Only four teams are 2-0 on the 2022 NFL season following Sunday’s Week 2 games. Two of the three 1-0 teams could join them to make it six after Monday night’s doubleheader.
There are four 0-2 teams and, because of a Week 1 tie, a pair of 0-1-1 teams. Should the Titans lose to the Bills, they would be a seventh winless team after two weeks.
What does all that mean? NFL history says that more than 90 percent of 0-2 teams miss the playoffs, while more than 60 percent of 2-0 teams make the playoffs.
Take last season: Five of the seven teams that started 2-0 made the playoffs (71.4 percent). All six of the teams that began 0-2 missed the playoffs.
MORE: NFL teams to make playoffs after 0-2 starts
In 2020, when the league first expanded the playoff field to 14 teams, eight of the 11 teams that started 2-0 (72 percent) made the playoffs. All 11 teams that started 0-2 failed to make the playoffs.
Although the current 17-game schedule provides a little more time to get right and get into the playoff mix, the trend didn’t change in 2021.
Here’s a breakdown of the 14 winless or undefeated teams heading into Monday. The Sporting News determines whether they are playoff contenders or pretenders:
2-0 and undefeated teams: Contender or pretender?
Kansas City Chiefs (2-0)
Patrick Mahomes has adjusted well to a new-look passing game without Tyreek Hill. KC’s new-look, younger defense has dug deep to make big plays in critical situations. Andy Reid and his coaching staff continue to lead at a high level. It’s ho-hum, same-old same-old, lather, rinse and repeat for the team that will be on the short list of Super Bowl favorites as long as Mahomes is healthy. Um, yeah … contender.
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Buffalo Bills (1-0)
They are the Super Bowl 57 favorites and showed every bit of that in the opener against the Rams and will keep playing at that level against other top foes, including the Titans on Monday night. Just like the Chiefs, Josh Allen and the Bills are the ultimate . . . contender.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0)
Tom Brady un-retired, only to come back to multiple injuries on the offensive line and receiving corps. But his team has still come up with dominant road victories over good NFC foes Dallas and New Orleans. The Bucs have pivoted from offensive-minded Bruce Arians to defensive-minded Todd Bowles at the right time. Just as in Super Bowl 55 vs. Mahomes, their loaded defense is the team’s backbone and strength. When the GOAT’s main help gets healthy, Tampa Bay will be an even stronger . . . contender.
MORE: Mike Evans, Dennis Allen explain what happened in Buccaneers-Saints brawl
Miami Dolphins (2-0)
Speaking of Hill, seeing is believing with Tua Tagovailoa in Mike McDaniel’s dynamic video-game offense. The new play-calling wunderkind has been brilliant in scheming both Hill and Jaylen Waddle open to take full advantage of their speed and make downfield passing a lot easier for the third-year QB. The Ravens exposed the Dolphins’ issues on defense in Week 2, but a little more complementary consistency will be fine given how explosive they’ve become on the other side. Because of McDaniel, an early Coach of the Year front-runner, Miami is a definite . . . contender.
MORE: How Tua led Dolphins to a 21-point fourth-quarter comeback win
New York Giants (2-0)
The Giants have scratched out one-possession wins over the Titans and Panthers for their 2-0 start under new, offensive-minded head coach Brian Daboll. The defense, which has allowed 38 points total, and the running game led by a revived Saquon Barkley have been the keys. Unfortunately, hiding Daniel Jones and major passing game issues will get tougher against teams that can actually move the ball through the air. New York has a rather easy schedule early, but it will get tougher, which makes this team a . . . pretender.
Minnesota Vikings (1-0)
Where does offensive-minded Kevin O’Connell fit in the spectrum of new coaches? Put him right up there with McDaniel with the way he has helped Justin Jefferson explode. The Vikings also seem revitalized on defense with better health and scheming to go with improved young players supporting the veteran core. Whatever happens vs. the Eagles on Monday, the Vikings are a . . . contender.
Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)
The Eagles are on track to return to the playoffs as at least a wild card. But their prospects of taking the NFC East title from the Cowboys improved last week when Dak Prescott suffered a broken right thumb. Jalen Hurts has started his make-or-break season amazingly well throwing to his new go-to guy, A.J. Brown. Philly is running well, and that includes Hurts’ own legs. They need to shore up plenty on defense, especially against the run, but whatever happens vs. the Vikings on Monday, the Eagles are a . . . contender.
0-2 and winless teams: Contender or pretender?
