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Which 0–2 NFL Teams Can Still Make the Playoffs? Ranking Postseason Chances for Winless Ravens, Bengals, Rams

Going 0-2 to start an NFL season is almost always fatal, but some teams can rebound. Which winless clubs -- Bengals? Ravens? Rams? -- will bounce back in 2024?

While starting 0-2 isn’t necessarily a death knell for NFL teams, a winless start makes a postseason trip all the more difficult.

Since the NFL moved to 32 teams and realigned its divisions in 2002, 190 teams have begun a season 0-2, according to PFR’s Stathead database. Just 18 of those clubs — roughly 9.5% — ended up in the playoffs.

The 2023 Houston Texans were the most recent 0-2 team to go to the postseason, while the Cincinnati Bengals did it the year before.

Only one 0-2 team since 2002 has advanced past the Divisional Round of the playoffs: the 2007 New York Giants, who upset the previously undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

Which 0-2 teams can make the playoffs in 2024? Let’s rank all nine winless teams.

Ranking Postseason Chances for 2024’s 0-2 NFL Teams

9) Carolina Panthers

  • Week 1: Lost to Saints, 47-10
  • Week 2: Lost to Chargers, 26-3

The Panthers benched Bryce Young on Monday in a move that somehow feels too early and long overdue. Young’s absurd 8.9 QBR is last in the NFL by 15 points. Carolina’s offense has posted -0.42 EPA per play, the fourth-worst rate for any team over the first two weeks of a season since 2000, per TruMedia.

Andy Dalton, 36, is no one’s idea of a quarterback savior, but he might be able to operate the Panthers’ offense with more rhythm and timing than Young — frankly, it would be hard not to.

However, that doesn’t mean Carolina is about to jump back into the NFC playoff picture.

The Panthers’ defense has struggled, too. Defensive tackle Derrick Brown, the team’s best overall player, is out for the season after tearing his meniscus. And Carolina is already two games behind the undefeated New Orleans Saints and Buccanneers in the NFC South.

8) New York Giants

  • Week 1: Lost to Vikings, 28-6
  • Week 2: Lost to Commanders, 21-18

Week 2 went much better than Week 1 for Daniel Jones, but the end result for the Giants was another loss.

Jones rebounded from his two-pick season-opening performance with a two-TD game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

The Giants scored three touchdowns in total but still managed just 18 points. Punter Jamie Gillan missed his only extra-point attempt while filling for kicker Graham Gano, who was hurt on the opening kickoff, and New York failed on its two two-point conversions.

Washington was probably Big Blue’s best chance at a win for a while. Upcoming games against the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys’ elite defenses don’t offer much hope, while Weeks 5-7 (Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles) won’t be easy, either.

7) Denver Broncos

  • Week 1: Lost to Seahawks, 26-20
  • Week 2: Lost to Steelers, 13-6

Bo Nix’s avoidance of deep throws has been overstated through two games, but the first-round rookie hasn’t been able to hit on those vertical shots. On throws between 10-19 yards, Nix is just 3-for-14 with 4.1 yards per attempt and two interceptions. He’s 2-for-8 with two more picks on throws over 20 yards.

Still, Denver’s 0-2 record isn’t solely Nix’s fault. He’s been pressured on 43.2% of his dropbacks, fourth-most among all NFL quarterbacks.

The Broncos’ offensive line isn’t opening holes in the run game and ranks fourth-worst in adjusted line yards. But Denver’s RBs aren’t creating their own yardage, either; the Broncos rank 27th in yards after contact per attempt (2.32), per TruMedia.

Nix already had to face defensive whizzes Mike Macdonald and Mike Tomlin to begin his NFL career. The 12th overall pick now gets the pleasure of facing blitz-happy Todd Bowles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3, followed by the New York Jets’ elite defense in Week 4.

Good luck, rook!

6) Tennessee Titans

  • Week 1: Lost to Bears, 27-24
  • Week 2: Lost to Jets, 24-17

Each of the Titans’ two losses has come by one score, which makes quarterback Will Levis’ back-breaking turnovers all the more frustrating. Just ask head coach and offensive play-caller Brian Callahan, who used a few choice words to address Levis after another mistake on Sunday.

In Week 1, Levis threw one of the worst pick-sixes you’ll ever see to effectively seal defeat against the Chicago Bears (in a game they once led 17-0). In Week 2, Levis lost the ball inside the Jets’ 10-yard line on an attempted lateral.

Unless Levis ceases those boneheaded errors, it’s hard to imagine the Titans re-entering the AFC playoff picture.

5) Los Angeles Rams

  • Week 1: Lost to Lions, 26-20
  • Week 2: Lost to Cardinals, 41-10

What else can go wrong for the Rams? Week’s 1 Wild Card rematch against the Lions not only resulted in an overtime defeat but the loss of several key L.A. players.

Wide receiver Puka Nacua is on injured reserve with a knee injury and could be sidelined for longer than the minimum four weeks. The season opener also cost the Rams starting offensive linemen Joe Noteboom and Steve Avila. Left tackle Alaric Jackson returns from suspension in Week 3, but sixth-round rookie Beau Limmer is now L.A.’s starting center.

Week 2 saw Cooper Kupp, who should have been Matthew Stafford’s unquestioned WR1 with Nacua sidelined, go down with an ankle injury. On Monday, head coach Sean McVay said Kupp will miss an “extended period of time” and could go on IR.

