Is Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett better than Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien? Apparently Sporting News thinks so, according to their latest ranking of all 32 NFL coaches.
O’Brien was ranked 17th overall on their list, down from 14 in 2018, compared to Garrett, who is 12th this season, up from 13 in 2018.
O’Brien is the lowest-ranked coach who made the playoffs last season, and this might seem harsh since that came with an 11-5 record. O’Brien has a franchise quarterback in Deshaun Watson, but the playoff meltdown was a reminder that this franchise has yet to take the next step in the postseason. O’Brien must take advantage of his opportunities in a competitive AFC.
Both of have made the playoffs three times since taking over their respective Texas NFL franchises, Garrett full-time in 2011 and O’Brien in 2014. Garrett has a 2-3 playoff record while O’Brien is 1-3, including two home playoff losses.
The most puzzling part about the evaluation is how O’Brien dropped after one year. In 2018, the Texans started 0-3 and could have packed it in, improved to an 8-8 finish, or matched their 4-12 record from a year ago. Instead, the club peeled off a nine-game winning streak that is a new NFL record for teams starting 0-3.
To stick with the Garrett comparison a little longer, the Cowboys coach had a Pro Bowler under center in every one of his playoff appearances. O’Brien had his lone Pro Bowl quarterback last season.
O’Brien and the Texans do have to take advantage of their postseason appearances in the AFC. However, getting to the playoffs in three of O’Brien’s five previous years has to account for something. Perhaps commentators would be compiling different rankings if the Texans captured the first-round bye in 2018 that they let slip with a Week 16 loss to Philadelphia.
It’s a new season now. Houston and O’Brien will have to make the most of it.
