NFL PLAYERS AND COACHES ON THE HOT SEAT

PLAYERS AND COACHES ON THE NFL HOT SEAT

The NFL is a "what have you done for me lately" business, and several players and coaches are finding themselves on the hot seat already. Here's a look at 25 players and coaches who could lose their jobs sooner than later.

BLAKE BORTLES, QB, JAGUARS

Bortles was already benched briefly this season with the Jags offense in a tailspin. With the team's running game unable to hold up like it did last season, Bortles has led the Jags to a 3-5 record through eight games with eight picks. The team seems likely to look for a new signal-caller in 2019.

TODD BOWLES, HEAD COACH, JETS

The Jets have been patient with Bowles, now in his fourth season with the team, after consecutive 5-11 finishes. While he deserves some leeway for starting a rookie quarterback (Sam Darnold), Jets fans and ownership can only be so patient. The team is 3-5 through the first half of the season and could need a strong second half for Bowles to return in 2019.

MATT BURKE, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, DOLPHINS

It hasn't been a fun year for the Dolphins defense. The team has allowed 27.4 points per game, fifth most in the NFL, and teams are averaging 8.3 yards per pass attempt. Miami had some key personnel losses in the offseason, namely Ndamukong Suh, but someone might have to take the fall for its struggles.

TOM CABLE, OFFENSIVE LINE COACH, RAIDERS

Cable left a struggling offensive line last year in Seattle, and the struggles have followed him to Oakland this year. The Raiders offensive line was arguably the league's best just two years ago and still has several of those same pieces. Cable could be in trouble if the line continues to struggle.

DEREK CARR, QB, RAIDERS

Carr had a major regression last year after an outstanding 2016 season, and things aren't going well this year either. It's seemed like there's been friction between Carr and head coach Jon Gruden, and the team has three first-round picks in 2019. Would the Raiders make a bold move and draft a quarterback?

ALEX COLLINS, RB, RAVENS

Collins emerged as a breakout player for Baltimore last season, running for 973 yards and averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He hasn't been as effective this year, with just 358 yards rushing and 3.7 yards per carry through eight games. The Ravens acquired Ty Montgomery at the trade deadline, which could be a warning for Collins.

JOE FLACCO, QB, RAVENS

Flacco knew he was in trouble after a few down seasons and the drafting of Lamar Jackson in the first round. Major additions at wideout have helped, but Flacco is still averaging only 6.6 yards per attempt and completing just 61.1 percent of his passes, his worst rate since 2013.

JOHN HARBAUGH, HEAD COACH, RAVENS

It's tough to say goodbye to a Super Bowl-winning head coach, but there's a chance Baltimore will do just that if it misses the postseason again. Harbaugh's Ravens have missed the playoffs in three straight seasons and are currently 4-5.

JASON GARRETT, HEAD COACH, COWBOYS

The pressure is on Garrett, who would have probably been fired a long time ago if he was with another organization. Owner Jerry Jones has done everything he could to keep Garrett around despite only two playoff appearances in seven-plus seasons. The Cowboys traded a first-round pick for Amari Cooper, putting even more pressure on Garrett to make the playoffs.

JON GRUDEN, HEAD COACH, RAIDERS

Gruden came out of the broadcast booth after 10 years away, signing a historic 10-year, $100 million contract with the Raiders. Since then he's traded Khalil Mack, Amari Cooper, and he has gone 1-7 through the first half of the season. The Raiders have three first-round picks and plenty of cap room to work with as they move to Vegas in 2019, but Gruden's jig is already getting old.

VANCE JOSEPH, HEAD COACH, BRONCOS

The Broncos considered making a move after Joseph went 5-11 in his first season with Denver, and he's started this one at just 3-5. The team's quarterback woes have a lot to do with the struggles, but the defense has also taken a step back. If Joseph misses the playoffs again, John Elway could be in the market for a head coach.

CASE KEENUM, QB, BRONCOS

Keenum signed a two-year deal last offseason to fix the Broncos' quarterback issues, but it hasn't happened yet. He leads the league with 10 interceptions in eight games and has a mediocre 41.4 QBR. The Broncos whiffed on former first-round pick Paxton Lynch, but might give it another go in next year's draft for a signal-caller of the future.

