ST. LOUIS — With the Rams now committed to a full-fledged search for a head coach after this dismal season concludes Sunday at Atlanta, they join a number of teams that will be in the same mode. How large that number will be is to be determined, and it could vary widely.

It's possible that at least a dozen teams will be in the market. But it's also possible that only a handful will join the hunt. In either case, the Rams will be facing measurable competition as they look for the fifth head coach since the team moved here in 1995.

"We look at the goings-on from around the league, like everybody," said Rams general manager Billy Devaney, who is expected to spearhead the coach search. "What usually happens is, it's a little less (turnover) than what people anticipate. And then there's always one or two surprises that weren't even on the radar."

One team is sure to have a new head coach. Mike Holmgren announced before the season that this would be his last year after a decade-long run in Seattle. His successor, as determined earlier, is former Atlanta coach Jim Mora.

Three other changes appear to be imminent:

—Raiders owner Al Davis, who changes coaches nearly as often as he does garish jogging suits, replaced Lane Kiffin with offensive line coach Tom Cable. Since then, the Raiders have gone 3-8 and stand 4-11 overall. Although he's been lobbying for the job, Cable has been regarded as strictly an interim appointee.

—With the distinct possibility of becoming the first 0-16 team in league history — on the heels of seven losses in their last eight games of 2007 — the Lions aren't expected to bring back Rod Marinelli. That actually became a probability in late September, when team president and general manger Matt Millen was dismissed. Marinelli was Millen's hand-picked choice to replace Dick Jauron in 2006.

—Romeo Crennel, highly regarded when he was New England's defensive coordinator, has a 24-39 record in Cleveland. Two other factors probably have sealed his fate: the Browns' tumble to 4-11 this year after going 10-6 in 2007, and Bill Cowher's apparent interest in the job.

These coaches also might not be back in 2009:

—Herm Edwards looked like the answer in Kansas City when he took the Chiefs from 4-12 in 2005 to 9-7 in '06, his first year on the job. But since the Chiefs opened 4-2 last year, they've been in free-fall. They lost their last eight games, finishing 4-12, and are 2-13 this year. The recent resignation of team president and GM Carl Peterson also reduced Edwards' chances of being retained.

—Wade Phillips might be able to save himself in Dallas with a postseason run — that's if the Cowboys make the playoffs. Their current 9-6 mark, coupled with a first-round playoff defeat last year after a 13-3 regular-season run, has been a big disappointment in Big D. Plus, headline-seeking owner Jerry Jones wants to make a splash when he opens his new billion-dollar stadium next year, and a glitzy new coach would add to the hype.

—Jim Zorn was an overnight sensation when Washington opened 4-1. But the Redskins are 4-6 since then and in last place in the NFC East. Zorn, who never had been a head coach at any level or served as a coordinator in the NFL, wasn't impetuous owner Daniel Snyder's first choice when Joe Gibbs retired anyway, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him pull the plug even after just one season.

—Norv Turner was given a vote of confidence earlier this season by San Diego general manager A.J. Smith. Still, the Chargers' plunge from 14-2 in 2006 to 11-5 last season (Turner's first) to 7-8 this year — when they were expected to contend for the AFC championship — is troubling.

—Andy Reid won't be fired in Philadelphia. But after 10 seasons with the Eagles, and with some family issues complicating his life recently, Reid might want to take a break, a la Holmgren.

—Tony Dungy, too, could decide to step aside in Indianapolis and turn over the Colts to his designated successor, Jim Caldwell.

These coaches could go, although financial considerations in a tough economy likely will keep them around:

—Marvin Lewis guided Cincinnati to an 11-5 mark and an NFC North championship in 2005. But that's his only .500-plus record in six seasons. The Bengals' tumble to 3-11-1 this year is, by far, their worst outing under Lewis. But he has two years remaining on his contract, and tight-fisted team president Mike Brown would be loathe to paying two head coaches at the same time.

—Jack Del Rio was rewarded with a hefty contract extension after Jacksonville went 11-5 last year. So, he's probably safe despite the Jaguars' ugly tumble to 5-10 this season.

—Jauron was sitting pretty in Buffalo a couple of months ago. The Bills stood 5-1, and he reportedly had signed a contract extension (although it never was announced officially). Now, the Bills are 7-8. If, indeed, it would cost millions to jettison him, Jauron might survive.

The two other interims (Oakland's Cable is the third) are in vastly different situations:

—Jim Haslett opened as Scott Linehan's successor with the Rams with impressive wins over Washington and Dallas. But the Rams have lost all nine games since then, and Haslett has gone from front-runner to just another candidate.

—Mike Singletary took over in San Francisco after the 49ers opened 2-5 and Mike Nolan was fired. The Niners are 4-4 under Singletary, and he'll probably be invited to return. If not, he'll show up on short lists elsewhere.

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