Top NFL Head Coaching Candidates

Former Super Bowl winner John Gruden will reportedly interview for head coaching vacancies around the NFL. (Getty Images)

With seven NFL head coaching vacancies now available, it is time to examine the possible replacement candidates. My top five will be listed first and will be followed by five additional possibilities after.

1. Jon Gruden, former Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach

Whenever you have the opportunity to get a Super Bowl-winning coach, it’s definitely worth taking a shot. Gruden is reportedly interested in coaching again and willing to listen and/or interview for openings. He will likely want to come into a situation with pieces already in place to work with. Gruden know the game inside and out and would be a great hire for anyone who is able to get him. He is almost certainly going to return to coaching. It is just a matter of when and where.

Possible Landing Spots: San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears

2. Bruce Arians, Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator/interim head coach

Arians did an excellent job filling in as the Colts interim head coach during Chuck Pagano's absence. He guided the Colts to a 9-3 record and an unexpected playoff berth. Along with his head coaching duties, Arians continued to run the offense and played an important role in the development of rookie quarterback Andrew Luck. He was already highly regarded around the league for his offensive prowess, but now he has proven he can handle the responsibility of being a head coach as well.

Possible Landing Spots: San Diego Chargers, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills

3. Chip Kelly, University of Oregon head coach

Kelly has has turned Oregon into perennial national contender in his four seasons at the helm. He has created an offensive juggernaut that is difficult for any collegiate team to shut down. Kelly is considered to be a hot commodity around the NFL. Many people think his creativity will transfer will to the pros. With the NCAA breathing down his neck and potential sanctions looming, the time for Kelly to go may be now. He might as well take the Pete Carroll approach and bail ship while he can.

Possible Landing Spots: Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs

4. Andy Reid, former Philadelphia Eagles head coach

Yes, Andy Reid did just get fired from his job as Eagles head coach, but his time in Philadelphia was fairly impressive. He boasts a 129-88-1 record in his career, and he guided the Eagles to the playoffs in nine of his 13 seasons, including one Super Bowl appearance. There are many NFL owners who would love to have a man like that coaching their team. Reid is still only 54 and one of the most well-respected coaches around the league. He should at least get interviews for many of the head coaching vacancies.

Possible Landing Spots: San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns

5. Mike McCoy, Denver Broncos offensive coordinator

McCoy is one of the hottest names around the league. Given the Broncos’ offensive success this season and last, it should come as no surprise. McCoy built an entire offensive scheme around Tim Tebow as his quarterback last season. Then, he completely revamped the offense with an entirely different system to fit Peyton Manning for this season. At just 40 years old, McCoy fits the mold of the young mind team's love to hire. With the adaptability and diligence to hard work he has already shown, it is just a matter of time before he gets a head coaching gig.

Possible Landing Spots: Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills

Five Additional Names to Keep an Eye On

• Perry Fewell, New York Giants defensive coordinator
• Greg Roman, San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator
• Bill O’Brien, Penn State University head coach
• Mike Zimmer, Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator
• Dirk Koetter, Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator

NFL Week 5 Preview and Predictions

Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall is set to make his season debut after recovering from an ACL injury. (Justin K. Aller)

I literally got knocked out by a band riser tonight, so these previews are going to be brief. I don't think that my reasoning will be affected any.

5. Atlanta Falcons (4-0) @ Washington Redskins (2-2) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX

Everything for these teams start with their respective quarterback. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is maturing into an elite quarterback. His cool demeanor and presence gives him the authority to lead his team to victory in games they would not have otherwise won. The Redskins counter with their rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III. RG3 is an electrifying, duel-threat quarterback. He has game-changer potential and room to grow and mature.

Predictions: Falcons 31 Redskins 20

4. Buffalo Bills (2-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (3-1) - 4:25 PM EST, CBS

Bills running backs C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson have battled injuries all season. Their team needs now more than ever against the 49ers talented defense. Last week, the Niners came into New York and destroyed the Jets 34-0. They limited the Jets to 145 total yards. Offensively, they rushed for a combined 245 yards and three touchdowns.

