Teams that start the season 0-2 make the playoffs 12.2 percent of the time, so here are three teams who can’t afford to go 0-2 in week 2.
Three NFL Teams Who Can’t Afford To Start 0-2 in Week 2
Detroit Lions (0-1)
The Lions have their home opener in week two against a familiar face in Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears. This is a big game for Detroit after being blown out in week one against the Green Bay Packers. The offense looked stale, and the Lions scored their fewest points in a game since 2023.
Detroit has the makings of a Super Bowl contender, but it may be harder than usual for them to live up to that hype this season. They are without their coordinators, Johnson and Aaron Glenn, due to both taking head coaching jobs, so it could take the Lions a while to adjust to life without their premier play callers. However, their game against the Bears is a must-win game, and if anyone knows the Lions best, it’s the former offensive play caller in Johnson.
If the Lions want to make things even in the win column, it’s going to start with the run game. Head coach Dan Campbell was unhappy with the execution in the run game against the Packers and is hoping things get better there so that the Lions can get to the rest of their offensive identity for 2025.
Miami Dolphins (0-1)
The Dolphins may have the worst vibes of any team in the NFL right now. They laid an egg in a week one matchup against the Colts, and everything from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to the defense looked like they were not prepared to play an NFL game. There is pressure in Miami right now for the Dolphins to get things on the right track. Head coach Mike McDaniel and General Manager Chris Grier both have a good chance to be the first HC-GM combo to be fired this season, and it wouldn’t be a surprise around the NFL world.
The opponent for week 2 doesn’t get any easier than the New England Patriots, who still looked like they had a long way to go to be a viable team in 2025. If McDaniel can’t get things going in the right direction against the Patriots, things could get ugly in Miami quickly.
Kansas City Chiefs (0-1)
Crazy but true, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have never lost three games in a row since he has been the starter. After losing the Super Bowl and their week one matchup against the Chargers, the Chiefs host the Philadelphia Eagles for a Super Bowl rematch from February, where the Eagles dominated the Chiefs. On paper, the Chiefs may be equipped to handle a 0-2 hole; however, with the AFC West Division all earning wins in week one and have looked improved as teams in general, the Chiefs can’t afford to go 0-2 to start the season.
Good news for the Chiefs heading into the week two game with the Eagles, as KC has averaged 33.5 points per game with Mahomes after back-to-back losses.
The never losing three in a row as a starter in KC is impressive for Mahomes, but it will be all the more concerning if they drop the game to the Eagles.
Main Image: Amanda Perobelli/Reuters via Imagn Images
