Lions' Jim Schwartz among NFL coaches on hot seat
- Only one coach%2C Houston%27s Gary Kubiak%2C out so far
- Some coaches could gain reprieve with strong finish
- Other coaches%27 fates seems sealed
Jim Schwartz exhaled and gulped as he looked across the field at Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, whose 61-yard field goal with 38 seconds to go Monday did more than take the Detroit Lions' fate out of their hands.
The 18-16 loss, sealed moments later by Matthew Stafford's interception, also ramped up heat on Schwartz in a season when his Lions were the only NFC North team that avoided losing its quarterback – yet again is falling flat down the stretch.
If the Lions can't win the division in a down year, with the Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers and the Chicago Bears' Jay Cutler each missing at least five starts and the Minnesota Vikings in various states of disarray, is there any reason Schwartz shouldn't be out of chances?
They still can make the playoffs despite losing four of five, including two at Ford Field. But teams often take on the personality of their leaders, and the Lions' maddening inconsistency – complete with consecutive late-season slides – seems to reflect on their emotional coach.
"Our emotions aren't important right now," Schwartz, 47, said after Monday's defeat. "We have two games to play. We're one down in our division."
The Lions now need help to win it, thanks to a familiar formula that felled them Monday: too many turnovers (three), too many penalties (eight for 89 yards) and an inability to get a late stop as another fourth-quarter lead slipped away.
The top two players on a league-high payroll of nearly $162 million had off nights. And while Schwartz can't throw the ball for Stafford or catch it for Calvin Johnson, their struggles at a pivotal juncture don't exactly speak well of the state of the Lions under the current staff either.
If this is it for Schwartz – home against the New York Giants, then at Minnesota – his legacy would revolve less around the Lions' return to competency than a single playoff loss, players' lack of discipline on and off the field and a handshake run-in with San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh.
No doubt, Schwartz and general manager Martin Mayhew inherited a wreck in 2009. The Lions went from 2-14 to 6-10 to 10-6 in 2011 – but even that year, they stumbled after a 5-0 start. They lost eight in a row to finish last season 4-12 and are fading again, falling from 6-3 to 7-7.
The Ford family has been patient in the past. Matt Millen, who presided over football operations from 2001 to 2008, probably should have been fired six times before the Lions pulled the trigger. And Schwartz has two years remaining on the contract extension he signed in June 2012.
But this franchise hasn't won a playoff game since 1991, and barring a recovery the next two weeks, management might struggle to find signs that things will change unless it makes a change, again.
FEELING THE HEAT
One NFL team (the Houston Texans) has fired its coach (Gary Kubiak) this season. But eight others appear to have various levels of uncertainty surrounding their future with two weeks to go in the regular season.
Dennis Allen,Oakland Raiders
Year: 2.
Record: 8-22.
Why he'll stay: The Raiders are carrying a mountain of dead money on the salary cap as GM Reggie McKenzie's cleanup project continues, leaving them with a league-low payroll of $93.17 million. They've gone through three quarterbacks. Yet they hung in the playoff race until midseason.
Why he'll go: They've lost six of their past seven games and been blown out twice at home in that stretch. The cap will be in superior shape for 2014, and owner Mark Davis might be tempted to seize the opportunity to make a splash by hiring a big name. Return of Jon Gruden, anyone?
Leslie Frazier,Minnesota Vikings
Year: 3.
Record: 20-32-1 (0-1 playoffs).
Why he'll stay: Quarterback Christian Ponder's failure to ascend put the team in a tough spot, and they're in transition at other positions. They've played better of late despite a challenging schedule, in part because Matt Cassel has brought stability to the quarterback position.
Why he'll go: Defensive meltdowns late in so many losses look bad on a defensive-minded coach, who also has had game-management issues. Star running back Adrian Peterson isn't getting younger, increasing urgency for offensive innovation.
Jason Garrett,Dallas Cowboys
Year: 3.
Record: 28-26.
Why he'll stay: Owner Jerry Jones can be stubborn, and he has refused to entertain the idea of making a change. Garrett has a history with the organization. He's an offensive coach, and the Cowboys defense is their greatest issue.
Why he'll go: This could be four consecutive non-playoff years for the Cowboys, who have one playoff win since 1997. Wade Phillips was fired for less. Perhaps the key question is, who's willing to take the job if Jones is calling the personnel shots?
Mike Munchak, Tennessee Titans
Year: 3.
Record: 20-26.
Why he'll stay: Munchak has been with the franchise as a player and coach for 32 years, dating to its days in Houston. It's unclear how late owner Bud Adams' family will try to put its stamp on the organization.
Why he'll go: The Titans haven't made the playoffs since 2008. GM Ruston Webster inherited Munchak, who also appeared to be in trouble one year ago before the team fired vice president Mike Reinfeldt instead.
Rex Ryan,New York Jets
Year: 5.
Record: 44-40 (4-2 playoffs).
Why he'll stay: The Jets aren't dead yet in the playoff chase despite being in transition with a weakened defense and a struggling rookie quarterback. For whatever faults he has, Ryan is a brilliant defensive mind, and he took the Jets to AFC title games in his first two seasons.
Why he'll go: The Jets have lost four of five since their bye and are assured of a third non-winning season in a row. GM John Idzik might want to leave behind Ryan and everything that comes with him in favor of an offensive-minded coach to develop quarterback Geno Smith.
Jim Schwartz,Detroit Lions
Year: 5.
Record: 29-50 (0-1 playoffs).
Why he'll stay: There's little doubt the Lions are a better team than the one that finished 4-12 a season ago. Switching philosophies and schemes might hurt quarterback Matthew Stafford, not help him.
Why he'll go: The Lions are crumbling down the stretch for the second year in a row. A 10-6 finish and brief playoff appearance in 2011 might have been the anomaly. Discipline has been a problem from the start.
Greg Schiano,Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Year: 2.
Record: 11-19.
Why he'll stay: Players didn't quit after a 0-8 start, winning four of their past six. Rookie quarterback Mike Glennon has shown potential since replacing Josh Freeman, whose release doesn't reflect as badly on Schiano now that he's riding the bench in Minnesota.
Why he'll go: Schiano's heavy-handed style can weigh on players when things are going badly. An investigation into whether he released Freeman's private medical information is ongoing. The Bucs have spent a lot of money to accumulate talent recently with little to show for it.
Mike Shanahan, Washington Redskins
Year: 4.
Record: 24-39 (0-1 playoffs).
Why he'll stay: The alternative is paying him $7 million not to coach next season. Shanahan has two Super Bowl rings. His decision to play backup quarterback Kirk Cousins in the final three games, though unconventional, avoids risking another injury and rehab for Robert Griffin III.
Why he'll go: Owner Dan Snyder can't like the negative attention. Imagine what it'd be like in the offseason if Shanahan is still around. He has one playoff bid in his past seven seasons with Washington and the Denver Broncos.
Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero.