As the season makes the turn into the final quarter, there is discussion near and far about candidates for postseason awards. One of the most hotly debated will be the league’s coach of the year, in large part because of the fundamental disagreement about what the award is. Is it for the head coach who takes a quality team to the greatest heights? Is it for the head coach who makes a good season out of a team that wasn’t expected to have one?
There are four coaches in the Hall of Fame who were on the job since 1957 — when the first Associated Press coach of the year was handed down — who never won the award. Yes, they are in the Hall but never were deemed the league’s coach of the year — Sid Gillman, Marv Levy, Hank Stram and, inexplicably, Chuck Noll.
Which brings us all to Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy, who currently sits at 12-0 and yet in some circles is somehow less of a candidate this season than the 49ers’ Jim Harbaugh, the Texans’ Gary Kubiak and perhaps even John Fox if the Broncos hold it together.
Must-see game of the week
Raiders at Packers 2:15 p.m.
The skinny: The Raiders unceremoniously ended what had been a three-game win streak with a mail-in effort last Sunday in Miami. A little trip to the best team in football’s stadium doesn’t exactly offer a prime chance to regain their balance either. The Raiders have tried to make it work without running back Darren McFadden — he hasn’t played in the past five games because of a foot injury — but the impact of missing their biggest impact player shows a little more with each game.
The difference will be: If the Raiders become the first team to slow down Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers has thrown at least two touchdown passes in every game this season and has finished each of those 12 games with a passer rating of more than 100. Rodgers has beaten defenses that have tried to rush him; he has beaten defenses that have tried to drop extra players into coverage. And two defensive coaches who have faced Rodgers this year say the frustrating thing for those making game plans against him is he has rarely looked flustered up to this point of the season.
The call: Packers 33-20
Catch ’em if you can
Texans at Bengals 11 a.m.
The Texans’ current six-game win streak is the longest in the AFC at the moment, just ahead of the Broncos’ five in a row. Houston has done it despite being on its third quarterback: rookie T.J. Yates. He has completed 50 percent of his passes while safely cocooned in the run-heavy offense, but most important, he did not throw an interception in his first career start last week. The Bengals have won three of their past four home games.
The call: Texans 24-23
Saints at Titans 11 a.m.
The Saints have losses to the 3-8 Buccaneers and the 2-10 Rams, so they have stumbled at some surprising times this season. Over the past four games, however, they have shown themselves to be a title hopeful — especially with the way QB Drew Brees is playing. He is the first player to have topped 4,000 yards passing in the first 12 games of a season and remains on track to set the league’s single-season passing record.
The call: Saints 31-21
49ers at Cardinals 2 p.m.
The 49ers already have clinched their division title but need to keep their edge if they want a first-round bye in the playoffs. The 49ers simply don’t let opponents run the ball. San Francisco has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 34 consecutive games and has not allowed a rushing touchdown this season. Cardinals RB Beanie Wells is tied for fourth in the league with nine rushing TDs this season.
The call: Cardinals 20-17
Giants at Cowboys 6:20 p.m., KUSA-9
The Cowboys are 5-1 at home, and a win would solidify their hold on the division lead. The Giants have won four of the past six meetings, and they will play twice over the final four weeks. Giants QB Eli Manning has thrown 10 TD passes in his past four games against the Cowboys — three of those games have been New York victories.
The call: Cowboys 24-20
Quick hitters
Colts at Ravens11 a.m.
The Ravens are the only AFC team that is undefeated at home this season (6-0), and the Colts really don’t pose much threat to change that in this one. Ravens QB Joe Flacco is 25-5 in home starts in his career.
The call: Ravens 31-13
Falcons at Panthers 11 a.m.
The Falcons have won five of the past six vs. Carolina, including a 31-17 victory in the Georgia Dome earlier this season. Panthers QB Cam Newton is just the fourth rookie to throw for at least 3,000 yards in his first season — joining Peyton Manning, Sam Bradford and the Falcons’ Matt Ryan.
The call: Falcons 33-28
Vikings at Lions 11 a.m.
The Vikings have won 16 of the past 19 games against Detroit. The Lions need this win to stay in the NFC wild-card chase after back-to-back losses to Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees.
The call: Lions 28-20
Buccaneers at Jaguars 11 a.m.
For all of the Jaguars’ woes, RB Maurice Jones-Drew has somehow powered himself to the top of the league’s rushing rankings with 1,137 yards and has averaged 103 yards a game against NFC teams this season.
The call: Buccaneers 10-9
Eagles at Dolphins 11 a.m.
Since the overtime loss to the Broncos, the Dolphins have won four of their past six games and their past three home games. In home games, Miami QB Matt Moore is 3-1 with five TD passes and no interceptions.
The call: Dolphins 28-24
Chiefs at Jets 11 a.m., KCNC-4
Jets QB Mark Sanchez has settled down in recent weeks with two fourth-quarter TDs passes and a fourth-quarter passer rating of 127.7 in the past two games. The Jets are 5-1 at home.
The call: Jets 23-9
Patriots at Redskins 11 a.m.
With the Patriots sitting last in the league in total defense (412.1 yards allowed per game), they have relied on QB Tom Brady’s right arm more than ever. They have scored at least 30 points nine times this season.
The call: Patriots 35-31
Bills at Chargers 2:15 p.m.
Chargers QB Philip Rivers still owns December. Rivers is 21-2 in December starts and has 43 TD passes in those starts.
The call: Chargers 30-24
