NFL power rankings: Head coaches from 32-1

No. 21: Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos

After interviewing for the Broncos’ head coaching job a few years ago, before Gary Kubiak was hired, Joseph was hired to replace the retiring Kubiak after one season as Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator.

The old line about having two quarterbacks and not really having one applies right now in Denver. Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch are competing for the starting job again, and through one preseason game, there did not appear to be a winner. Siemian may be something of a frontrunner based on winning the job a year ago and playing solidly, but it also appears Lynch is not making a strong case to start right now. A rumor surfaced attaching the Broncos to Bengals backup quarterback A.J. McCarron, and general manager John Elway dismissed it as “fake news”.

Joseph has to decide on a quarterback this year, eventually, before Week 1, and hope that player can lead the Broncos back to the playoffs. He won’t be a one-and-done head coach, but if Siemian fails to really assert himself Joseph may be stuck playing Lynch, Denver 2016 first-round pick who needs to start justifying that investment soon. Head coaches do fail due to not ever finding a suitable quarterback, and Joseph may get a chance to have some input in finding one next spring if things don’t work out this year.

The Broncos should win a fair amount of games under Joseph this year. But the swing games that will determine if they make the playoffs are likely to come down to a play made by the defense, not a clutch throw by a quarterback or an especially shrewd coaching maneuver.