Prediction: 49ers 30 Bills 13

3. Denver Broncos (2-2) @ New England Patriots (2-2) - 4:25 PM EST, CBS

It is another installment in the Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady annals. The Broncos have had their share of ups and downs so far this season. Last week, the team played very well in a blowout of the Oakland Raiders. Manning threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, it was the Patriots who got off to  a slow start against the Bills. That didn't last long as they scored 45 points in the second half to win by 24.

Prediction: Patriots 28 Broncos 24

2. Houston Texans (4-0) @ New York Jets (2-2) - 8:30 PM EST, ESPN/WatchESPN

The Texans have been one of the best teams in all of football so far this season. This is their opportunity to prove it on national television. Quarterback Matt Schaub leads a steadily consistent offense that rarely makes mistakes. The Texans defense has been dominate and appears to be built to be so. The Jets have struggled mightily with inconsistency and not knowing what to expect. They need to come together as a team under one set of common goals.

Prediction: Texans 38 Jets 6

1. Philadelphia Eagles (3-1) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2) - 1:00 PM, FOX

The Eagles' three wins have come by a combined four points. This could mean they are very good or very lucky. Which one it is remains to be seen. What is for sure is that the Eagles odds of winning significantly increase when quarterback Michael Vick doesn't turnover the football and instead, distributes it well. The Steelers are coming off a bitter loss to the Raiders and a bye week. The good news for the Steelers is that they will reportedly have James Harrison, Troy Polamalu and Rashard Mendenhall back from their respective injuries. They are more than capable of taking over the game.

Prediction: Steelers 24 Eagles 20

NFL Week 4 Preview & Predictions

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick will have to overcome struggles this season and a rough history against the Giants. (US Presswire)

5. New England Patriots (1-2) @ Buffalo Bills (2-1) - 1:00 PM EST, CBS

After getting blown out by the New York Jets in Week 1, the Bills have bounced back with two straight wins to be tied with those very same Jets for the AFC East lead. The Patriots are unexpectedly looking up at both those teams after losing two straight games, which is a total rarity in the Bill Belichick era. The latter of which was a hard fought loss to the Baltimore Ravens on a field goal as time expired.

The Patriots must protect quarterback Tom Brady. Brady is one of the best distributors in the league, but he must have adequate time to do so. Offensively, the Patriots must also prove that they can run the football to get some of the pressure and focus off Brady. Another player to keep on eye on for the Patriots is tight end Rob Gronkowski. His numbers have been down some so far this season, but he is capable of breaking out at any given time.

The Bills have a lot of uncertainty at running back right now. Both C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson are listed as questionable and are likely game-time decisions come Sunday. This means that the Bills offense has to be prepared to air it out a lot with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm. The Bills' danger man is wide receiver Steve Johnson, who is capable of the big play at any time. On defense, the Bills young secondary will have their handful with the Patriots. They must be consistent and at their best on Sunday.

Prediction: Patriots 31 Bills 23

4. Minnesota Vikings (2-1) @ Detroit Lions (1-2) - 1:00 PM, FOX

After going 1-1 in close games against the likes of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts, I doubt anyone other than a blinded Vikings fan could pick them to beat the San Francisco 49ers. They did just that, picking up a double-digit win against one of the Super Bowl favorites. The Lions have not looked particularly strong so far this season. Last week, they lost in a shootout to the Tennessee Titans. With their dynamic offense, that rarely happens. Now sitting 1-2, the Lions will look to get back to .500 against their NFC North rivals.

The Vikings have gradually increased running back Adrian Peterson's workload as he returns from a knee injury. While he has yet to have a huge game this season, he is certainly capable of pulling one off at any given time. Second-year quarterback Christian Ponder has improved drastically so far this season. He is able to be accurate and smart with his passing when mobile and extending the pocket. On defense, the Vikings young secondary will have their handful with the Lions passing game. They must be consistent and do their best to contain as much as possible.

The Lions offense is one of the best in the league, particularly when passing the football. Quarterback Matthew Stafford and stud wide receiver Calvin Johnson are one of the best dynamic duos in football. Defensively, the Lions must do a better job of playing tighter defense. They gave up too many big plays last week. They must contain Peterson and Ponder as much as possible.

