The 2024 NFL regular season is just over 10% done, but several teams are facing a daunting 90% chance that their Super Bowl dreams are already over. Currently, nine teams are without a win after two games – this doesn’t mean their playoff hopes are completely over, but it does put them in a precarious position.

“We’re 0-2,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh commented following Baltimore’s surprising home defeat to the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday. “This is a 17-game season, and we will be judged by how we perform in the next 15 games.

“Our goal now is to play those 15 games at our best, become the strongest football team we can be. If we succeed in that, we stand a good chance of winning many games, making it to the playoffs, and pursuing a championship. That’s what needs to happen.”

Sorry, Coach, but the odds are not in your favor, unfortunately.

Since the NFL expanded the playoff field to 12 teams in 1990, only 11.5% of teams (32 of 279) that started 0-2 have managed to turn their season around and make the playoffs. The challenge has only increased in recent times. From the start of the 2019 season, only two of 41 teams (4.9%) have come back from an 0-2 start. You would expect that with the playoff bracket expanding to 14 teams in 2020, there would be more opportunities, but that hasn’t been the case.

The numbers are grim, but there’s still the possibility that one of this year’s winless teams will defy them and reach at least Week 19. Who might it be? We’ll rank their chances of making the postseason from least likely to most:

9. Denver Broncos

Bo Nix has struggled as a rookie quarterback, completing under 60% of his passes – mostly to his teammates – leading the league with four interceptions and generating a mere 22 points on offense, the lowest in the AFC. It’s not as if he has much help either, as WR Josh Reynolds remains the only player with over 90 total yards, which includes a single 49-yard catch during Sunday’s game. The Broncos seem trapped in one of the toughest divisions in the AFC West, which is already dominated by the Kansas City Chiefs, making a path forward seem unlikely.

8. New York Giants

This team lacks impactful players and features quarterback Daniel Jones, whose tendency to mishandle the football doesn’t inspire confidence in opposition defenses. With only 24 points scored, they rank just ahead of Carolina, scoring the second-fewest in the league. Their defense is allowing an unsettling 5.3 yards per rush, making it hard to get off the field – although they did manage to restrict the Washington Commanders to no touchdowns last Sunday. It’s difficult to picture this squad going on a successful run or winning many games, especially if other teams place a focus on neutralizing rookie WR Malik Nabers.

7. Tennessee Titans

If we exclude quarterback Will Levis’ league-high five turnovers, we could be discussing a surprising 2-0 team instead of one that has blown second-half leads in its two losses. Although their defense has allowed the fewest yards across the league, they have not been able to compensate for Levis’ errors, managing just one turnover of their own. There are some talented players on this team, even if overall expectations remain subdued. Still, there could be glimmers of hope since two other teams in the AFC South are also winless, and given quarterback Mason Rudolph’s role in leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to the playoffs last year, it might not be long before we see him stepping in, especially since rookie head coach Brian Callahan seems to be showing signs of frustration with Levis.

6. Carolina Panthers

This might come off as overly optimistic given that the Panthers have appeared to be among the worst in the NFL both in performance and statistics – they sit last in the league with just 13 points scored (less than half of what New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara scored alone with 30), and they have given up a staggering 73 points.

With a dismal 9.1% success rate on third downs, the Carolina Panthers are certainly facing challenges. However, both poor defeats and tough losses carry equal weight in the standings. Fortunately for Carolina, competing in the NFC should give them a slight edge. More importantly, the ascension of seasoned veteran Andy Dalton, now 36, to the starting quarterback position could rejuvenate a team that has stagnated under the leadership of Bryce Young, the first overall pick in the 2023 draft.

Last year, Dalton only started once in a game against Seattle, where the Panthers put up a respectable 27 points, though ultimately they lost 37-27. In that game, he threw for an impressive 361 yards and had two touchdown passes, marking one of the best performances from the Panthers’ offense in the past year. The team has strong offensive talent with wide receivers Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen, along with running backs Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders. They are also expected to bolster their lineup when rookie running back Jonathon Brooks, who suffered an ACL injury last season at the University of Texas, returns to action. Unfortunately, the loss of defensive lineman Derrick Brown to a season-ending knee injury is a tough setback. However, Dalton, who previously performed well as the Saints’ starter two years ago, has a real opportunity to turn the team’s fortunes around. The entire roster must respond strongly, especially after rookie head coach Dave Canales emphasized the need for the greater good as a reason for benching Young.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