Stafford will have to rely on WRs like DeMarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Jordan Whittington, and Tutu Atwell when Los Angeles faces the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday. An 0-3 start and a lost 2024 campaign are squarely on the table for McVay’s squad.

4) Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Week 1: Lost to Dolphins, 20-17
  • Week 2: Lost to Browns, 18-13

We don’t necessarily believe in the Titans after their 0-2 start, but what about the rest of the non-Houston Texans AFC South?

Jacksonville’s two losses have come by a combined eight points, and Doug Pederson’s squad can’t blame anyone but itself. Self-inflicted errors were a problem for the Jags in 2023, when they lost more EPA off turnovers than all but four teams, per TruMedia. Inside the red zone, Jacksonville ranked just 26th in success rate and 29th in EPA per play.

It’s already happening again this season. In Week 1, RB Travis Etienne’s goal-line fumble gave an inch to the Miami Dolphins, who took a mile.

Facing the Browns on Sunday, the Jags scored one touchdown in four red-zone trips. Doug Pederson called for field goals on two fourth-and-goals, one from the 7-yard line and one from the 4.

Between those FGs, Trevor Lawrence was sacked and fumbled at Cleveland’s 25, leading to a missed field goal in the third quarter. Lawrence also took an unacceptable sack in the end zone — resulting in a safety that made the score 18-13 Browns — at the very end of Jacksonville’s Week 1 loss.

Regression to the mean seems like it should be coming for the Jaguars, but the mistakes haven’t stopped yet.

3) Indianapolis Colts

  • Week 1: Lost to Texans, 29-27
  • Week 2: Lost to Packers, 16-10

The Colts were a few plays away from taking down the Texans in Week 1, but their Week 2 loss to the Jordan Love-less Packers had to be a reality check.

Indianapolis actually did a solid job against what they had to have known would be a run-heavy game plan from Malik Willis and Co.

Gus Bradley’s defense finished sixth in EPA per rush and rushing success rate on Sunday, while Green Bay posted 53 rushing attempts, the second-most by any NFL team in a single game since 2018. But Willis made the most of his 14 pass attempts, completing 12 at 8.7 yards per clip while taking zero sacks.

More concerning was second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson, who went from chucking the ball over the field in Week 1 to completing just 50% of his passes and tossing three picks in Week 2. Per TruMedia, Richardson’s 17.7% off-target rate leads the league through two weeks.

Fortunately, the Colts should benefit from an easier schedule moving forward. While the Jaguars have to play the Buffalo Bills and Texans over the next two weeks, Indy will get the Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers. By PFN’s metrics, the Colts have the NFL’s sixth-easiest schedule.

2) Baltimore Ravens

  • Week 1: Lost to Chiefs, 27-20
  • Week 2: Lost to Raiders, 26-23

Dropping a season-opening road game to the defending champion Chiefs was explainable.

Losing a Week 2 home tilt to Gardner Minshew and the Raiders was not.

Baltimore’s defense let Davante Adams and Brock Bowers post nine catches and 90+ yards each. After Derrick Henry scored a touchdown to give the Ravens a 23-13 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Baltimore allowed Minshew to lead three scoring drives while Lamar Jackson and Co. posted two three-and-outs on the other side.

It’s only been two weeks, but the Ravens might be feeling the loss of former DC Mike Macdonald. Baltimore has allowed 12 explosive passing plays so far, tied for most in the NFL. The Ravens were in zone coverage for 11 of those 12 plays, per TruMedia. Whether those explosives resulted from miscommunication or scheme problems might become more apparent as the season progresses.

Baltimore is as talented as any of the NFL’s nine winless teams. Jackson is the reigning MVP, the Ravens’ rebuilt offensive line looks cohesive, and the club’s defense still has stars at every level, like DT Justin Madubuike, LB Roquan Smith, and S Kyle Hamilton.

Plus, the AFC North hasn’t covered itself in glory to begin the season. The Bengals are also 0-2, the Browns have limped to a 1-1 mark, while the Steelers have scored one touchdown but are somehow 2-0. Jim Harbaugh’s team still has plenty of time to make a run.

1) Cincinnati Bengals

  • Week 1: Lost to Patriots, 16-10
  • Week 2: Lost to Chiefs, 26-25

The Bengals have been here before.

Joe Burrow and Co. have started 0-2 in each of the past two seasons. In 2022, they bounced back, going 12-2 over the rest of the year before losing to the Chiefs in the AFC Title game. Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury in Week 11 of last year, but Cincinnati still went 4-3 with QB2 Jake Browning and finished with a winning record.

But it’s not just the Bengals’ experience with winless starts that sets them up to re-insert themselves in the playoff race this year.

Burrow looked more confident and willing to rip throws against the Chiefs than he was against New England in Week 1. His average depth of target went from 5.9 yards (28th among all QBs) in Week 1 to 7.5 yards in Week 2 (18th).

Cincinnati’s defense tackled better on Sunday than it did against the Pats, improving from 29th in yards after contact per rush (4.0) to seventh (2.34) in Week 2. Lou Anarumo’s unit held Patrick Mahomes to just 151 passing yards, his lowest career total in an injury-free game.

Moreover, the Bengals’ schedule is about to open up. Cincinnati gets the Commanders, Panthers, and Giants over three of the next four weeks. If the Bengals aren’t 3-3 or better by Week 7, then we can sound the alarm bells.

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