NFL hot seat: Week 7

As the NFL season approaches its midpoint, the outlook for many teams has become clearer. For some, that clarity reveals an unappealing picture, suggesting that changes may be imminent.

With Week 7 in the books, here are some of our picks of potential changes we think could be over the horizon.

Alex’s pick: Dennis Allen, HC, New Orleans Saints

After an improbable first two games of the regular season, Dennis Allen and the Saints have come back down to earth.

New Orleans scored over 40 points in their first two games this year against the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys.

However, the Saints have eclipsed 20 points only twice in games since. Despite the great start, their offense currently ranks 21st in total offense which is in the bottom third of the league.

Additionally, they have lost five straight games, dropping their overall record to 2-5.

In the 2010s, the Saints clinched a playoff berth seven times, but have yet to reach such feats with Dennis Allen at head coach. This playoff drought comes after a period of abundance in playoff football for the franchise before his arrival.

As a defense, the Saints are allowing an average of almost 400 yards per game which is the worst in the NFL.

The Saints are in third place in the NFC South division behind both Atlanta and Tampa Bay. In other words, this season is beginning to head downhill if not already.

Dennis Allen has been unable to rediscover the early season success and patch up the new issues, all on top of the fact that the last few seasons have been disappointments under his reign.

Don’t be surprised if New Orleans makes adjustments to the coaching staff soon, most likely starting with Dennis Allen.

Dominick’s Pick: Daniel Jones, QB, New York Giants

The Giants have had an underwhelming year. They are in the midst of their second consecutive noncompetitive season after their Wild Card appearance in 2022.

That year feels like a fluke now. In the eyes of fans, the problems that the Giants have can be traced back to their 2019 first-round pick, quarterback Daniel Jones.

The four-year, 160 million-dollar contract extension that he inked with the team in 2023 only exacerbates the fanbases’ negative opinions toward Jones.

Fans have long been fed up with watching the Duke product trot through the tunnel every Sunday.

His production this year has been far from his floor, but when your team is 2-5, the first person to receive the blame will always be the man under center.

Jones has completed 62.5% of his passes this year for six touchdowns and just under 1500 yards, alongside four interceptions.

His performance versus the Eagles in Week 7 has been the catalyst for conversation regarding a change at QB. He failed to reach 100 yards passing and was sacked a whopping seven times.

New York’s offense has been AWOL this year. They have scored just one touchdown in four home games. Jones hasn’t thrown a touchdown in MetLife Stadium since New Year’s Day, 2023.

Against the Eagles, head coach Brian Daboll chose to bench Jones in favor of Drew Lock. I doubt Lock will be the starter for the Giants, but this benching should send the message to Jones that his job is not secure if he continues to play poorly.

Carson’s Pick: Mike McCarthy, HC, Dallas Cowboys

McCarthy, head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, finds himself in the hot seat as the team struggles to meet expectations in the current 2024 season.

Coming off their worst defeat of the season, the Cowboys now have a 3-3 record, and since taking over in 2020, McCarthy has faced mounting pressure to deliver playoff success.

Inconsistent performances have raised doubts about his leadership, under McCarthy, the Cowboys have shown flashes of brilliance. Most notably their strong 2021 and 2023 seasons when they clinched the NFC East.

The team's subsequent playoff exits in those seasons have left fans and analysts questioning his ability to achieve playoff success with the Cowboys.

The Cowboys are navigating a challenging season marked by both promising moments and alarming setbacks. Early in the season, the team displayed a potent offense, but recent games have revealed weaknesses in execution and significant defensive lapses.

Critics point to several failures, including questionable game management, conservative play calling and a lack of adaptability during critical moments. The Cowboys' offense, once noted for its potential, has faltered under McCarthy's guidance this season.

With owner Jerry Jones making it clear that he expects results, McCarthy's future may hinge on the team's ability to not only make the playoffs but to advance deep into them. Failure to achieve significant postseason success will likely result in a coaching change.

Jon’s Pick: Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers

After a rough rookie year and a bad start to the 2024-2025 NFL campaign, Head Coach Dave Canales and the Panthers decided they saw enough from Bryce Young and benched him in favor of 14-year NFL veteran Andy Dalton.

The Panthers looked a lot better under Dalton, averaging 19.4 points-per-game as opposed to six and a half points-per-game under Young. The Panthers also won their only game of the season with Dalton under center, and were also competitive against his former team, losing 34-24 against the Bengals.

However, Young will get another shot as the starting field general this Sunday after Dalton was involved in a car accident and sprained his thumb.

Young will need to take full advantage of this second chance. His 299 passing yards through his two starts this season are less than Dalton’s 319 he threw for in his first start of the year.

Unless Young shows flashes of the quarterback he was at Alabama, Dalton will take over again when healthy, and the Panthers will most likely look to take a quarterback with their first-round draft pick that should be in the top five by season’s end.

Young’s career as a starting NFL quarterback seemingly hangs in the balance over the next few games.

Alex Harkins is a second-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email arh6278@psu.edu.

Jonathan Hartley is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jdh6293@psu.edu.

Carson Schuler is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism, to contact him please email cts5357@psu.edu.

Dominick Pizzelanti is a second-year dual majoring in broadcast journalism and Spanish. To contact him, email dqp5565@psu.edu.