It’s hard to admit that your favorite NFL team might have to hit the red alert button so early in the season, but the fact of the matter is 0-2 teams rarely make the playoffs. The Cincinnati Bengals have been able to buck the trend in recent seasons, but for the most part, a team that starts off 0-2 isn’t doing the same.
To sort through some of the noise, here’s a look at the teams that are currently 0-2 (with the Falcons potentially joining them after Monday Night Football) and their chances to make the postseason.
The ‘You’re Better Than This’ Tier
Baltimore Ravens
Come on, Ravens. Losing to the Chiefs is whatever. No one will say anything about that. However, blowing a multiple-possession lead to the Raiders? Everyone knows the Ravens are better than that.
They tend to have a couple weird losses each season and this absolutely qualifies as one of them. Gardner Minshew only had eight of his 38 passes hit the ground — the Ravens are better than that. They have a real problem with their offensive line, but the rest of the team is certainly good enough to get past the Raiders. They simply have to be better, and they will be.
The Fighting Chance Tier
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals’ run defense is going to be a problem, but their narrow loss to the Chiefs at Arrowhead showed they might be able to, once again, make the playoffs after an 0-2 start. They did so in 2022, and they finished 9-8 and barely missed the playoffs after starting 0-2 last season as well.
It’s tough to dig yourself in a hole over and over again, but they haven’t even gotten Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on the field at the same time due to Higgins’ hamstring injury. This offense has room to improve and significantly raise their ceiling, which will be beneficial to a defense that hasn’t been stout through the first two weeks of the season.
Indianapolis Colts
There’s still potential here for the offense to be fantastic throughout the season, even though they had a rough go against the Packers. The problem here really is that the defense may wind up being one of the worst in the league. There’s no reason for Malik Willis to go 12 of 14 for 122 yards passing in his first start with the Packers. He’s only been on the team for a few weeks! Still, the offensive talent and system will give the Colts a chance to claw back and start getting some wins.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The defense is still good. They’ve only allowed 38 points throughout the first two weeks of the season and are acclimating well to Ryan Nielsen’s system up to this point.
However, the offense has looked absolutely putrid outside of the first half against the Dolphins in the season opener. At some point, they’re going to have to figure this thing out. Lawrence is talented, even if his game is still a little rough around the edges. Still, the defense and Lawrence’s variance will still give them a chance to win some games as the season progresses.
The Probably Not Happening Tier
New York Giants
The Giants just lost to a Commanders team that kicked seven field goals en route to a win, becoming the second team ever to score three touchdowns, allow zero, and still lose. The defense has some talent up front that can wreck games and Malik Nabers has the makings of a long-term star at wide receiver, but the rest of this team is very much a work in progress.
Perhaps the most troubling thing from this game for the Giants is they got a relatively strong performance from quarterback Daniel Jones and only managed to score 18 points. This team is still far away from getting back to the playoffs.
Tennessee Titans
If Will Levis would just relax, the Titans would probably be 2-0, but unfortunately his disastrous decision-making has directly led to back-to-back losses. Either he’s going to get this under control or he’s going to get benched. The rest of the team has been playing above the quality of an 0-2 team, but Levis is holding them back in a big way as things currently stand.
Denver Broncos
The Bo Nix experiment is not off to a great start. It’s been incredibly difficult for the Broncos to move the ball as they have mostly become a horizontal offense due to Nix’s limitations as a passer paired with the inexperience of being a rookie. Maybe they can get to a point where this is a functional offense by the end of the season, but right now, they don’t really have a chance to make 2024 matter.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams still have the framework of a productive team, but they might have lost the early-season war of attrition. They’re incredibly banged up on offense, with star wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp and multiple linemen battling injuries, which isn’t where you want to be when implementing a young defense with a new defensive coordinator. Good teams don’t really lose 41-10 to a rebuilding Cardinals team. The Rams can turn this around, but they face an uphill climb as the only team without a win so far in the NFC West.
The Panthers Tier
Carolina Panthers
No. They’re down 73-13 through two games, and now benching Bryce Young. No.
