | Head coach Matt LaFleur | Satisfaction Index: 8 | Overcoming injuries and a 3-6 start, the Packers are a Week 18 win away from clinching a playoff berth. Plus, the offense ranks 11th (22.9 PPG) in scoring despite being led by inexperienced QB Jordan Love, who doesn't have great weapons at the skill positions. LaFleur's fingerprints are all over this success story.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS | Head coach Kevin O'Connell | Satisfaction Index: 7 | Odds for success weren't in Minnesota's favor after starter Kirk Cousins' season-ending injury and the QB carousel that followed. Due to that bad luck, the second-year HC's job isn't in jeopardy, but how they close the season following three straight losses — including a 33-10 beatdown versus the Packers in Week 17 — is something to keep an eye on.  — Mike Santa Barbara

NFC South 

ATLANTA FALCONS | Head coach Arthur Smith | Satisfaction Index: 1 | Here are the records of the team's past three Atlanta head coaches through their first three seasons, with playoff records in parentheses: Mike Smith 33-15 (0-2), Dan Quinn: 29-19 (3-2), Arthur Smith 21-29 (0-0).

Owner Arthur Blank fired Mike Smith and Quinn after both had multiple losing seasons despite strong starts. Meanwhile, Arthur Smith was guaranteed a third consecutive losing season with Week 17’s 37-17 loss to the Bears. Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, though, he isn't in serious danger of losing his job. What gives, Mr. Blank?

CAROLINA PANTHERS | Interim head coach: Chris Tabor | Satisfaction Index: 1 | Not only do the Panthers (2-14) not have a full-time head coach, but they are by far the least attractive opening in the league for this year’s top candidates. Carolina has no first-round pick — it was sent to Chicago in the deal to move up to take QB Bryce Young with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The next time owner David Tepper pours out his drink he should use it to stop the dumpster fire he started.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | Head coach: Dennis Allen | Satisfaction Index: 2 | Two unremarkable seasons under Allen won’t be enough to cost him his job, per New Orleans Football’s Nick Underhill. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said last offseason he views the team’s continuity in its coaching staff as a plus, but after a maddeningly inconsistent season, it’s more fair than ever to question what the front office is holding on to.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Head coach: Todd Bowles | Satisfaction Index: 4 | Week 17’s no-show against the Saints with a chance to seal the division erased some of the goodwill Bowles accrued during Tampa Bay's recent four-game winning streak. Still, it’s difficult to fault Bowles for the job he’s done this season keeping the Bucs (8-8) in contention when they were expected to drop off without future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady. — Eric Smithling