We may be only two weeks into the NFL season, but history shows how important it is for teams to start fast. Eight teams are 0-2 this season. A 0-2 start doesn’t necessarily mean a team’s season is over, but it puts teams in a difficult position to make the NFL Playoffs.
Since 2002, just 24 out of 200 teams that have started the season 0-2 have gone on to make the playoffs, an alarming 12 percent. However, these teams still have hope, as six teams in the past two seasons made the playoffs despite starting 0-2.
Some 0-2 teams are surprising, while others were expected to be 0-2 heading into Week 3. Now, after two weeks, these teams face an uphill climb to make the playoffs, giving them plenty of reason to panic. So, without further ado, let’s look at the 0-2 teams that should be panicking and the ones that should still be okay, with each team receiving a panic rating on a scale of one to five.
NFL Panic Meter
Los Angeles Chargers— Panic Meter: 5/5
The Los Angeles Chargers are in serious trouble. They entered this season with high expectations after making the playoffs last season, but now they risk missing the postseason after starting 0-2.
The Chargers were supposed to have a relatively easy start to the season, facing the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders, two teams that are expected to be in the bottom this season, at home in their first two games. Instead, they surprisingly lost both games and have looked discombobulated on both ends of the field.
Quarterback Justin Herbert has struggled under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, throwing two touchdowns and three interceptions on 401 passing yards. The offense has also committed five turnovers and averaged 14 points per game. Their defense isn’t doing any better, giving up 26 points per game and forcing just one turnover. This is the first time head coach Jim Harbaugh has started 0-2 in his career.
Instead of starting the season 2-0 as many expected, the Chargers are now 0-2, leaving them with little room for error. However, things could get ugly as they face the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, and Baltimore Ravens in their next seven games. With a gauntlet schedule like that, the Chargers might not only fall out of playoff contention but also go a while without a win.
Washington Commanders— Panic Meter: 5/5
Last Sunday couldn’t have gone much worse for the Washington Commanders. Not only did they lose to a division rival for the second consecutive week, but they also lost their franchise quarterback, Jayden Daniels, to a dislocated elbow. With Daniels expected to miss an extended period, the Commanders will have to rely on backup quarterback Marcus Mariota for the foreseeable future.
Before Daniels’ injury, the Commanders had a good chance to beat the Dallas Cowboys, dominating the Cowboys’ defense and coming within three yards of a touchdown to tie at 17 before halftime, with the ball back to start the second half. Instead, he got hurt on the final play of the first half, and the game swung drastically in the Cowboys’ favor. The offense just wasn’t the same under Mariota, and the defense again allowed all their touchdowns to come in the air, just like against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Washington’s upcoming schedule looks beatable, with the Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers as the only playoff teams in the next four weeks. However, Daniels’ injury changes the outcome for this team, and we could see the Commanders back in the bottom of the NFL once again, like last season.
Miami Dolphins— Panic Meter: 4/5
It was expected that the Miami Dolphins would be 0-2, but it’s been surprising how much they’ve been outplayed in their first two games.
The Dolphins have scored 13 points and been beaten by double-digit scores in both games. They haven’t played well on either side of the ball, struggling to move the ball offensively while getting stops on defense. A lot is wrong in Miami right now, but the positive is that wide receivers Caleb Douglas and Malik Washington are showing promise.
This team is in full rebuild mode, and we should expect them to continue struggling as the season goes on. For that reason, fans shouldn’t panic, but they should be concerned about how this team is competing given how they played the first two weeks. This team most likely won’t make the playoffs, and this rebuild will take a while.
Tennessee Titans— Panic Meter: 4/5
The Tennessee Titans hoped to show improvements during quarterback Cam Ward‘s second year. Instead, they started just like last season: 0-2.
The Titans had a disappointing first game in their loss against the New York Jets, struggling to generate offense against a Jets defense that didn’t have a turnover last season. However, the team showed potential against the Eagles, forcing two turnovers, and the offense played better as Ward had two rushing touchdowns despite the close loss.
Tennessee still has plenty of work to do, but the performance against the Eagles provided some reason for optimism. However, their schedule doesn’t offer many winning opportunities to make a push to the playoffs in a loaded AFC. Fans shouldn’t panic much, given their expectations this season with a new head coach, but they should be concerned about whether the Titans can make meaningful progress in Ward’s second year.
Atlanta Falcons— Panic Meter: 3/5
What a quarterback mess the Atlanta Falcons are going through right now. They had to start third-string quarterback Cooper Rush in their first two games because of injuries to Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. It turned into a disaster. They had to remove Rush in their loss to the Panthers, and the team is 0-2.
They have struggled to generate offense outside of running back Bijan Robinson in their first two games and have had seven turnovers. Their defense was also outplayed in their latest loss to the Carolina Panthers, giving up 34 points. This team is a big mess, but they have plenty of time to fix their issues because they play in a weak NFC South division.
The Falcons got good news this week, as Penix Jr. is expected to play against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, increasing their chances of generating offense. If Penix Jr. can bring stability and provide much-needed offense, Atlanta can make a run at the NFC South title. Let’s not forget that it took an 8-9 Panthers team to win the division last season, so it’s still not time for this team to panic fully.
Indianapolis Colts— Panic Meter: 2/5
The Indianapolis Colts are under a lot of pressure, and that pressure only increased after a 0-2 start. However, in their overtime loss to the Chiefs, the team showed it can compete in the AFC.
After being blown out by the Ravens in their season opener, the Colts showed potential by taking a very good Chiefs team down to the wire and coming very close to winning on the road. Running back Jonathan Taylor continues to show why he’s one of the league’s best running backs, rushing for 190 yards and scoring four touchdowns in two games. Quarterback Daniel Jones is still finding his footing after tearing his Achilles last season, throwing just two touchdowns on 376 passing yards.
While its defense has struggled, the Colts have the offensive firepower to compete with any team in the NFL. Let’s not forget this team was 8-3 last season before Jones’ season-ending injury derailed it. If the Colts can fix their defensive issues, they could make a run to the playoffs on a very winnable schedule.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers— Panic Meter: 2/5
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have hit their lowest point of the season after losing to a Cleveland Browns team that was blown out in its season opener and has faced heavy scrutiny for starting Deshaun Watson at quarterback. However, it’s still not time for this team to panic.
Because the Buccaneers play in a weak NFC South division, they still have plenty of time to fix issues. The offense hasn’t played that badly, averaging 23 points in its first two games. However, mistakes have been killing them: they have committed five turnovers and been ineffective in the red zone, going three-for-eight. The defense has also failed to make critical plays when needed.
If the Buccaneers can fix their mistakes quickly, they should be fine as the season goes on. This team has a lot of talent, and Tampa Bay has many opportunities to get back on track, starting this week at home against the Minnesota Vikings.
Houston Texans— Panic Meter: 1/5
Of all the teams that started 0-2, the Texans should be the least worried. They were in the same position last season and still made the playoffs, so they can overcome another slow start.
The Texans went toe-to-toe against a high-powered Bills team in their season opener before coming up short. Despite a disappointing performance against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Texans have shown it takes time to reach their top form. Quarterback C.J. Stroud has been effective, throwing for 627 yards and two touchdowns despite the defense’s struggles. Let’s not forget that wide receiver Nico Collins was inactive in the loss against the Bengals, so the offense should find its rhythm once he returns.
The defense, one of the best last season, has not lived up to expectations, as it still has not forced a turnover and has allowed an average of 28 points. However, this unit took time last season to find its rhythm before it became one of the best. With a winnable schedule and plenty of time for both the offense and defense to adjust, the Texans shouldn’t be panicking at all.
Main Image: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
