1. Ken Whisenhunt – Arizona Cardinals (10-6)
The “Wiz” is an offensive genius and 3-1 SU in the post season as a head coach since taking over in Arizona in 2007. He has steadily made this team better thanks to a very creative, and effective, passing attack led by Kurt Warner. He’s gone 8-8 SU, 9-7 SU and 10-6 SU in consecutive seasons and last year led the darling Cardinals all the way to the Super Bowl where they lost to Whisenhunt’s former team, the Steelers.

Every body underestimated the Cardinals last year and they romped all over the betting community, eventually screwing them all the more when people sided with them against the Steelers and they lost against the spread and failed to hold the UNDER. Still, Whisenhunt has proven that he’s a capable game planner and a very good coach in the post season. Until he serves up some goose eggs like the next guy on our list, he’s the best coach in the NFC playoffs for now.

NFC Championship Odds – Cardinals +1000

2. Andy Reid – Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
Yeah I know that this is probably too high for Reid overall. We all know he blows fourth quarters and never uses his timeouts properly. We also know that his team is stocked to the brim with youngsters who are now talking trash for no reason (Dear DeSean Jackson – SHUT YER YAP!). Yet Reid is still 10-7 SU in the playoffs and has the most experience of any coach in the NFC in the playoffs. Of course “success” and “experience” are two different things. Reid still is the same coach that has lost the NFC Championship game five times. While Philly fans are always geared up for the playoffs, they’re also trying to ignore the nagging question in the back of the head that asks, “So how’s Andy gonna screw this one up?”

NFC Championship Odds – Eagles +750


3. Sean Payton – New Orleans Saints (14-2)
Payton had a masterful season this year but one thing really dents his credentials, and that’s his inability to rally the troops in the wake of defeat. This is a team that has never responded well to losing, a trait they only reinforced when they had back-to-back defeats to Dallas and Tampa Bay.

But Payton’s true success lies in his ability to acknowledge opposing weaknesses, something he proved against New England and the Giants. He’s now three NFL betting season removed from his 1-1 SU record in the 2006 NFL playoffs where they lost to the Bears in the NFC Championship. As the oddsmakers’ favorites in our NFL prop betting futures, the Saints have a lot to prove, especially after stumbling so badly against the Bucs late in the season.

NFC Championship Odds – Saints +125

4. Mike McCarthy – Green Bay Packers (11-5)
I really like McCarthy overall. He quietly gets the most out of his roster despite injuries and adjustments. His move to the 3-4 defense may have thrown Aaron Kampman in to limbo, but after the defensive end bowed out due to injury, the defense planted its cleats firmly in the ground. The offense has three viable weapons in Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings and Ryan Grant who are all undervalued on the big board of offensive stars. Of course, McCarthy lost twice to the Vikings. If they meet them again in the playoffs, will they prove they belong or justify the extension of the Brett Favre era?

NFC Championship Odds – Packers +1000

5. Brad Childress – Minnesota Vikings (12-4)
Childress is one of the few coaches in the league who showed an evolution in maturity as he became more of a player’s coach instead of a coach of players. He was known for his hard line stance on making decisions, but the arrival of Brett Favre who won over the locker room made Childress reassess how he approaches his team. You can’t argue with the team’s success, and Childress made the best decision of the post-season thus far by giving his injured and lagging team a week off during their bye. Of course, that’s a decision that could backfire if they are bounced in the divisional playoff round.
My real question is: could Childress have achieved this success with Tavaris Jackson? If your answer is “no”, then how good of a coach is he? Until the playoffs rear they’re ugly head, we simply won’t know.
NFC Championship Odds – Vikings +325

6. Wade Philips – Dallas Cowboys (11-5)
No fan base is more nervous about their coach in the NFC than the Cowboys followers. Phillips may have rallied America’s team to the playoffs after a turbulent season, but he has zero wins in the playoffs as a head coach. He’s so erratic as a play caller that winning the NFC East wasn’t enough to secure his job. Jerry Jones will “reevaluate” Phillips after the playoffs play out. Translation: lose and you’re fired.
NFC Championship Odds – Cowboys +475


This information is provided in partnership with BetUs Sportsbook

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