Kevin Stefanski should always have a special place in the hearts of Cleveland Browns fans for helping the team get its first playoff win in more than a quarter-century.
But ever since that 2020 Wild Card Round victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Browns are 13-18, a slump that includes Sunday’s 23-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals that effectively ended Cleveland’s postseason hopes.
After back-to-back underwhelming seasons, is Stefanski among NFL coaches on the hot seat?
Is Kevin Stefanski Among NFL Coaches on the Hot Seat?
Let’s say this up front: We don’t think Stefanski is in huge danger of losing his job. But that’s an as-of-this-moment statement.
The Browns are now 5-8 after losing for the seventh time in 10 games. Their latest defeat came at the hands of the Bengals, who built a two-score first-half lead and were never really threatened the rest of the way.
The Browns losing to the Bengals was no big surprise. Cincinnati, playing at home, was favored by a touchdown. But beyond the result, there were alarming signs about what the Browns have become in Stefanski’s third season.
Most specifically: The offense is bad, and has gotten worse since Deshaun Watson has been inserted into the lineup. The Browns have scored just one touchdown in the 24 possessions since Watson made his Browns debut.
Watson — the guy to whom Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry have staked their credibility — and probably careers — has completed just 59.4% of his passes for 407 yards, one touchdown, and two picks in his two games with the Browns. Watson, since his return, ranks 28th in EPA+CPOE composite (.01).
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Stefanski, on the Browns’ first drive Sunday, made the puzzling decision to sub in backup Jacoby Brissett on a 4th-and-1 at the Cincinnati 25. Instead of having Brissett dive forward for the first down — which is something Brissett does very well — Stefanski dialed up a throw to the end zone.
The gambit failed. Brissett’s throw to an open Donovan Peoples-Jones was off target.
“We felt like we had an opportunity there on 3rd-and-1, and then 4th-and-1. Felt like touchdowns in this game were going to be a premium. Just didn’t get it done,” Stefanski explained.
The Browns’ defense, which had played poorly for big stretches of the season, actually hung in there Sunday. The Browns have now held their opponents under 24 points in five of the last seven games.
But team discipline continues to be an issue. The Browns committed nine more penalties in Week 14, giving them 83 on the season — more than all but five teams.
“Very disappointed with the result,” Stefanski added. “Didn’t play good enough, didn’t coach good enough against a good football team. It’s really frustrating.”
The Browns technically do still have a path to the playoffs, but they need to win out and get a lot of help. With games remaining against the Ravens, Saints, Commanders, and Steelers, they’re more likely to lose out than run the table.
And if that happens, Stefanski would be in real trouble to keep his job — deservedly so.
More NFL Hot Seat Updates
Dennis Allen, New Orleans Saints (4-9)
Talk about a missed opportunity. If the Saints had any consistency whatsoever, they’d almost certainly be a playoff team in 2022. Instead, they need to win out and get significant help — despite every NFC South team currently sitting below .500.
Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)
Did every key Buccaneers player all of a sudden get old all at once? Or is the coaching under Todd Bowles significantly worse than it was under Bruce Arians? Perhaps it’s both — a sign that the Buccaneers should consider a total reboot after the season.
Nathaniel Hackett, Denver Broncos (3-10)
At this point, it’s just piling on to crush Nathaniel Hackett. We know he’s going to get fired at some point in the next four weeks. He knows he’s going to get fired at some point in the next four weeks. But after their latest loss, there’s a strong argument that the Broncos should just shut down a concussed Russell Wilson for the year.
Kliff Kingsbury, Arizona Cardinals (4-8)
The Cardinals’ season is technically on the line Monday night against the New England Patriots, but really, what’s the functional difference between a 2% chance to make the playoffs and a 0.1% chance to make the playoffs?
Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers (5-8)
The Packers have the NFL’s 10th-hardest remaining schedule but need to run the table against the Rams, Dolphins, Vikings, and Lions to have a realistic shot of making the playoffs.
Josh McDaniels, Las Vegas Raiders (5-8)
Week 14 might end up being the highwater mark of the Raiders’ 2022 season. Because there’s a slim but real chance the Raiders will follow up a three-game winning streak with a five-game losing streak to close out the season.
Lovie Smith, Houston Texans (1-11-1)
Credit the Texans for far exceeding expectations Sunday against the Cowboys. But Lovie Smith probably regrets not kicking a field goal on Houston’s last real drive.
Brandon Staley, Los Angeles Chargers (7-6)
A national TV audience Sunday night got to see Brandon Staley’s best coaching of the year — and one of the best of his career. L.A.’s defense throttled Tua Tagovailoa, and the offense looked good with Justin Herbert.