Rating NFL's 0-2 groups: Bengals, Ravens nonetheless harmful, Broncos, Panthers in dire straits

By two weeks of the 2024 NFL season, 9 completely different groups have didn’t safe their first victory. That is about 28% of your entire league. Traditionally, an 0-2 begin doesn’t bode effectively for the long term, as only 11.5% of groups with that file have gone on to make the playoffs since 1990. However there’s loads of soccer left to play in 2024, so which of this 12 months’s winless golf equipment has the perfect likelihood of a turnaround?

Here is how we would rank all of the 0-2 groups, from most regarding to most promising:

It would be one factor if Bryce Young and Co. appeared as in the event that they had been making strides. As a substitute, Dave Canales’ group has been outscored 73-13, and even that does not do justice to their hapless offense. Mercifully, Younger has since been benched for Andy Dalton. Can the veteran squeeze one thing out of their setup?

Sean Payton had us shopping for Bo Nix’s NFL readiness within the preseason, however it’s honest to marvel: Was he able to endure Nix’s rookie lumps at this price? The Oregon product hasn’t precisely protected the ball regardless of an expectation of conservative offense to start out his profession. Their AFC West possibilities already look shot.

Daniel Jones discovered Malik Nabers for some key performs on Sunday, and a troublesome protection held the rival Washington Commanders to actually seven subject targets. But Brian Daboll’s squad nonetheless discovered a strategy to lose. If it isn’t one factor, it is one other in East Rutherford, and everybody appears as in the event that they’re on pins and needles.

Anthony Richardson is a strolling spotlight reel, however his superhero construct and expertise nonetheless comes with unpredictable accuracy via the air. It is legitimately growth or bust with him airing it out. Worse but: Their protection is by far the NFL’s worst in opposition to the run to start out the 12 months, and DeForest Buckner is banged up.

Misplaced within the comprehensible uproar over Will Levis‘ curious decision-making is correct credit score for the instances he makes one thing out of nothing. Nonetheless, contemplating the veteran expertise they’ve on either side of the ball, it is virtually inexcusable they’re winless. Happily, two different AFC South golf equipment are additionally 0-2.

Their top-five placement right here speaks extra to the dearth of AFC South treasure than actual perception within the Jaguars, as a result of frankly, your entire offensive operation has been dispiriting. Trevor Lawrence and Doug Pederson have been a harmful combo earlier than, however the extra time that passes, the extra their one-time playoff bid appears to be like like a flash within the pan. Happily, their division might afford them extra time.

Keep in mind after they gained the Super Bowl in 2021, then proceeded to backside out with a 5-12 end a 12 months later? With Puka Nacua banged up and Matthew Stafford as soon as once more working behind an iffy line, we could be headed for the same and sudden collapse. So long as Stafford is upright, although, and Sean McVay can get again to creating house for Kyren Williams and Co., the upside is there for a turnaround.

On one hand, failing to complete video games is nothing new for John Harbaugh’s contender. And we have seen MVP flashes from reigning MVP Lamar Jackson. Up and down the lineup, this group remains to be constructed for January competition. It is not incorrect to be mildly involved, although, contemplating the Jackson-Harbaugh pairing has at all times struggled to place away opponents. Simply do not dare depend them out of the AFC North simply but.

Few contenders begin gradual just like the Bengals, so that is, in some methods, par for the course in Cincinnati. Do not get us incorrect: The lingering Ja’Marr Chase drama and Tee Higgins availability questions are pink flags. Self-discipline has been a problem. But when Joe Burrow is on the sector, slinging it as he does, then this workforce is likely one of the hardest outs within the NFL, as evidenced by them taking the Kansas City Chiefs to the wire.