Prediction: Lions 28 Vikings 20

3. San Francisco 49ers (1-2) @ New York Jets - 1:00 PM EST, FOX

After beating a pair of playoff teams (Packers and Lions) from last season, the last thing the 49ers must have expected was to lose to the Vikings. The 49ers must be prepared to bounce back quickly as they travel cross-country to take on the Jets. It might have taken overtime to knock off the Miami Dolphins, but the Jets now have a 2-1 record, including 2-0 against their division.

The 49ers must look to rush the first and foremost with stud tailback Frank Gore leading the way. His hard determination and drive help draw the opposing defense. This benefits quarterback Alex Smith, tight end Vernon Davis, and the rest of the 49ers offense. It also helps their defense stay fresh and energized on the sideline.

The Jets need consistency out of quarterback Matt Sanchez. He is the focal point of their attack, and his play affects the attitude of the whole team. Defensively, the Jets must do a better job of pressuring the football. Through three games, they only have three sacks. That is simply unacceptable and must be improved upon if they are going to pick up many more wins.

Prediction: 49ers 24 Jets 20

2. Chicago Bears (2-1) @ Dallas Cowboys (2-1) - 8:30 PM EST (Monday), ESPN/WatchESPN

The Bears have had their share of ups and downs so far this season. They bounced back from a disappointing loss to their division rival Packers with a solid, team-effort victory over the St. Louis Rams. Running back Michael Bush had a touchdown, and safety Major Wright's pick-six helped seal the win. Interestingly enough, the Cowboys are 2-1 and have had their ups and downs as well. After getting beat down by the Seattle Seahawks, they returned home and defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16-10.

The similarities continue in the matchup as well. Both defenses have carried their respective teams each week. On the other side of the football, both offenses have to do a better job of limiting turnovers and mistakes. Running back Matt Forte is questionable for the game, so quarterback Jay Cutler would certainly benefit from a big game out of wide receiver Brandon Marshall. The Bears brought him in for situations just like this.

The Cowboys offensive line must protect quarterback Tony Romo. The weapons around him have struggled with inconsistency. He has been unreliable at times as a result. More than anyone else, tight end Jason Witten must step up his game. Romo relies on him for security, but he hasn't been up to the task so far this season. The Cowboys leader on defense is DeMarcus Ware. He must put pressure on Cutler and help to contain Forte in the backfield.

Prediction: Bears 17 Cowboys 13

1. New York Giants (2-1) @ Philadelphia Eagles (2-1) - 8:20 PM EST (Sunday), NBC

After going 1-1 a pair of close games, a loss to the Cowboys and a win over the Buccaneers, the Giants finally put it all together in a slaughtering of the Carolina Panthers. The Eagles eked out one-point victories in the first two weeks, but played poorly in a blowout loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3. The three turnovers and poor play defensively doomed the Eagles from the very beginning.

The Giants having been airing the ball out a lot this season, but the Eagles boast a strong pass defense. Giants quarterback Eli Manning has had a great season so far, but always benefits from having a running game he can rely upon. Defensively, the Giants must avoid giving up the big play. Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, running back LeSean McCoy and wide receiver DeSean Jackson are all dynamic and capable of breaking a play at any given time.

As I just mentioned, the Eagles could use big plays out of the likes of Vick, McCoy and Jackson. They offensive is operating at full capacity when all three are playing well. The defense must put pressure on Manning and control the line of scrimmage. They would certainly benefit from their offense keeping the ball away from the Giants as much as possible.

Prediction: Giants 27 Eagles 24

NFL Week 12 Preview & Predictions

You might have noticed I took a bye week last week on my weekly NFL Preview and Predictions (I was in St. Louis with some friends). I'm back again this week, and here is this week's Top Five Games.

5. Denver Broncos (5-5) @ San Diego Chargers (4-6) - 4:15 PM EST, CBS

In Week 5, these two teams last met. Denver was 1-3, and San Diego was 3-1. The Chargers took a large lead early in the game. That is when Broncos head coach John Fox made a big decison replacing veteran starting quarterback Kyle Orton with young Tim Tebow. Tebow nearly led the Broncos to the comeback win in the game. Since that game, a lot has changed about these teams. Denver has gone 4-1 with Tebow as the starting quarterback, despite the mounting criticism building against him. San Diego has gone 0-5 and watched starting quarterback Philip Rivers implode time and time again. In this game, the Tebow-led Broncos look to continue to ride toward a potential playoff berth, while the Chargers try to hold back the rivers that seem to be washing them out of the AFC playoff picture. Prediction: Denver 20 San Diego 17

