Skip Bayless backs Jim Harbaugh for coach of the year after Chargers' dramatic comeback win over Broncos
On Thursday night, Jim Harbaugh's Los Angeles Chargers took a massive step towards their quest to earn a playoff berth as they beat divisional rivals the Denver Broncos 34-27 in a thriller at SoFi Stadium. The home team trailed by 11 points midway through the third quarter, but a run of three touchdowns in four drives saw them mount an incredible comeback and secure the victory.
The Chargers are now 9-6 and leapfrogged the Broncos to the sixth spot in the AFC standings. LA needs only one win in their final two games to secure their postseason berth. However, their playoff status could be confirmed as early as Sunday if the Tennessee Titans beat the Indianapolis Colts.
The franchise's turnaround in Harbaugh's first season as head coach has thoroughly impressed Skip Bayless, who believes the 60-year-old should win the Coach of the Year award.
After the Chargers' win, he lauded him on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
"Way to go, Chargers, who now have a 97% chance of doing what I predicted they would: Make the playoffs in Jim Harbaugh's first year. How can he not be Coach of the Year? The 9-6 Chargers won 5 games last year."
Coach of the Year odds: Does Jim Harbaugh have it on lock?
Jim Harbaugh taking over a five-win team and leading them to the playoffs in his first year with the team is a monumental achievement. It's worthy of consideration for the Coach of the Year award.
However, the latest odds have Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell as the frontrunner to win the prize. The franchise lost its starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins, in free agency to the Atlanta Falcons. His replacement, rookie JJ McCarthy, who won the National Championship with Michigan under Harbaugh's tutelage earlier this year, suffered a torn meniscus in his preseason debut and was ruled out before the season commenced.
Despite the setbacks, O'Connell has led the Vikings to a 12-2 record, joint-best in the NFC alongside the Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles. The third-year head coach is deservedly the frontrunner to win the Coach of the Year award.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell has the second-best odds of winning the coveted prize. Detroit has already equaled the franchise record for most wins in a season and has three games left to break the record. Campbell has led them to back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 1995, highlighting how incredible his work in Motor City has been.
The Chargers head coach could beat them to the award if his team finishes with an 11-6 record and the Vikings and Lions fail to win their next three games. However, it's an unlikely scenario.