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The NFL experienced a sluggish “Black Monday” as everyone anxiously awaits news about Bill Belichick’s future with the New England Patriots.

The Washington Commanders have dismissed coach Ron Rivera due to his four consecutive losing seasons. The Carolina Panthers have fired general manager Scott Fitterer following their record of 2-15, which was the worst in the NFL.

The Atlanta Falcons took swift action and terminated Arthur Smith’s employment on Sunday evening, rather than waiting until Monday. This decision came after a disappointing 48-17 defeat against the New Orleans Saints, on a day where the Falcons still had a chance at winning their division if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had lost.

The Panthers, Raiders, and Chargers are searching for a new head coach and now the Commanders and Falcons have also joined in. The biggest question is whether the Patriots will also be added to the list.

In his 29th year as a head coach, Belichick had his most disappointing season yet. The Patriots had a record of 4-13 and failed to make it to the playoffs for the third time in the last four years.

Belichick, of course, led New England to six Super Bowl titles during an unprecedented run of success across two decades before Tom Brady left the team after the 2019 season.

However, the Patriots have only achieved a 29-38 record since Brady’s departure, with only one playoff appearance in 2021. Their rookie quarterback, Mac Jones, led them to a 10-7 season but was benched for the final six games. It is expected that the team will seek another quarterback during the offseason, as they hold the No. 3 pick in a draft filled with talented quarterbacks.

Coach Belichick will have a meeting with team owner Robert Kraft to talk about the team’s future plans and his own role. The 71-year-old coach stated on Monday that he is currently under contract and is willing to give up complete control over personnel choices.

Belichick is 27 wins away from passing Don Shula for No. 1 on the career list and is expected to pursue another coaching job if he doesn’t stay in New England. Several teams would be interested in a coach with his pedigree.

However, even with Belichick’s impressive credentials, it is likely that Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh would be the most highly desired candidate.

Currently, Belichick remains with the Patriots.

“I will make every effort each day to assist our football team to the best of my abilities,” he stated. “This has always been my approach, and it remains the same throughout my career. My father taught me this valuable lesson as I was growing up – to work for the team you are a part of and give it your all, unless instructed otherwise. Therefore, my mindset will not alter.”

If they fail in the playoffs this weekend, other notable head coaches may face the possibility of being fired.

It would not come as a shock if the fate of Mike McCarthy’s tenure with the Dallas Cowboys is linked to their performance in the postseason. The Cowboys have maintained a record of 12-5 for the third consecutive season and achieved their second NFC East title in two years, earning the No. 2 seed. However, their playoff record under McCarthy stands at 1-2 and they have not made it to the NFC championship game since 1995.

If the Cowboys were to experience a defeat against the Green Bay Packers (9-8) on Sunday or in the divisional round, Jerry Jones may reach his limit of patience.

Nick Sirianni could potentially be facing the most criticism as the playoffs approach. The Eagles, who were last year’s NFC champions, have only won one out of their last six games and their record has dropped from 10-1 to 11-6. As a result, they will have to travel to Tampa Bay for a wild-card game.

Following their defeat in last season’s Super Bowl against Kansas City, Philadelphia had their sights set on nothing less than a championship. In his three-year tenure, Sirianni boasts a record of 34 wins and 17 losses, with three playoff berths.

However, despite his success with a 26-5 record, the unpredictable fans who initially did not support him, have now grown fond of him. If the team loses to the average Buccaneers (9-8) next Monday night, owner Jeffrey Lurie may feel pressured to make a change, although Coach Sirianni has proven himself worthy of another season.

Since I arrived, whether we started with a record of 2-5, won 16 games last year, began with a 10-1 record, or have recently lost five of our last six games, we have experienced both highs and lows. Through it all, my boss, Mr. Lurie, has been an unwavering source of support. He has shown me support in every tough decision I have had to make, whether it involved personnel or in-game choices. He is always willing to do whatever it takes to help us win football games, and that is something I greatly admire about him. I am incredibly grateful to have him as our owner and the leader of our organization.

If the Bills struggle in the playoffs, there may be a possibility of change in Buffalo. Despite starting off with a 6-6 record, they managed to win five consecutive games and secure their fourth consecutive AFC East title, as well as the No. 2 seed. However, simply making it to the playoffs may not be sufficient for Buffalo. It is possible that they will need to make it to the AFC championship game in order to retain coach Sean McDermott. Their first playoff game will be against the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) on Sunday.

McDermott stated that our team still has work to do and more room for improvement.

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NFL news from the Associated Press: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Source: wralsportsfan.com