For navigating Deshaun Watson’s absence from the field, Kevin Stefanski deserves to be considered for NFL Coach of the Year.

Cleveland Ohio – Tom Moore, the former offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts, wasn’t interested in seeing his other quarterback throw. The more attractive passer was Peyton Manning, Moore’s starter. Additionally, Moore once informed former ESPN pundits Ron Jaworski and Jon Gruden that the Colts’ offense was dependent on Manning to such an extent that it was unnecessary to develop a strategy for Sorgi, Manning’s backup.

Moore famously remarked, “If Manning goes down, we’re (screwed).” We also don’t practice (which is flawed).

Moore’s reasoning suggests that the Browns’ season ought to have ended four weeks ago when they declared quarterback Deshaun Watson ineligible for the whole campaign. However, Cleveland remains optimistic even after losing Watson, Nick Chubb, and three offensive tackles (among others) for the season.

Even though packing tape and staples are keeping the Browns together, their dreams of making the playoffs still exist. Additionally, coach Kevin Stefanski should be commended—no, awarded—for quickly replacing any loose screws.

After leading the Browns to an 8-5 record and an 80% chance of making the playoffs after 14 weeks of play, Stefanski is deserving of the NFL Coach of the Year award. Because Cleveland’s coach is raising his profile just as the team adds to one of the most extensive and costly injury reports in the NFL. The Browns’ success has been largely attributed to the work skills section of their coach, specifically the subhead “adaptable.”

In the offseason, Stefanski redesigned his strategy to center it around Watson’s skill set for the start of this season. After Jack Conklin and Chubb sustained injuries that ended their seasons in Weeks 1 and 2, that plan quickly changed. And that all changed in Week 4 when Deshaun Watson had his first shoulder injury.

Cleveland has started four different quarterbacks in diverse situations since that time. Five weeks after joining the Cleveland roster, P.J. Walker defeated the 49ers, and a week later, after the Browns started Watson but backed off after four series, he led the game-winning drive against the Colts. The Steelers were defeated by rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson in just his second career start—his first having more than a few hours’ notice. And just three weeks after Cleveland grabbed him off the street, Joe Flacco defeated the Jaguars this past Saturday.

After 1950, the Browns are just the fifth club to win a game while starting four different quarterbacks throughout a season. Of those four, Watson was the only one who had played for Cleveland prior to this season. Stefanski is the only head coach that has been successful this season despite the high quarterback turnover rate.

Of course, another person who should be credited for Cleveland’s success is defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who has turned an abysmal unit into the best in the league. So did Bubba Ventrone, the special teams coordinator, whose club rose from 15th to first in ESPN’s efficiency rating during Ventrone’s rookie campaign. As do all the guys who are still in good health and have persevered through the surrounding attrition.

However, Stefanski should be commended for guiding them through it. When prior coordinators Joe Woods and Mike Priefer weren’t providing Cleveland with the returns the team required, he should be commended for rearranging his staff. For a coach that had a lot to prove heading into this season, you could argue that those adjustments were required. However, one might also argue that they hint to the quick thinking that has characterized Stefanski’s most successful coaching effort to date.

In the end, most teams would have lost the race due to the challenges Cleveland has faced this season. The Browns ran out of time, and the Colts didn’t bother practicing with a backup quarterback. Cleveland has demonstrated that, even when they are created quickly, backup plans may lead to success by going from DTR to Walker (and back) and then to Flacco. Furthermore, in Moore’s opinion, Stefanski’s handling of the issue has prevented an unsalvageable circumstance from becoming worse.

Maybe the coach’s resume needs an additional bullet point. Possibly in the “awards” section.