Starting an NFL season 0-2 already makes making the playoffs an uphill battle. Nine teams lost the first two games of the season, though not all 0-2 starts can be treated equally. So which 0-2 NFL teams should worry about and which to take with a grain of salt?
Arizona Cardinals:
While the Cardinals were expected to win the Caleb Williams sweepstakes by getting the first overall pick, they have been surprisingly competitive in both of their losses. They lost the season opener against the heavily favored Commanders by a tight score of 20-16. The Cards led most of the game, thanks to the defense forcing an interception and a fumble. But the offense was the main focus in week two in a 31-28 shootout against the Giants. They went for a rush-first attack, with James Conner running for a whopping 106 on 23 carries. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs also ran for 41 yards and a touchdown. This worked for about half of the game until the Giants put more defenders zoning the middle, as the Cardinals have virtually no passing game. Or perhaps the Cards threw the game away to win the Caleb Williams sweepstakes. The sad reality is that fans should be happy that their team is losing, but at least they have been competitive.
Cincinnati Bengals:
Remember when everyone panicked last season when the Bengals started 0-2? They proceeded to go 12-4, and a few plays removed from a Super Bowl appearance. Nevertheless, the Bengals have had a less desired start this season, especially since their losses have been to their division rivals, Browns and Ravens. Week one was a 24-3 embarrassment in which a banged-up Joe Burrow looked confused and out of sync, throwing for a measly 82 yards and completing a subpar 45% of passes. The Bengals were much more competitive in week two against the Ravens but still lost 27-24. While the offense had more production, Burrow was still recovering from a calf injury, resulting in reluctance to throw downfield or run the ball. The secondary has also been a cause for concern, thanks to the losses of Jesse Bates III, Eli Apple, and Vonn Bell, which could be detrimental in week three against a pass-heavy Rams offense. While an 0-3 start is possible, the chances of the Bengals not rebounding from it are much lower.
Houston Texans:
Similarly to the Cardinals, starting 0-2 has much lower stakes than other teams, such as the Bengals and Chargers. Rookie quarterback C.J Stroud struggled in week one, though the defense led by Domeco Ryans, did not. They allowed just 265 yards by the Ravens, including a Christian Harris interception. Week two was much more efficient for Stroud, throwing 384 yards and completing 64% of passes. But this time around, the defense was inferior, allowing 31 points to a Colts team with their starting quarterback and running back out with a shallow receiving core. If there is such thing as moral losses in Football, both of the Texans' losses have shown that either the offense or defense can play at a quality level. Hopefully both the offense and defense can play well during the same week.
Los Angeles Chargers:
The Chargers blew their first two games in typical Charger fashion. Their offense played better than every other 0-2 team, but fans should hit the panic button without exaggeration. The week one loss was a 36-34 shootout to the Dolphins. The offense was elite as always, and the secondary was abysmal, as always, allowing a whopping 466 passing yards from Tua Tugavialoa. Week two was more or less the same, except this time it was one of the league's worst offenses, scoring 27 points over the Chargers' 24. A tendency to lose close games is something that a team cannot hide. What will likely happen is that head coach Brandon Staley will get fired after having a subpar record midway through the season. But until then, no lead is safe with the Chargers.
Carolina Panthers:
While rookie quarterback Bryce Young has been subpar in his first two games, fans don't need to hit the panic button. There will be plenty of growing pains for Young and the offensive scheme, thus a 0-2 record and only scoring 13.3 points on average. Bryce Young did have better statistics in week two against the Saints, proving that the pains the Panthers are enduring are growing pains. In week one, Young completed just 52.6% of passes and compared that to 66.7% in week 2. He also threw two interceptions in week one compared to none in week two and 34 rushing yards compared to just 17. Besides Bryce Young's early season struggles, the 0-2 start for this Panthers team was a safe bet.
Denver Broncos:
The Broncos are an interesting scenario because while Russel Wilson is back to his Pro Bowl self, an 0-2 start in the AFC can kill a team's playoff hopes before they even get going. After a disastrous season, quarterback Russel Wilson was still getting his groove back with new head coach Sean Payton. Though it was disappointing that the Broncos could not pull off a win against the Raiders, of all teams, in a 17-16 loss. Wilson regained his form against the Commanders in week 2, throwing for 308 yards, 18-32, and rushing for 56 yards. He looked confident in the pocket but was also willing to scramble and extend the play, resulting in a 33-point offensive explosion.
Usually, 33 points is enough to win a game, but one of the league's best defenses failed in a big way, allowing 32 points in the second half alone. However, the Broncos' hail Mary to then fail the two-point conversion to lose 35-33 was perhaps the most agonizing part. Even though their star quarterback has returned to form, week two was not a moral loss, and Sean Payton-led teams often have leaky defenses.
New England Patriots:
Considering that the Pats narrowly lost to some of the toughest teams, fans do not need to worry in the slightest, especially since their division-rival Jets won't be competitive with Aaron Rodgers out for the season. This is a make-or-break season for third-year quarterback Mac Jones, and throwing for 547 yards, one interception, and completing 73.8% of passes through the first two games sounds like a make, especially with a lackluster receiving squad. The defense has also been impressive, allowing 25 points to and 24 to the Fins, two of the most explosive and efficient offenses. If Bill Belichick coaches this team, they will have a quality defense. If the Patriots can triumph over mediocre teams and compete against juggernauts, they could end up snagging a playoff spot.
Minnesota Vikings:
How ironic that the Vikings went 11-0 in one-score games last season and lost their first two by one score. That sounds like a case of Chargers' syndrome. The Vikings got baked in week one by Baker Mayfield and the Bucs by a score of 20-17 and then lost 34-28 on Thursday night football to the Eagles. There are two primary causes for concern with this Vikings' team. They have a very shallow rushing game, with a leaky offensive line and their top back, Alexander Mattison rushing for just 3.3 yards per carry. Without a quality running game, opposing defenses play cover 4, 5, or 6, knowing Kirk Cousins has more pressure to air the ball out. The other issue is turnovers. It may have a bit to do with the previous problem, but turning the ball over excessively is a sign of sloppy play. Seven turnovers in 2 games have missed them more than enough opportunities to win those games. Head coach Kevin O'Connell needs to have a serious conversation with his team. Fans should be worried about their team's recent play, as not fixing these issues will kill the Vikings' playoff hopes. Fortunately, there are still 16 more weeks to do so.
Chicago Bears:
Sticking with the NFC North, the Bears' 0-2 start has been very disappointing since their losses were against solid but beatable teams. With 1,000-yard receiver D.J Moore now in the fold, quarterback Justin Fields has regressed instead of progressed. This is a make-or-break season for Fields, but even if he can turn things around, the defense has been shaky, allowing an average of 32.5 points through the first two games. Even without Aaron Rodgers, they got creamed into a fine paste by their division-rival Packers, 38-20. Similarly to the Vikings, the Bears got baked, losing 27-17 against the Bucs in week 2. The Bears' rebuild is not as far along as many thought, so don't expect this team to be in the playoffs come January.
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