Las Vegas Raiders (0-2)
Jackpot, baby? Just win, baby? Neither has been true about a team that made the playoffs in 2021 and was being hyped for bigger things after Josh McDaniels and Davante Adams arrived to boost Derek Carr and the offense. Their defense still stinks when Maxx Crosby and Nate Hobbs are not involved, and offensive line issues keep holding back Carr and Josh Jacobs. They got sloppy and stagnant against the Cardinals’ atrocious defense; Hunter Renfrow literally gave away a victory with another turnover. Las Vegas made the playoffs after starting 2-0 last season; given the history of 0-2 teams, this year’s squad has to be a . . . pretender.
MORE: Raiders fumble away game vs. Cardinals
Cincinnati Bengals (0-2)
This is a tough one. It’s not crazy to say that they are battling a Super Bowl hangover. They started slowly against the Steelers and didn’t execute well enough in the end to complete a rally. They never really got going against the Cowboys and lost a second straight game on the final snap.
The concern is with Joe Burrow, who, despite supposed offensive line improvements, has already been sacked 13 times. The pass protection is one part of the equation; the other is Burrow always trying to extend plays to deliver downfield to Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. Burrow is incredible at leading comebacks and throwing passes with high degree of difficulty, but he can’t force the big-play nature of the passing offense when there isn’t time. The Bengals need to run Joe Mixon to take pressure off Burrow.
The Bengals’ defense has been all right, but it allowed lesser QBs Mitchell Trubisky and Cooper Rush to be too productive at critical times. The good news is the Steelers, Ravens and Browns also lost close games Sunday — the latter two in meltdown fashion — to all fall to 1-1. The Bengals have too much talent, led by Burrow, to not adjust and clean things up. That includes Burrow becoming smarter about protecting the ball and himself.
Cincinnati can get well in Week 3 at the Jets. It will be on high alert for that one after being upset in East Rutherford last season and seeing the Jets shock the Browns in Week 2. The game will also take place before meetings with the Dolphins and Ravens. With the AFC North feeling like a long grind, the Bengals are still a . . . contender.
Carolina Panthers (0-2)
The Panthers have looked lost in new coordinator Ben McAdoo’s offense. Baker Mayfield has flashed with plays to his wide receivers and tight ends, but there’s inconsistency in both the passing game and using Christian McCaffrey effectively. The defense, bad against the run but disruptive vs. the pass, is also up and down. Matt Rhule was the odds-on favorite to be the first coach fired, and losing winnable games against the Browns and Giants doesn’t help. The Panthers faded from 2-0 last season. No need to worry about that happening again this season. They are a total . . . pretender.
Atlanta Falcons (0-2)
Marcus Mariota is getting more help than expected in Arthur Smith’s well-designed offense, with Cordarrelle Patterson and rookie wide receiver Drake London and contributing more than second-year tight end Kyle Pitts. The Falcons made the Saints and Rams sweat, which is a testament to Smith getting them to play hard until the end in all three phases. But the lack of talent is holding them back in many areas, including along the offensive and defensive fronts. The Falcons, as expected, are a . . . pretender.
Indianapolis Colts (0-1-1)
Matt Ryan has looked shaky leading the offense, although injuries haven’t helped. The defense has been OK with DeForest Buckner setting the tone, but not having Shaquille Leonard cleaning up on the second level has been huge. Even with a tie vs. the Texans and a loss to the Jaguars, the AFC South is so bad that everyone will get to stay in the race to 8-9 or 9-8 for a while. Given the Colts were on the brink of making the playoffs after going 0-2 in 2021, let’s reluctantly call them a . . . contender.
MORE: Bench Ryan, fire Reich? Winless Colts on the hot seat after latest loss to Jags
Houston Texans (0-1-1)
The Texans had opportunities to beat the Colts at home until Lovie Smith was content escaping with an upset tie. They went on the road and fought the Broncos with Smith’s pass defense overachieving again. Davis Mills needs to play better to awaken some of the team’s underrated offensive skill players, and the run defense needs a lot of shoring up. But the Texans are only a half-game behind the Jaguars in the AFC South with a lot of games left, including five within the division. Because the division winner gets a playoff ticket no matter what, the Texans are, mostly in name only, a . . . contender.
Tennessee Titans (0-1)
The Titans lost Brown and other parts of their passing game around Ryan Tannehill in the offseason. The offensive line has issues. There already are questions about whether Derrick Henry’s post-foot injury is catching up to him. But this team is well-coached under Mike Vrabel and is coming off being the No. 1 seed in the AFC seed last season. Seeing the Jaguars leading the division at 1-1 should inspire them, knowing that even an 0-2 start won’t be much of a barrier if the Titans can curb the defensive lapses and get more creative on offense. Again, because they play in the AFC South, the Titans are a . . . contender.
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