AFC head-coaching Satisfaction Index: Does Patriots' Bill Belichick have hottest seat?

As compiled by Yardbarker NFL writers, here's the head-coaching Satisfaction Index for all 16 AFC teams. A "10" denotes supreme satisfaction while a "5" denotes all is mostly swell and a "1" is a disaster area.

AFC East

BUFFALO BILLS | Head coach Sean McDermott | Satisfaction Index: 8: Despite the offense's inconsistencies during the first half of the season and having to overcome significant injuries to key defensive contributors, the Bills (10-6) are knocking on the door of their fourth straight AFC East title. McDermott's decision to fire OC Ken Dorsey saved Buffalo's season and revived its offense, which has averaged the fourth-most rushing yards (153.2) and sixth-most points (28) in the league over the past six games.

MIAMI DOLPHINS | Head coach Mike McDaniel | Satisfaction Index: 8 | The Dolphins (11-5) have clinched a second consecutive playoff berth behind the NFL's top-ranked scoring offense (30.1 PPG), and this will be their first back-to-back postseason appearances since 1997-2001. Defeating the Bills in Week 18 would secure Miami's first division title since 2008, though its 1-4 record against teams with winning records raises doubts about that outcome and its Super Bowl outlook.

NEW YORK JETS | Head coach Robert Saleh | Satisfaction Index: 1 | New York (6-10) is 17-33 under Saleh and has been a bottom-five offense in points per game in each of his three seasons. Saleh probably isn't the answer, but because QB Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1, he won't be fired and instead enters the 2024 season on the hottest seat in the NFL.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Head coach Bill Belichick | Satisfaction Index: 4 | New England (4-12) is enduring the worst season of Belichick's coaching career and will miss the playoffs for the third time since QB Tom Brady left in 2020, putting the 71-year-old's job security in jeopardy. However, after going 2-2 over his past four games, will owner Robert Kraft still usher in the next phase of franchise history or give Belichick another chance with an improved roster? — Colum Dell

AFC West

DENVER BRONCOS | Head coach Sean Payton | Satisfaction Index: 5 | Denver (8-8) improved in its first season under Payton, but he failed to meet lofty expectations. The Broncos will miss the playoffs for an eighth consecutive season and are tied for 17th in the league in points scored (21.4), which is surprising because he’s supposed to be an offensive genius.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Head coach Andy Reid | Satisfaction Index: 10 | Kansas City (10-6) recently clinched its eighth straight division title, the league’s second-longest streak since 1970, per the team website. Despite some offensive inconsistencies, the Chiefs are a championship contender; as of Wednesday, DraftKings gives them the fifth-best Super Bowl title odds (+950).

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Interim head coach Antonio Pierce | Satisfaction Index: 5 | Pierce is 4-4 since he replaced Josh McDaniels, who Las Vegas (7-9) fired after Week 8. Per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Pierce has made a good impression on star players, including wide receiver Davante Adams, which might convince owner Mark Davis to remove the interim tag. 

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Interim head coach Giff Smith | Satisfaction Index: 1 | The Chargers (5-11) fired Brandon Staley after Week 15, and Smith is 0-2 since he assumed head-coaching duties. Los Angeles could be an attractive destination for several candidates (Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh?) because Justin Herbert is a franchise QB who would thrive with an elite coach. — Clark Dalton

AFC North

 BALTIMORE RAVENS | Head coach John Harbaugh | Satisfaction Index: 10 | Perhaps the most underrated coach in the NFL, he has led the Ravens to a league-best 13 wins heading into the final week of the regular season. Harbaugh has an excellent chance of adding a third Super Bowl trophy to the franchise's display case this year.

CLEVELAND BROWNS | Head coach Kevin Stefanski | Satisfaction Index: 7 | Stefanski may have saved his job this season after back-to-back losing seasons. There might not be a team that has suffered more injuries than the Browns (11-5), who boast an outstanding defense (league-best 266.6 YPG) and a magical QB (Joe Flacco, 1,616 yards passing in five games). Could they be the dreaded "Team No One Wants To Face In The Playoffs?" 

CINCINNATI BENGALS | Head coach Zac Taylor | Satisfaction Index: 7 | Taylor’s true test came after QB Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury in Week 11. Although the Bengals (8-8) won't make the playoffs, he led his team to a 4-2 record after that calamity, underscoring he’s the right man for this job.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Head coach Mike Tomlin | Satisfaction Index: 8 | Tomlin did it again. After losing back-to-back home games against 2-10 teams, he turned the Steelers (9-7) around and increased his record for most consecutive non-losing seasons to begin an NFL head-coaching career to 17. The flip side of this coin is the Steelers haven't won a postseason game since the 2017 season. In Pittsburgh, that's a disaster. — Aaron Becker

AFC South

HOUSTON TEXANS | Head coach DeMeco Ryans | Satisfaction Index: 10 | In his first season, Ryans has the Texans at 9-7 with a chance to win an AFC South title and reach double-digit wins for the first time since 2019. For those reasons, and the drafting of franchise cornerstone quarterback C.J. Stroud and edge-rusher Will Anderson, Ryans is very much in the conversation for Coach of the Year. 

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Head coach Shane Steichen | Satisfaction Index: 8 | Despite being without star running back Jonathan Taylor for seven games and losing rookie QB Anthony Richardson to a season-ending injury in Week 5, Steichen has the Colts sitting at 9-7 with a chance at winning the division. Like Ryans, Steichen is also in the Coach of the Year conversation after getting 3,164 yards and 15 touchdown passes out of backup QB Gardner Minshew.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Head coach Doug Pederson | Satisfaction Index: 7 | Pederson has a Super Bowl championship and three division titles on his résumé, but the Jaguars have yet to win more than nine games during his two-year tenure and he has just one season of 10 or more wins in his seven-year head-coaching career. Since firing Jack Del Rio in 2011, Jacksonville (9-7) has typically not been patient with its HCs (none have lasted longer than four seasons), and though Pederson is an above-average coach, he may have to win playoff games to keep his job long term. 

TENNESSEE TITANS | Head coach Mike Vrabel | Satisfaction Index: 6.5 | Based on pure coaching ability, Vrabel would unquestionably get a 10; however, there are many moving parts to his situation. He’s been speculated to be interested in succeeding Belichick in New England after the season ends, and he may have a rocky relationship with Titans GM Ran Carthon, leading many to wonder if Vrabel will still be in Nashville come 2024. — Michael Gallagher