Jim Haslett lost his starting quarterback, top running back and middle linebacker to injuries, yet his New Orleans Saints are still 7-4 and in contention for their first postseason berth in seven years.
His ability to get the most out of his players has analysts saying he's the leading candidate for coach-of-the-year honors.
Other candidates for the award include Philadelphia's Andy Reid, Baltimore's Brian Billick, Miami's Dave Wannstedt and Oakland's Jon Gruden, analysts said. The winner is determined in a poll of writers by the Associated Press.
"Jim Haslett started out with nothing and instilled his players with tenacity and aggressiveness and a strong belief in themselves," said Mike Golic, a former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle and current ESPN analyst. "He reminds me of a young, charged-up Mike Ditka."
Haslett, 44, was hired to replace Ditka, who was fired after the team's 3-13 finish last season. Haslett and general manager Randy Mueller overhauled the Saints' roster in the offseason, adding 32 new faces to the team's 53-man squad, including 11 starters.
Even with injuries to tight end Cam Cleeland, cornerback Steve Israel, middle linebacker Charlie Clemons, running back Ricky Williams and quarterback Jeff Blake, the Saints are still competing for a spot in the playoffs.
"We're the masters of adversity," Haslett said. "We'll fight back."
Reid was in a similar position to Haslett, in that expectations for his team were low before the season. The Eagles finished 5-11 in 1999 and were depending on second-year quarterback Donovan McNabb.
A defense ranked ninth in the NFL and kicker David Akers's two game-winning field goals in overtime, have put the Eagles in position to return to the playoffs for the first time since 1996.
"I think the coach of the year should be given to someone who has taken a team with no expectations and done something special. Both the Saints and Eagles have been able to do that this year," said Joe Theismann, former Washington Redskins quarterback and current ESPN analyst.
In Baltimore, the Ravens are making a run at their first postseason appearance since moving to Baltimore from Cleveland in 1996.
Billick entered the season with the No. 2-ranked defense and new offensive weapons in rookie running back Jamal Lewis and tight ends Shannon Sharpe and Ben Coates.
He faced a challenge in trying to keep the team focused after Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis was charged and later acquitted in a double homicide after the Super Bowl in Atlanta.
Then the offense sputtered so badly that it didn't score a touchdown in the entire month of October, so Billick had to bench starting quarterback Tony Banks.
Since backup Trent Dilfer moved into the lineup, the Ravens are 3-0 and in second place in the AFC Central behind Tennessee.
Gruden and Wannstedt will probably receive consideration, too, although neither one's team was thought to be as destitute of talent as New Orleans or Philadelphia when the season began.
In Miami, Dave Wannstedt replaced Jimmy Johnson as coach and started the season without quarterback Dan Marino for the first time in 17 seasons.
Jay Fiedler took over and passed for 1,599 yards and 10 touchdowns through Sunday. Running back Lamar Smith trails only Indianapolis running back Edgerrin James in points scored by nonkickers in the AFC with 66 points on 11 touchdowns.
The Dolphins finished last season with a 9-7 record before losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars 62-7 in the AFC Divisional playoff game.
Now the team is 8-3, and leading Indianapolis, the New York Jets and Buffalo, all tied at 7-4.
In Oakland, Gruden's Raiders, 9-2, are assured of having their first winning season since 1994 and are two games ahead of AFC West rival Denver — which has given the Raiders both of their losses.
Oakland has the NFL's ninth-ranked offense, combining the running duo of Tyrone Wheatley and Napoleon Kaufman's 1,016 yards and seven touchdowns with quarterback Rich Gannon's 2,399 passing yards for 17 touchdowns.
Since voting on the coach of the year award isn't conducted until after the season, performance during December will be critical.
"It's going to be down to the wire," said Randy Cross, former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman and current CBS analyst. "A lot depends on how their teams finish out, but right now, I'd still go with Haslett.
"He was the one guy who started with the least, and so far, has gotten the most out of his players."