Glauber's NFL Insider: Mangini out?
Two and done for Mangini?
Browns coach Eric Mangini, who was hired just days after being fired by the Jets following the 2008 season, could be ousted again after only two years on the job in Cleveland.
Mangini plans to meet with team president Mike Holmgren tomorrow, the day after the Browns (5-10) conclude their season at home against the Steelers. Mangini is 10-21 with the Browns, although two of those wins came this season against defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans and New England. But since beating the Patriots at home Nov. 7, the Browns are 2-5.
Mangini has dealt with his share of quarterback injuries this season, but it might not be enough of an excuse to avoid being let go by Holmgren.
Who's the next head coach? Don't be surprised if it's Holmgren, who admittedly has missed being on the sideline in his first year as team president. Holmgren took the Packers to back-to-back Super Bowls in Green Bay, winning once, and also coached the Seahawks to a Super Bowl.
Ryan nearing record
How good has Matt Ryan been through the first three seasons of his career? Historically good.
The Atlanta quarterback already has won 32 games. He is one win shy of matching Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino for the most by a quarterback in his first three seasons since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
Ryan, who can help the Falcons clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs with a win over the Panthers at home, already has posted a rating of at least 100.0 15 times. The Falcons are 15-0 in those games. Ryan is 19-2 at home and is anxious to atone for that second loss, which came last Monday against the Saints.
Road warriors, not worriers
The Saints might have to defend their Super Bowl title the hard way. They're in the playoffs by virtue of last Monday night's win over the Falcons, but there's a strong likelihood that they'll be playing on the road in the postseason.
Unless the Falcons lose at home to the Panthers - close to impossible, given Carolina's awful season - the Saints will be a wild-card team. Last year, they were the NFC's top seed and won both home playoff games before beating the Colts in the Super Bowl.
"The way I feel about this team, it doesn't matter if we play at home or on the road," quarterback Drew Brees said. "We're battle-tested. We're playing with a lot of confidence. We trust one another. There's no task that we don't feel like we can accomplish."
Indy closing in on title
No one thought it would come down to the final week, but that's how tough a season it has been for the defending AFC champion Colts, who can clinch their seventh AFC South title in the past eight years. A win over the Titans at home gets them in. Even with a loss, Indy can win the division title if Jacksonville loses at Houston.
If the Colts reach the playoffs, it will be the ninth straight time, which would tie Dallas (1975-83) for the longest streak in NFL history. And if the Colts win, it will be their ninth straight 10-win season, the second-longest streak in league history. The 49ers had 16 straight seasons of at least 10 wins from 1983-98.
Unbeaten but staying home
One of the great statistical anomalies is this: The Raiders can become the only AFC team this season to be undefeated in their division with a win over the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. But Oakland (7-8) is 2-8 outside the AFC West.
Weis out, McDaniels in?
With plenty of speculation swirling that Chiefs offensive coordinator Charlie Weis is heading to the University of Florida to become the Gators' offensive coordinator, there's an equal amount of speculation centering on Josh McDaniels as the Chiefs' next offensive coordinator.
It would be an unusual game of coaching musical chairs, but not an illogical one. Consider: Weis had connections in Kansas City with Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli from their days of working with Patriots coach Bill Belichick. And McDaniels also has a strong familiarity with Pioli, as well as Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel. McDaniels was the Patriots' offensive coordinator when Cassel led the Patriots to an 11-5 record in 2008, the year Tom Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first game of the season. Oh, and the team the Patriots played that day - the Chiefs.
There is one potential impediment to McDaniels joining the Chiefs, though. Remember when Chiefs coach Todd Haley refused to shake McDaniels' hand after a blowout loss to the Broncos earlier this season? It might come into play, although the two men hugged when the teams met a second time in Kansas City. And McDaniels still has close ties with Belichick, so there's always the chance he goes back to New England.
