It's not always smart to put a ton of stock into Week 1. While it's accurate for some teams, that isn't the case for all 32. In the coming weeks, we'll begin to see the NFL hierarchy shake out as most of us expect.
As of now, it's not necessarily difficult to identify the very best and worst teams in the league. In keeping with that, we have our second installment of our head coach hot-seat power rankings. With Week 2 on the horizon, any head coaches currently on the hot seat could see their seat get a hair warmer.
And we could approach a point where, likely around mid-season, there could be some in-season head coach firings. Let's dive into our latest head coach hot-seat power rankings with the bulk of Week 2 just about here.
Shane Steichen and Aaron Glenn top head coach hot seat rankings for Week 2
7. Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals did earn a win in Week 1, defeating Tampa Bay. With that said, the Bengals have largely underachieved in the Joe Burrow era, as the team has missed the playoffs three years in a row, and while Zac Taylor isn't totally to blame, the head coach is typically the first one to be scape-goated, if you will.
Taylor's teams typically start slow, and it's never felt like he ever established himself as a top head coach in this league. While he does have a Super Bowl appearance under his belt, the team does often feel very Burrow-dependent.
As quickly as the Bengals earned their first win, they can lose three of four, and if it becomes clear that the Bengals aren't that improved from 2025, I don't see how Taylor survives. The 2026 season did feel like a 'do or die' moment for many people, as the defense got a significant makeover, and the offense is as well-built as it's been in the Burrow era.
A deep playoff run might be the only thing that could save Taylor's job beyond 2026, but even during the regular season, Cincy has to be careful.
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