Sunday afternoon will see two groups punch their ticket to Tremendous Bowl LVIII, and if Tremendous Bowl emblem colour schemes are to be trusted, they would be the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers.
However colour 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 now we have to stretch that onerous to see any crew profitable 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 superb and have expertise throughout their rosters. In the present day, we’re gathered to debate actually none of that. In the present day, we’re right here to debate the coaches of the teams, significantly the top honchos in control of all of it.
Right here is my rating of the Convention Championship coaches, which I’m 100% constructive you’ll agree fully with. We’re moving into ascending order due to drama, duh.
Quantity 4: Dan Campbell
It’s hardly a disgrace to come back 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 gifted coach. He has rallied this Detroit Lions crew 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 handle that later).
To be clear Dan Campbell completely guidelines. He simply has to show it slightly greater than the remainder of the sector.
Quantity 3: Kyle Shanahan
There isn’t a query that Kyle Shanahan is the very best offensive play-caller within the NFL. However he isn’t good.
Contemplate the tip of the primary half of the final playoff recreation that his crew performed and gained. Shanahan was working out of a lot worry of the Inexperienced Bay Packers having sufficient time to kick a area purpose that he value himself a possible landing whereas out-thinking himself. Whenever you lose a Tremendous Bowl after being up 28-3, these scars are exhausting to eliminate.
Very like Campbell, that is additionally about Shanahan being good/superb however simply not being on the extent of the opposite two coaches. It is a sneaky huge time second for Shanahan as whereas he has gotten his crew to the NFC Championship Sport three years in a row (additionally 4 out of the final 5) however he has zero rings to indicate 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 probably 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 at some point be within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. It’s fairly doable that the subsequent few weeks guarantee he enters with at the least three Tremendous Bowl trophies at his again, clearly extra are doable 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 completed a beautiful job of leaning into Patrick’s skills over time. 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.
Number one: John Harbaugh
The Ravens are an total machine which can be poetically purple similar to their most blatant comparability in Thanos.
Whereas John Harbaugh has sturdy 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 severely lengthy stage of sustained excellence right here. Successful is what John Harbaugh does and he has completed it in his present put up approach longer than anyone who can also be within the title recreation this week.
It looks like we neglect that John Harbaugh has already gained a Tremendous Bowl (I notice 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 kind 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. The truth is, I’ll say it. He’s underrated!
That is my record and I stand by it. For those who disagree then that’s your proper however simply know you’re improper. Comfortable Convention Championship Weekend!