Nine NFL teams have started the regular season with an 0-2 record. Some teams (Panthers, Broncos) are experiencing expected struggles, with others (Ravens, Rams) disappointing fans hoping for a playoff run.
Since 2015, 74 teams have opened the year with back-to-back losses, (h/t James Boyd of The Athletic). Just eight qualified for the postseason, a 10.8% rate that suggests only one of this season’s 0-2 starters will make the playoffs.
The Ravens were a toe away from taking the Chiefs into overtime (or attempting a do-or-die two-point try) in Week 1 before blowing yet another double-digit fourth-quarter lead to the Raiders in Week 2. Baltimore gambled on a new-look offensive line after jettisoning three veteran starters during the offseason, and the results thus far have not been encouraging. Lamar Jackson faced heavy pressure at crucial moments across his first two games, with right guard Daniel Faalele struggling in his conversion from tackle. First-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr is dealing with the same early hiccups that his predecessor Mike Macdonald did back in 2022, surrendering a league-high 257 passing yards per game.
Unlike past years, though, Baltimore has started the season healthy, and it is capable of winning almost any game with Jackson under center. Several young Ravens like Odafe Oweh, Travis Jones, Zay Flowers, and Isaiah Likely have begun the year with promising starts, too, so the team has plenty of reason to remain optimistic about its long-term playoff chances. The Ravens will need to win at least two of their next three against the Cowboys, Bills, and Bengals to avoid a near-insurmountable 1-4 hole.
The division-rival Bengals are also 0-2, scoring just 10 points in Week 1 against the Patriots and losing to the Chiefs on a field goal as time expired. Ja’Marr Chase‘s hold-in did not extend into the regular season, but his lack of practice time and Tee Higgins‘ hamstring injury has hindered Cincinnati’s downfield passing game. The running back committee of Zack Moss and Chase Brown is a clear downgrade from Joe Mixon, and Cincinnati’s defense has struggled to apply pressure outside of Trey Hendrickson.
Cincinnati’s minus-7 point differential is the best of any 0-2 team, and the offense will likely improve as Chase gets more reps and Higgins recovers. The Bengals’ secondary has allowed the second-fewest pass yards through two weeks, and that includes a matchup with Patrick Mahomes. Cincinnati’s season will rely on keeping its three offensive stars healthy. A search for a pass rusher at the trade deadline to pair with Hendrickson may also be avenue the team explores.
The Rams hoped Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp returning to full health would pair with last year’s breakthroughs from Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams to create one of the league’s most explosive offenses. Injuries to Kupp and Nacua, plus starting offensive linemen Joe Noteboom, Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson, have decimated the Los Angeles offense — a clear factor in their Week 2 41-10 blowout loss to the Cardinals. The Rams also have three defensive backs on injured reserve, leaving their secondary shorthanded and placing a burden on a young front seven that lost Aaron Donald to retirement in the offseason.
That young defensive front has plenty of talent in second-year players Kobie Turner and Byron Young and rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. They will need to step up their play over the next several weeks to keep the Rams afloat as the offense desperately tries to get healthy in time for a late-season playoff push.
The Jaguars‘ anemic offense has emerged as the team’s biggest issue to start the season, as Trevor Lawrence‘s 51.0% completion rate is the second-lowest in the league. The fourth-year QB needs more consistency from his pass-catching group, with none of Lawrence’s targets having more than six receptions yet. The defense has allowed just 38 points, a top-10 mark, but has not forced any turnovers that could have impacted in the team’s one-score losses.
The Colts are dealing with the highs and lows of quarterback Anthony Richardson, as the second-year QB has produced some of the best throws of the young season while also owning the league’s lowest completion percentage (49.1%) and most interceptions (four). Veteran Michael Pittman Jr. and rookie Adonai Mitchell have both struggled to find a rhythm on offense, and the defense has been gashed on the ground in both games.
Richardson’s continued development will advance the offense, which has plenty of potential with a strong offensive line and a fully healthy Jonathan Taylor. Indianapolis’ defense remains its biggest impediment to the postseason. Outside of the interior defensive duo of DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart, the Colts lack both consistent contributors and impact playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. And Buckner is now on IR.
The Titans have lost each of their first two games by a touchdown and have yet to score a point in the fourth quarter. Two of Will Levis‘ three primary receivers are new additions, as is running back Tony Pollard. As a result, Tennessee’s offense is a work in progress as the franchise’s decision-makers evaluate if Levis is the QB of the future. Defensively, the Titans have stars at all three levels: defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons, linebacker Harold Landry and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. The addition of Ernest Jones via preseason trade with the Rams may well be a shrewd move to shore up the middle, giving Tennessee the framework of a high-upside defense.
