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It can be late early in the NFL.
Even with an expanded schedule – and extended playoffs in recent years – no one wants to start 0-2, while everyone wants to be 2-0. Of course, in a parity league, most of the NFL is in the middle of two weeks. Seven teams are well seated (or as pretty as they can get for the end of September), while seven are already chasing the rankings. It can tend to snowball.
The 0-2 crowd contains many familiar faces – the Jets, Jaguars, Giants, Lions, Falcons – and a few that housed more realistic playoff chances entering the season on paper (Vikings and Colts) . And the undefeated ranks are all in three divisions, with the West particularly showing off its early muscles: Vegas, Denver, San Francisco, LA Rams and Arizona are all 2-0, along with Tampa and Carolina. The teams are not lacking with some Lombardi hopes in this collection.
So which of the winless teams still has life? And which of these 2-0 will end up missing the playoffs? Glad you asked.
Sizing of the seven teams 0-2
Foals
The Colts have enough going for them, I believe, along the offensive line and with their first seven to overcome back-to-back losses. I wasn’t in love with offense, overall, even with Carson Wentz, however, and now the oft-injured quarterback is battling ankle sprains in a duel. No Buenos. Jacob Eason is going to need a scaled-down game plan and this team could end up competing with the Ravens in rushed attempts over the next few weeks with Wentz likely on the set.
Is this the end of the world? No. This is a very solid, if unspectacular defense, though their vanilla-zone Tampa appearance doesn’t exactly revolutionize the NFL. Kwity Paye needs to become a rushing person as soon as possible and they need to build more pressure and fix some background issues. Ultimately, it’s a well-run franchise with a solid coaching staff… but the lack of a QB they can count on remains troubling and can undermine any season at any time.
Color me concerned. Yes, it’s only Week 3, but their visit to Tennessee feels like an AFC South tiebreaker to me, and drops to 0-3, with trips to Miami (where the heat and humidity is a major factor this time of year), and then in Baltimore on a Monday night (have you seen and heard the Ravens crowd Kansas City on Sunday night?) also look like big potential problems . Sure, their division is mediocre overall, but the Titans came out of the carpet in Seattle last weekend for a huge win that could give them a springboard. It’s pretty close to a must-play for the Colts in my opinion.
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Vikings
As for the Vikings, man, they just find ways to lose and you have to question their mentality from week to week. I should have beaten the Bengals in week 1 but ended up chasing that game and then making it late. Had a shootout against the Cardinals last Sunday and lost this time on a late-game field goal gone awry (a Vikings specialty). It’s worth pointing out that both losses came on the road, which brings us to a Week 3 home opener against the Seahawks.
The health of the defense is already a concern. Dalvin Cook is asked to carry the offense, and he too got pissed off last week. It feels like this is a frustrated and exhausted fan base, and I would suggest a good start against Seattle. It won’t be easy, Russell Wilson should be able to cook against this defensive line, and no one is throwing a better deep ball right now. Only six teams produced more plays of 10 yards or more than Minnesota and only Tennessee allowed more plays of 50 yards or more. Better deal with that, quick.
The Vikings play three games in a row at home, although Cleveland’s hosting in Week 4 isn’t ideal, Detroit coming to town before going to Carolina, hosting Dallas and going to Baltimore. Small, delicate section that must be navigated with confidence to stay close to Green Bay, the NFC North class. This Packers squad won’t be as good as the last two, but you must already be starting to wonder if anyone else in the division would make a fight with it.
Certainly concerned about the Vikings too, with Mike Zimmer as a coach for his work after years of ownership thinking about major changes.
… And the others
As for the rest of the group without a win, it’s largely as expected; bad teams with many new coaches with questionable rosters who will take their pieces. None of them will be a factor.
Sizing of the seven teams 2-0
Among the undefeated, the Raiders have to be considered the biggest surprise, especially when you factor in the difficulty of their schedule and travel to open the season. As I wrote on Sunday, I buy them as a factor in the AFC. They can be a wild-card team. Their games against the Broncos and Chargers in that division will be critical, but they have already conceded potentially life-saving decisive wins over Baltimore and Pittsburgh and play two of the next three at home – against Miami, the Chargers and hosting the bear. Don’t sleep on this group – the attack is legitimate and the defense improves.
NFC West is arguably the best division in football and for two weeks the only loss is the Seahawks’ heartbreak to the Titans in overtime, a game they should have won. Tom Brady is going to be a tough guy every week as he pursues perfection – individually and collectively – and the Panthers defense has a chance to be truly special; that, coupled with the return of Christian McCaffrey, makes them interesting to watch. The NFC is a bit more watered down, and they already have a win over a Saints side who I think can compete for a wild card.
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