After the loss to the Cleveland Browns, quarterback Trevor Lawrence candidly stated, “We suck right now.” One has to admire his honesty. The defense has struggled to create turnovers (yet to make a take-away) and has given up several big plays, including four passes of over 20 yards and two completions exceeding 60 yards in the opening week, the worst being a game-changing 80-yard touchdown from Miami’s Tyreek Hill. Their only turnover this season occurred when running back Travis Etienne fumbled while attempting to complete what seemed like a game-sealing touchdown, right before Hill’s score. Additionally, head coach Doug Pederson’s management choices at times raise eyebrows. The focus, however, mainly rests on Lawrence, who is on a streak of seven consecutive lost starts dating back to the previous season, missing opportunities that could have reversed the Jaguars’ 0-2 start to a hopeful 2-0. While these problems appear fixable, the Jaguars face challenging games ahead against Buffalo and Houston, putting them at risk of falling to 0-4.

4. Indianapolis Colts

Like the Jaguars and Titans, the Colts find themselves in a tough position, beginning their season two games behind the Texans in the AFC South rankings. The inconsistency of quarterback Anthony Richardson, just 22, who leads the league with four interceptions alongside Nix, is not unexpected due to his inexperience in the role — dating back to high school and through his time at the University of Florida. Nonetheless, he has made enough impressive plays to have helped his team secure two victories. Richardson clearly needs to improve on preserving the ball, but the defense must also step up to assist him. The Colts have recently placed Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner on injured reserve with an ankle injury, allowing an alarming 237 rushing yards per game — nearly 40 yards worse than the next worst team and a significant reason they sit at the bottom for time of possession. Richardson will inevitably make errors, but he can’t shine while head coach Shane Steichen’s sophisticated plans can’t come to life without the offense on the field.

3. Los Angeles Rams

Last year, the Rams qualified for the playoffs, but an avalanche of injuries now plagues them. Pro Bowl wide receiver Puka Nacua, offensive linemen Jonah Jackson, Joe Noteboom, and Steve Avila, as well as defensive backs Darious Williams and John Johnson III, are all on IR, and wide receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle) is expected to miss a significant stretch. Tight end Tyler Higbee (knee) is also on the physically unable to perform list. The defense is adjusting to life without the retired superstar Aaron Donald — they have already committed 33 missed tackles, the highest in the league. Problems on the offensive line, which also included a now-completed suspension for tackle Alaric Jackson, have contributed to the Rams’ inability to run the ball effectively (the lowest in NFC, averaging only 68 rushing yards per game) and led to seven sacks on quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is 36 years old. Fortunately, this squad has a bye week in Week 6 to heal and can draw strength from surviving a 3-6 start last year before finishing strong, led by a resilient coach in Sean McVay who has never shied away from challenges.

2. Baltimore Ravens

Many fans likely recall when the Ravens were the top seed in the AFC playoffs last year. Currently, they are reeling from a poor loss to the Raiders and a respectable defeat against the Chiefs. Although the acquisition of running back Derrick Henry was a significant storyline during the offseason, important losses on both sides of the ball — especially in the trenches — and the departure of defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald are equally pivotal. Henry has been decent so far, and at 30, his strongest asset might be drawing defenders away from quarterback Lamar Jackson. However, only four teams have allowed more points than the Ravens, while the offensive line continues to be a work in progress. This is the first time since 2015 that the Ravens have begun a season 0-2, and they’ve managed to maintain a winning record for eight out of the previous nine seasons, making it likely that they’ll sort things out. Yet with four of their next six games against playoff teams from 2023 and another matchup against Cincinnati, they’ll need to take action quickly.

1. Cincinnati Bengals

Fans may remember when the Bengals represented the AFC in the Super Bowl just three years ago — they are the only team in the past five seasons to deny the Chiefs a spot in that game. Currently, they are dealing with a respectable loss to Kansas City and a disappointing defeat against the Patriots. Historically slow starters since drafting quarterback Joe Burrow in 2020 — they hold a record of just 1-9 in Week 1 and 2, with their only win in 2021 — Burrow has been a major factor in their struggles, having committed a league-high three fumbles this season. Additionally, he is on pace to be sacked 51 times. Adding to the dilemma, Burrow is coping without injured wide receiver Tee Higgins and with the loss of traded running back Joe Mixon, while star playmaker Ja’Marr Chase appears to be impacted by a contract dispute. Nevertheless, this team presents significant potential compared to the other teams on this list. A key factor that might differentiate them from their AFC North rivals in Baltimore is the Bengals’ schedule of weaker opponents. Notably, the 2022 Bengals were one of the two teams in the last five years to recover from an 0-2 start. If Burrow is fit and Chase maintains focus, there’s no reason they shouldn’t be able to do it once more.

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