DIRK KOETTER, HEAD COACH, BUCCANEERS

The writing is on the wall for Koetter. After going 9-7 in his first season with the Bucs, his team went 5-11 last year and is 3-5 so far this year. Koetter was promoted from offensive coordinator to give young quarterback Jameis Winston system stability, but Winston has been benched this year. Koetter could be next if the Bucs don't make a miraculous improvement.

MATT LAFLEUR, OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR, TITANS

LaFleur came over from the Rams to help fix Marcus Mariota, but the new Titans offensive coordinator has failed in that effort so far. In addition, the Titans have scored only 16.8 points per game, 29th in the NFL. LaFleur could be on the chopping block if the Titans don't show improvement on offense in the second half of the season.

ELI MANNING, QB, NEW YORK GIANTS

Many blamed last year's coaching staff for Manning's woes, but they've continued into a new regime. The two-time Super Bowl winner has only eight touchdowns in eight games, and he's been sacked a league-leading 31 times. The Giants could finally move on after their second consecutive awful season.

MARCUS MARIOTA, QB, TITANS

Mariota deserves credit for playing hurt, but he's been arguably the worst quarterback in the league this year. Through eight games played, he had only 1,270 passing yards and 5/5 TD/INT. The Titans offense has really sputtered, and patience is wearing thin in Mariota's fourth season.

MIKE MCCARTHY, HEAD COACH, PACKERS

The marriage between McCarthy and former MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers seems to be on the skids, and the Packers have struggled this season at 3-4-1. Rightly or wrongly, McCarthy has received his share of criticism over 13 seasons in Green Bay for winning only one Super Bowl with Rodgers at the helm. If the team fails to make the playoffs this year, it could be looking for a new head coach to capitalize while Rodgers is still around.

LESEAN MCCOY, RB, BILLS

McCoy's name was already mentioned in some disturbing off-field noise, and his play has deteriorated for the second straight year. Through eight games, he has only 453 yards from scrimmage, averaging 3.1 yards per carry. Now 30, his time in Buffalo could be drawing to a close.

SEAN MCDERMOTT, HEAD COACH, BILLS

McDermott earned some goodwill from the Bills faithful after returning them to the playoffs in his first season, but the team's play hasn't been pretty this season. They're just 2-7 as they try to find some consistency on offense. It's unlikely the Bills would move on so quickly, but the fire is at least getting hotter.

ROBERT SALEH, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, 49ERS

Now in his second season with the 49ers, Saleh's defense continues to struggle. The organization gave him more players to work with this year, like Richard Sherman, but the team's pass defense continues to be gashed. The defense could need a solid second half for Saleh to get off the hot seat.

PAT SHURMUR, HEAD COACH, GIANTS

The Giants hired Shurmur to help revitalize a stagnant offense, but he hasn't done that through the first half of the season. New York has started 1-7, and while the Giants have come close in several games, the failures have frustrated fans given the great offensive weapons. If the season continues the way it's been going, Shurmur could be fired after just one year.

BOB SUTTON, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, CHIEFS

KC's defense really took a step back last year. The team signed Anthony Hitchens and added beef on the interior of the defensive line to fix the run defense, but those moves haven't worked at all. The continued absence of Eric Berry hasn't helped, but there may come the time when the finger has to be pointed higher up. Chiefs fans have been screaming for Sutton's ouster for a while, and if the defense causes the Chiefs to fall short in the playoffs, Andy Reid might be forced to make a change at defensive coordinator.

RYAN TANNEHILL, QB, DOLPHINS

Tannehill returned from a knee injury but played poorly before hurting his shoulder. Injuries and poor play aren't a good combination, and the offense hasn't lost much after switching to Brock Osweiler. That might say it all for Tannehill's current ability.

STEVE WILKS, HEAD COACH, CARDINALS

The Cardinals had much higher hopes than being 2-6 through eight games. The transition from Bruce Arians to Wilks hasn't been a smooth one so far, and the lack of offense has been the main culprit. It looks like Arizona already has a lost year, but the fans would really like to see improvement in the second half of the season.

JAMEIS WINSTON, QB, BUCCANEERS

Winston isn't signed for 2019, and he's probably looking at a new home. The former No. 1 overall draft choice was suspended for the first three games of the season due to off-field behavior, and he was benched for Ryan Fitzpatrick in Week 8. He has a league-high 10 interceptions in only four games, and it's feeling like the Bucs are ready to move on.