First-round pick Malik Nabers has been among the few bright spots during the Giants‘ 0-2 start, recording 15 catches for 193 yards to open the year. Daniel Jones has largely struggled when not targeting Nabers behind an offensive line with multiple new pieces. New York’s defense allowed efficient passing performances from Sam Darnold and Jayden Daniels while surrendering 5.3 yards per rushing attempt in Weeks 1 and 2. Offseason addition Brian Burns and 2022 first-rounder Kayvon Thibodeaux have yet to record sacks this season, making life harder for a young Giants secondary.
The Giants considered trading up for a rookie QB during this past draft, indicating that Jones’ future in New York depends on his performance this season. Either he succeeds, and the Giants stick with him and his contract, or he struggles and is replaced before next season, giving general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll the chance to save their tenure. This duo may not be on the hot seat presently, but this trajectory would point to temperatures rising before season’s end.
Sean Payton landed on first-rounder Bo Nix as his starting quarterback in Denver, and the rookie’s early struggles have only amplified the overall talent deficiency on the roster. Nix’s four interceptions and a virtually nonexistent running game have hindered the offense thus far, putting the defense in disadvantageous positions in both games. The Broncos’ underrated defensive line has gotten pressure on opposing QBs, but the team will need more than just Patrick Surtain in the secondary to stay in games with such a limited offense.
The Panthers benched Bryce Young after their 0-2 start, which included three interceptions and league-lows in points (13) and passing yards (245). A season-ending meniscus tear for Derrick Brown has added injury to insult to a Carolina franchise with little talent or direction at the moment. Switching to Andy Dalton at quarterback may stabilize the offense and aid the development of its young playmakers, but that still provides no long-term solution under center.
Which of these teams has the best chance to beat the above-referenced odds and rebound en route to the playoffs? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
Ravens, Rams, Jags and Bengals all starting 0-2 is surprising.
The Dallas vs Baltimore game this week is going to be huge for the Ravens season. Its a must win imo.
Joe Burrow is not playing like he should but he gets better as the season goes, it happens every year. If they want to make the playoffs they need to win this week vs WAS.
Rams are cooked, it sux. Stafford is going to play his heart out but I don’t see this team turning it around. LAR vs SF this week, Rams are going to be 0-3.
Jags are disappointing. No excuse to be playing the way they are. They play BUF this week. If Jags win they still have a chance, but the Bills are not going to make it easy.
Ya rams are screwed and dropping like flys like Kupp and Nacua losing Aaron Donald has really hurt this team
The Jags were my pick to disappoint the most this year. Lawrence, IMO, just isn’t it an it’s not like he has a superstar support cast propping him up.
Jags are going to cut Lawrence in a few years and not have any cap penalty. He isn’t going to see much of that big contract.
Someone actually voted for the Giants, Panthers, or Broncos?
Giants are my team but I definitely did not vote for them.
Giants are so shyte, CBS is airing its Sunday game in New York opposite them.
CBS airing its game of the week?
As a Colts fan that sees every snap, it would help if Adonai Mitchell didn’t pull up on his routes when he sees a safety homing in on him. Unfortunate about DB and Stewart is not quite the player he was prior to his steroids suspension.
Riley Moss underrated once again. Kids played extremely well.
And he got burned by a couple of bad calls. That P.I. call was ludicrous, and the personal foul called on his safety for hitting a player that Moss actually covered well (and was falling to the turf, hence the hit) erased what was a good play by Moss.
One of CIN or BAL win the AFC North. I suspect the other team or Indy takes a playoff spot as well, maybe all three. LAR was helped a lot by a tough week 2 by most of the NFC frontrunners but they are certainly teetering.
That’s just sad that Jacksonville has the same number of votes as Carolina right now, they’re not that bad.
Bengals easily – next 5 opponents are Commies, Panthers, Ravens, Giants & browns.
You do the math
Ryano- have to disagree with you, browns have owned the bengals lately. Conversely, the bengals have the ravens’ number. The other 3 being NFC teams that they play once every 4 years have no such trends, but they do all 3 look real bad so far. I’ll say the Bengals go 3-2.
Have to disagree with you. Those teams are a combined 1-9.
Browns aren’t the same without Chubb, Ravens are way better than their record but those 3 NFC teams stink. I don’t think it’s a stretch at all the Bengals go 4-1
Jags can rebound a get a wildcard they have easy schedule going forward but they’re a flawed team. Bengals and Ravens are both starting slow thanks to both being upset at home but their track records show they should bounceback. None of the other 0-2 teams are playing like they’ll get 7 wins.
I agree completely.
This guy convinced me not to vote for the Colts…link to youtube.com
Puh-playoffs?!
The Jags could rebound in a weak division, but they have to continue to run the football. The Texans are hot but a young team with high expectations could still disappoint or get hit with injuries, which seems to happen at an alarming rate. I wonder which players throughout the league have the highest odds of playing all 17 games? Bet a very short list.
Bengals