Where does Shanahan rank during his time in Washington?

A debate is starting among Redskins fans about whether or not Mike Shanahan deserves to come back for a 5th season next year. While there are arguments to be made for both sides, one thing that gets typically brought up is how the Redskins are in a better position in the league. Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be much to back this up.

Shanahan has now had four offseasons to fix this team (and already used his 1st round pick in 2014, to acquire RGIII). In that time the Redskins record has been pretty bad sitting at 24-33 through 57 games or a .421 winning percentage. Where does that rank among the rest of the league’s franchises during Mike Shanahan’s tenure (2010-2013)?

(Note some teams haven’t had their bye week yet)

AFC East:

New England Patriots: 14-2, 13-3, 12-4, 7-2 = Total record: 46-11, Winning percentage: .807

New York Jets: 11-5, 8-8, 6-10, 5-4 = Total record: 30-27, Winning percentage: .526

Miami Dolphins: 7-9, 6-10, 7-9, 4-5 = Total record: 24-33, Winning percentage: .421

Buffalo Bills: 4-12, 6-10, 6-10, 3-6 = Total record: 19-38, Winning percentage: .333

AFC North:

Baltimore Ravens: 12-4, 12-4, 10-6, 4-5 = Total record: 38-19, Winning Percentage: .666

Pittsburgh Steelers: 12-4, 12-4, 8-8, 3-6 = Total record: 35-22, Winning Percentage: .614

Cincinnati Bengals: 4-12, 9-7, 10-6, 6-4 = Total record: 29-29, Winning Percentage: .500

Cleveland Browns: 5-11, 4-12, 5-11, 4-5 = Total record: 18-39, Winning percentage: .316

AFC South:

Indianapolis Colts: 10-6, 2-14, 11-5, 6-3 = Total record: 29-28, Winning percentage: .509

Houston Texans: 6-10, 10-6, 12-4, 2-7 = Total record: 30-27, Winning percentage: .526

Tennessee Titans: 6-10, 9-7, 6-10, 4-5 = Total record: 25-32, Winning percentage: .439

Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-8, 5-11, 2-14, 1-8 = Total record: 16-41, Winning percentage: .280

AFC West:

Denver Broncos: 4-12, 8-8, 13-3, 8-1 = Total record: 33-24, Winning percentage: .579

Kansas City Chiefs: 10-6, 7-9, 2-14, 9-0 = Total record: 28-29, Winning percentage: .491

San Diego Chargers: 9-7, 8-8, 7-9, 4-5 = Total record: 28-29, Winning percentage: .491

Oakland Raiders: 8-8, 8-8, 4-12, 3-6 = Total record: 23-34, Winning percentage: .403

NFC East:

New York Giants: 10-6, 9-7, 9-7, 3-6 = Total record: 31-26, Winning percentage: .544

Philadelphia Eagles: 10-6, 8-8, 4-12, 5-5 = Total record: 27-31, Winning percentage: .466

Dallas Cowboys: 6-10, 8-8, 8-8, 5-5 = Total record: 27-31, Winning percentage: .466

Washington Redskins: 6-10, 5-11, 10-6, 3-6 = Total record: 24-33, Winning percentage: .421

NFC North:

Green Bay Packers: 10-6, 15-1, 11-5, 5-4 = Total record: 41-16, Winning percentage: .719

Chicago Bears: 11-5, 8-8, 10-6, 5-4 = Total record: 34-23, Winning percentage: .596

Detroit Lions: 6-10, 10-6, 4-12, 6-3 = Total record: 26-31, Winning percentage: .456

Minnesota Vikings: 6-10, 3-13, 10-6, 2-7 = Total record: 21-36, Winning percentage: .368

NFC South:

New Orleans Saints: 11-5, 13-3, 7-9, 7-2 = 38-19, Winning percentage: .666

Atlanta Falcons: 13-3, 10-6, 13-3, 2-7 = 38-19, Winning percentage: .666

Carolina Panthers: 2-14, 6-10, 7-9, 6-3 = 21-36, Winning percentage: .368

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10-6, 4-12, 7-9, 1-8 = 22-35, Winning percentage: .386

NFC West:

San Francisco 49ers: 6-10, 13-3, 11-4-1, 6-3 = 36-20-1, Winning percentage: .640

Seattle Seahawks: 7-9, 7-9, 11-5, 9-1 = 34-24, Winning percentage: .586

Arizona Cardinals: 5-11, 8-8, 5-11, 5-4 = 23-34, Winning percentage: .403

St. Louis Rams: 7-9, 2-14, 7-8-1, 4-6 = 20-37-1, Winning percentage: .353

Analysis:

The Redskins are currently above 9 teams in winning percentage and tied with Dolphins. And among those teams there is a pretty good chance that the Dolphins, Cardinals, Panthers and even the Raiders could end the season with a 4 year higher winning percentage. This is not good company to keep.

The Redskins have the worst NFC East record over this time period, despite the fact that two of the other teams have undergone coaching changes since the start of 2010. Even in a down NFC East the Redskins have dug themselves a major hole. If the Redskins finish this season on a 7-0 run Mike Shanahan’s winning percentage in DC would be sub .500 at .484. That is just unacceptable for one of the league’s top 5 highest paid coaches. The Redskins should expect more regardless of what issues a team is facing.

People want to blame the cap penalty, or injuries, but many of these teams listed have similar sob stories over these past four years. It is clear that Mike Shanhan’s 5 year plan has failed and the Redskins need to start holding people accountable. If Mike Shanahan doesn’t finish at least 8-8, it’s tough to make a case that he deserves a 5th year just based solely on his record relative to the rest of the league during his tenure here.