The same could be said when the Denver Broncos host the Kansas City Chiefs. The Broncos have won 10 straight games at home. The Chiefs — currently outside the playoff picture — can’t afford many more losses.
Meanwhile, there have been plenty years where a Green Bay Packers-New York Giants game meant two of the league’s elite were about to clash. Instead, on Sunday, it’s two teams at interesting crossroads.
The Athletic’s NFL writers Mike Sando, Jeff Howe and Zak Keefer discuss Week 11.
The Packers and Giants meet on Sunday, with both teams at an interesting crossroads. Brian Daboll is out. How attractive is the Giants’ head coaching job? The Packers are coming off another embarrassing loss. Should Matt LaFleur’s seat really be getting warm in Green Bay?
Keefer: I’m not ready to go that far on Matt LaFleur in Green Bay — he’s 72-36-1 in seven seasons, has made the playoffs every year but one, and deftly positioned this team to succeed in the post-Aaron Rodgers era. Still, there’s something about this Packers’ season that feels underwhelming, and an early playoff exit — if Green Bay makes the postseason — would change the conversation. Remember, this is a patient franchise without an impulsive owner, and that matters. As for the Giants, it might be among the most attractive jobs during this cycle, which probably won’t see as many openings as years past. Start with Jaxson Dart and Malik Nabors as the reasons why. A sharp offensive coach could win there and win quickly.
Howe: The Giants’ vacancy will be attractive because of the history of the organization, the market and the chance to carve out a legendary career if they can build a winner. Candidates understand the obstacles with ownership, and they’ll need to be comfortable with the GM situation. If the Giants retain Joe Schoen beyond the season, they’ll need to win quickly because there’s always the chance ownership cleans house with the next round of firings. I understand the pressure on LaFleur, but I don’t think the temperature of the seat should be changing. If the Packers fired him, LaFleur might be the most coveted head coaching candidate of the hiring cycle.
Sando: Matt LaFleur’s seat should not be getting warm after two lackluster defeats. He ranks 10th in win percentage (66.5 percent) among the 112 coaches with at least 100 regular-season games, ahead of Andy Reid and Bill Belichick. The only way I’d consider a change would be if the team spiraled this season and the situation became untenable, or if LaFleur appeared too compromised to continue. That is not the situation now. The Giants job is like most jobs: imperfect, but worth taking for all but the very few coaches who can be selective.
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