4. Chicago Bears (7-3) @ Oakland Raiders (6-4) - 4:05 PM EST, FOX

Both the Broncos and Chargers are chasing the Oakland Raiders, who are leading the AFC West. The Raiders have been the epitome of inconsistent this season (W, L, W, L, W, W, L, L, W, W). At least midseason acquisition Carson Palmer is starting to show signs off mastering the offense. After throwing a combined six interceptions in his first two games as a Raider (both losses), Palmer has thrown only one in his last two games (both wins). On the other hand, the Chicago Bears are on a consistent roll right now that they would like to keep going. They have won five games in a row and would like to maintain their NFC Wild Card lead. However, their chances were dealt a serious blow when starting quarterback Jay Cutler fractured his thumb on his right throwing hand while trying to make a tackle following an interception. Doctors are uncertain if he will be able to return during the regular season. Into the spotlight steps Caleb Hanie, who will make his first ever NFL start. Most people will remember his performance in relief of Cutler in the NFC Championship Game last season. Hanie led the Bears on two touchdown drives before throwing his costly second interception that sealed his team's loss to the Packers. Prediction: Chicago 20 Oakland 17

3. Buffalo Bills (5-5) @ New York Jets (5-5) - 1:00 PM EST, CBS

This game features two teams struggling to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. The Buffalo Bills opened the season 4-1, but have now lost four of their last five. The Bills offense averaged 32.8 ppg during those first five games, but only 14.3 ppg the past five. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has been struggling, and starting running back Fred Jackson, who was having an outstanding season, has been lost for the season with a broken bone in his lower right leg. The New York Jets have been very streaky this season. Their current two game losing streak has brought them down to .500 and put them in must win mode if they are going to stand a chance of making the playoffs. The Jets aren't ready to panic yet though, as they were in a similar situation last year before putting together enough wins to reach the AFC Championship Game for the second straight year. They need quarterback Mark Sanchez to step up his game to make this happen again. Prediction: New York 24 Buffalo 10

2. New England Patriots (7-3) @ Philadelphia Eagles (4-6) - 4:15 PM EST, CBS

Many people thought before this season began that this game could be a Super Bowl preview. The New England Patriots seem well on their way to winning yet another AFC East title to try and hold up their end of the bargain. On the other hand, the Philadelphia Eagles are just trying to win another game to try and climb back into the NFC playoff picture. The Patriots have bounced back from two losses (to the Steelers and Giants) to win two games (over the Jets and Chiefs). Tight end Ron Gronkowski has blossomed into the focal point of the Patriots offense. He has 10 touchdown catches on the season, including a combined four the past two weeks. The Eagles are coming off a huge win over the Giants. Vince Young led the offense as an injured Michael Vick was unable to play. Reports believe that Young will be called on again this week. The Eagles defense stepped up big last week and will need to again this week. Prediction: New England 34 Philadelphia 17

1. New York Giants (6-4) @ New Orleans Saints (7-3) - 8:30 PM EST (MNF), ESPN

The New York Giants once seemed to be in control of the NFC East, but two straight losses and four straight wins for the Dallas Cowboys means that the Giants sit a 1/2 game behind the Cowboys. This might be the starting signs of another Giants second-half collapse, just like the past two seasons (missed the playoffs both seasons). In fact, in all seven seasons under head coach Tom Coughlin so far, the Giants have a worse second half record that their first half record. The Giants are struggling with injuries and will likely have to overcome quite a few inactives in order to pick up a win. They have a tough task going into the Superdome, where the Saints are 4-0. The Saints last two games were victories over divisional foes, including a 26-23 overtime win over the Falcons. They will be itching to play after eight days off because of their bye week last week. Prediction: New Orleans 34 New York 20

NFL Week 9 Preview & Predictions

Just like the college football previews and predictions, starting this week, I am blogging every Friday about the Top 5 NFL games for the upcoming weekend.

