I love the breakdown. Great explanation of the process.
As for coach of the year, I get tired of that, as what people think coach of the year is, and what the award actually goes to, seem to be different.
It seems like the coach of the year award always goes to one of the following
- Surprise division winners, from a team that people didn't think would make the playoffs. (Like if the Bears won the NFC North this year)
- Surprise team to make the playoffs, when people didn't think they would make the playoffs AND something big happened to hurt their chances and they still made it anyways (like the Browns making the playoffs with their 4th string QB (Joe Flacco) the other year)
~ #1 seed in the conference that dominant the season at times, like the Ravens have done a couple of times getting their head coach the award.
Right now, the Packers have extremely little chance of winning the coach of the year award because it would NOT be a surprise if they made the playoffs with their track record.
Now they potentially could get the #1 seed... but NFC North looks like it'll be a hard fought battle for division winner, and whatever coach does it MIGHT become coach of the year.
And winning games with the backup QB certainly helps LaFleur's case, but I think the odds will be stacked against the Packers from winning the award until it's a surprise that they would make the playoffs and then they actually do.