Sunday afternoon will see two groups punch their ticket to Tremendous Bowl LVIII, and if Tremendous Bowl emblem shade schemes are to be trusted, they would be the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers.
However shade schemes don’t play the video games, soccer groups do! This yr’s title video games are nice as a result of it doesn’t really feel like we now have to stretch that arduous to see any staff successful a method or one other. Clearly Baltimore and San Francisco are favored, however that is soccer the place something is feasible.
Provided that these are the ultimate 4 groups they’re clearly all excellent and have expertise throughout their rosters. As we speak, we’re gathered to debate actually none of that. As we speak, we’re right here to debate the coaches of the teams, notably the pinnacle honchos answerable for all of it.
Right here is my rating of the Convention Championship coaches, which I’m 100% constructive you’ll agree totally with. We’re getting in ascending order due to drama, duh.
Quantity 4: Dan Campbell
It’s hardly a disgrace to return in fourth in a contest of 4 coaches within the title spherical of the NFL playoffs — and extra particularly so on this specific yr.
That is extra about all people else than it’s about Dan Campbell as a result of Dan is clearly an extremely proficient coach. He has rallied this Detroit Lions staff in only a few quick years and has them one recreation away from the Tremendous Bowl. Take into consideration that.
Digging a bit deeper … Campbell doesn’t precisely have a specialty that he’s bringing to the group. His coordinators deal with play-calling on each side of the ball and in an train the place we’re rating the coaches, that serves as a little bit of a tiebreaker (that is clearly an relevant mindset to John Harbaugh as nicely, however I’ll deal with that later).
To be clear Dan Campbell completely guidelines. He simply has to show it just a little greater than the remainder of the sphere.
Quantity 3: Kyle Shanahan
There isn’t any query that Kyle Shanahan is the very best offensive play-caller within the NFL. However he isn’t excellent.
Think about the tip of the primary half of the final playoff recreation that his staff performed and gained. Shanahan was working out of a lot worry of the Inexperienced Bay Packers having sufficient time to kick a subject purpose that he value himself a possible landing whereas out-thinking himself. Once you lose a Tremendous Bowl after being up 28-3, these scars are laborious to do away with.
Very like Campbell, that is additionally about Shanahan being good/excellent however simply not being on the extent of the opposite two coaches. This can be a sneaky massive time second for Shanahan as whereas he has gotten his staff to the NFC Championship Sport three years in a row (additionally 4 out of the final 5) however he has zero rings to point out for it. Legacies want that and he’s on the verge of authoring one of many worst issues in sports activities … The Dynasty That By no means Was.
Quantity 2: Andy Reid
Clearly, I’m conscious that Andy Reid has essentially the most {hardware} of anyone concerned (actually greater than the opposite three coaches mixed). I simply am that in on John Harbaugh proper now.
However these phrases are about Andy Reid who will in the future be within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. It’s fairly potential that the subsequent few weeks guarantee he enters with not less than three Tremendous Bowl trophies at his again, clearly extra are potential when Patrick Mahomes is your quarterback, however that’s the factor about Andy on this second. Patrick Mahomes is his quarterback.
It isn’t my intention to behave like having Mahomes is Andy’s fault as a result of he has carried out an exquisite job of leaning into Patrick’s skills through the years. Andy deserves the entire credit score on the earth. However that clearly is the NOS increase powering the elite machine that’s Reid’s offense so he loses out on the slightest edge.
#1: John Harbaugh
The Ravens are an general machine which can be poetically purple identical to their most blatant comparability in Thanos.
Whereas John Harbaugh has robust coordinators in the way in which that Dan Campbell does and has an all-world expertise at quarterback in Lamar Jackson the way in which that Andy Reid does … we’re speaking about any individual with a significantly lengthy degree of sustained excellence right here. Successful is what John Harbaugh does and he has carried out it in his present put up method longer than anyone who can be within the title recreation this week.
It seems like we neglect that John Harbaugh has already gained a Tremendous Bowl (I understand Andy has gained two, as famous) or that the Ravens had been on the forefront of utilizing analytics of their processes earlier than it turned form of vogue to take action throughout the league. I’d virtually go so far as to say that John Harbaugh and the kind of machine/tradition he has constructed are underrated. In actual fact, I’ll say it. He’s underrated!
That is my listing and I stand by it. When you disagree then that’s your proper however simply know you’re unsuitable. Pleased Convention Championship Weekend!