5. Chicago Bears (4-3) @ Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) - 8:30 PM EST (Monday), ESPN

This Monday football game is going to be over-hyped, just like every Philadelphia game. This is largely due to the fact that the Eagles finally showed some signs of being the team people thought they would be in a 34-7 win over the Cowboys. The Chicago Bears are coming off a bye, following their quality Week 7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In fact, each team is seeking their third consecutive win. Both could really use it as well. The Bears are in third place in the NFC North. They are trailing the Detroit Lions (6-2) by a game and half and the division leading Green Bay Packers, who remain undefeated. The Eagles are in a three way tie for second in the NFC East with the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins. All three teams sit two games behind the division leading New York Giants (5-2). The key matchup to watch is the Bears Cover 2 Defense against Eagles quarterback Michael Vick. In December 2010, the Bears defense led by Brian Urlacher did a great job containing Vick in a Bears win. Bears coach Lovie Smith will have his team ready coming off the bye week. The Bears have won three of their last four over the Eagles. Prediction: Bears 24 Eagles 20

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3) @ New Orleans Saints (5-3) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX

The New Orleans Saints entered last week's game coming of a 62-7 destruction of the Indianapolis Colts. They had to be confident facing the previously winless St. Louis Rams. However, the Saints never led the game and were trailing 24-0 well into the third quarter against a Rams team that hadn't scored more than 16 points in any previous week. The game ended in a shocking 31-21 loss. The loss meant the Saints' NFC South lead dropped to only a half game over Tampa Bay and Atlanta, both of whom were on the bye last week. This was the best possible news for Tampa Bay. The Bucs can take the division lead win a win on Sunday. They already have a win over both the Falcons and Saints. Three weeks ago, Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman passed for 303 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Saints. On the other hand, Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw three interceptions in the game. Interestingly enough, Tampa Bay has won three of their last four against New Orleans. Prediction: Saints 28 Buccaneers 20

3. New York Jets (4-3) @ Buffalo Bills (5-2) - 1:00 PM EST, CBS

This Sunday should help us to have a better picture of how good the top three teams in the AFC East are. This game features two of them. The New York Jets are coming off a bye and are speaking of the importance of the game. Both coach Rex Ryan and cornerback Darrelle Revis have told the media this game is a "must win." The Buffalo Bills are looking to win their first five games at home in sixteen years. They have put up an impressive 5-2 record against the NFL's sixth toughest schedule. This is largely due to the Pro Bowl caliber play of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and runningback Fred Jackson. Jackson is a definite candidate for Offensive Player of the year and has rushed for at least 100 yards in five of the Bills seven games so far this year. The Jets have the 26th ranked rush defense in the NFL, so expect him to do it again.Prediction: Bills 24 Jets 20

2. New York Giants (5-2) @ New England Patriots (5-2) - 4:15 PM EST, FOX

This game features a Super Bowl XLII rematch. The Super Bowl game saw Eli Manning's greatest moment of his career as he led the Giants on a 12 play, 83 yard drive to score the winning touchdown. In August, Eli Manning said that he was in the same class as Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Manning took a lot of heat and abuse from the media from that. This game provides another opportunity for him to prove his point. He stands a great chance against a Patriots pass defense, which ranks dead last in NFL (323.1 ypg), that allowed Ben Roethlisberger to pass for 365 yards in last week's Steelers victory. The Patriots have to like their odds with Brady under center at home. He has won 31 straight games at Gillette Stadium. Additionally, Giants starting running back Ahmad Bradshaw is questionable with a broken foot.Prediction: Patriots 34 Giants 24

1. Baltimore Ravens (5-2) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) - 8:20 PM EST, NBC

The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers rivalry has been one of the greatest in recent years. However, it didn't look like it in Week 1 as the Ravens punished a turnover-happy Steelers team 35-7. But both these teams are clearly different than Week 1. Baltimore is coming off of a scare by the Arizona Cardinals last week. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco had to lead his team on the greatest comeback in franchise history to come up with the 30-27 win. Pittsburgh is coming off its best and most complete win of the season. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for 365 yards and two touchdowns in an impressive 25-17 win over the New England Patriots. The defense shut down Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, limiting him to 198 passing yards. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin allowed his cornerbacks to play man-to-man defense. It worked well, and the Ravens receivers have struggled against that type of coverage, so we might see it used again. As expected, both defenses rank in the top three in almost every category. Prediction: Steelers 17 Ravens 13