Another day, another media outlet questioning Vance Joseph's validity as Denver Broncos coach.

After NFL.com ranked Joseph the league's third-worst head man, ESPN -- two reporters, specifically -- made the claim that he's on the hottest of seats in the AFC West.

Via Jeff Legwold, the Worldwide Leader's Broncos writer:

The Broncos finished a dismal 5-11 last season in Joseph's first as coach, a cumbersome slog through the football year that included an eight-game losing streak and three different starting quarterbacks. Joseph fired seven assistant coaches from his inaugural staff and the team signed quarterback Case Keenum during an offseason makeover. General manager John Elway has said the blame for last season should be shared on all fronts -- players, coaches and the personnel department. Elway vowed early in the offseason to give Joseph what he would need to succeed. Joseph will have to continue to garner the support of the players, as he has to this point, and the team will have to come out of the gate well. Elway has made it no secret the team needs to return to the playoff conversation sooner rather than later.

Via Eric Williams, who covers the Los Angeles Chargers:

Vance Joseph had to fire his offensive coordinator in Mike McCoy midway through last season, and he almost lost his job after just one season. With pressure mounting for the Broncos to take advantage of an aging roster with a Super Bowl pedigree, Joseph could be one of the first coaches fired in 2018 if head personnel man John Elway does not see the results he wants. The Broncos labored through an eight-game losing streak last season, finishing last in the AFC West for the first time since 2010. Elway brought back former head coach and good friend Gary Kubiak as senior personnel advisor in July of last year and then expanded his role to include personnel contribution in the lead-up to free agency and the draft. Kubiak bowed out as the team's head coach after the 2016 season due to health issues, but he could be tempted to return if his old job opens up again.

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The Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders reporters chose Raiders coach Jon Gruden, he of the ten-year, $100 million contract, as the delegate under the most pressure to perform.

Gruden, however, is assured of at least one, and likely a few, honeymoon seasons in his return to the Black Hole. Joseph doesn't share such a luxury. Just the opposite.

As a lame-duck under orders to crap or get off the pot, he cannot afford another season with double digits in the loss column. He cannot afford another eight-game skid (or anything similar). This is a results-based business, and his were fireable in 2017.

What fate awaits him this year? The proof will be in the pudding.

“Obviously, you get better with time—time on the job," Joseph said last month. "What I did better, I’m not sure, but I think everyone’s focused. I’m focused on getting it right. So what I did better, I’m not sure, but it was a good offseason. We’ll see in the fall if I got better. It all comes down to wins and losses.”