Which of the NFL’s 0-2 Groups Have to Panic?

Let’s say you’re an 0-2 NFL crew. Right here’s the excellent news: Beginning the season with a pair of losses isn’t fairly as catastrophic because it was once, now that 14 groups make the postseason. The dangerous information is that it’ll nonetheless be an uphill climb to get a kind of playoff berths. So for the 9 squads at present sitting at 0-2, we ask the next query: Is it time to panic? Welcome toThe Ringer’s Panic Meter.

Cincinnati Bengals

A detailed loss to the Chiefs is hard for Cincinnati to abdomen, given their rivalry. However the Bengals needs to be inspired by their efficiency in Week 2, a minimum of relative to how flat they appeared within the opener.

Joe Burrow was way more comfy within the pocket Sunday than he was in opposition to the Patriots in Week 1, and the Bengals discovered a technique to unfold the ball round, getting 91 yards from tight finish Mike Gesicki and two landing catches from preseason standout Andrei Iosivas whereas Kansas Metropolis targeted its defensive consideration on shutting down Ja’Marr Chase.

Burrow nonetheless shoulders an excessive amount of duty on this offense, which might’t appear to determine its operating sport, and the run protection additionally appeared regarding in opposition to the Chiefs, who had a hit price of 57 p.c on the bottom. However the anticipated return of Tee Higgins inside a couple of weeks will assist, and I belief defensive coordinator Lou Anaruomo to determine the protection out in time. The secondary, highlighted by Cam Taylor-Britt’s good interception of Patrick Mahomes, appears to be like stable sufficient to construct round.

4 of the Bengals’ subsequent 5 video games are in opposition to the Commanders, Panthers, Giants, and Browns, in order that they have likelihood to get well from this newest gradual begin.

Plus, Cincinnati isn’t in a lot of a gap within the AFC North. The Ravens needs to be their prime competitors, and Baltimore additionallydropped its first two video games. The Steelers at present lead the division they usually’ve scored only one landing in two video games, so the Bengals needs to be OK.

Panic meter: 2/10

Relaaaaaax.

Baltimore Ravens

Just like the Bengals, the Ravens profit from the truth that their predominant division rival has additionally stumbled out of the gate. Not like Cincinnati, although, Baltimore appears to be heading within the flawed route. Dropping to the Chiefs by a toe in Week 1 isn’t any huge deal, however blowing a 10-point lead within the third quarter and falling to the Gardner Minshew–led Raiders in Week 2? That ought to trigger a bit extra alarm.

The most important trigger for concern is that the appropriate facet of this offensive line, significantly proper guard Daniel Faalele, is nonviable for a crew with Tremendous Bowl aspirations. After Chris Jones disrupted Baltimore’s offense within the season opener, Maxx Crosby wreaked havoc with twists and stunts on Sunday, focusing his consideration on the appropriate facet of the Ravens line. The fixed strain compelled Baltimore into the blandest model of its offensive playbook.

Baltimore needed to exchange a number of starters on the offensive line this offseason, and it’s nonetheless a piece in progress. Rookie Roger Rosengarten has been taking part in in a rotation with proper deal with Patrick Mekari, and Rosengarten appeared to deal with Crosby higher in his 18 snaps of labor and will have earned himself extra taking part in time. One other guard possibility, Ben Cleveland, stays on the bench. There are strikes the Ravens could make, they usually’d higher do one thing—or threat being stumped by any opponent with a high-end cross rusher.

One other challenge that’s come up has been the efficiency of kicker Justin Tucker. The all-time nice missed a 56-yarder on Sunday after lacking from 53 yards in Week 1. It’s notable, and even considerably dramatic, because it looks like we’re watching the start of the top for the GOAT. Nonetheless, I don’t suppose it’s an excessive amount of for Baltimore to beat if Tucker isn’t computerized on lengthy kicks anymore. He’s nonetheless correct from shorter distances—he made 31 of 32 kicks underneath 50 yards final season and is 5 for 5 to this point this season.

Panic meter: 3/10

It’s most likely superb? proper?

Tennessee Titans

Sure, the Titans are 0-2, however their protection has appeared stout by way of the primary two weeks. They’re tenth in anticipated factors added per play allowed, they usually’ve given up the fewest yards within the league. They led at halftime in each video games they’ve performed. They’ve received the Malik Willis–led Packers at residence subsequent (assuming Jordan Love nonetheless isn’t prepared), and now they’ll have some tape on how Inexperienced Bay is operating that offense.

However a message to Will Levis: What occurred to the Titans within the first two weeks can by no means occur once more.

In Week 1, it was throwing a pick-six on the finish of the sport, as an alternative of merely falling on the soccer. In Week 2, it was one other boneheaded resolution to lateral the ball underneath strain, once more leading to a turnover—and head coach Brian Callahan shouting, “What the fuck are you doing?” on the sidelines. The Titans genuinely could be 2-0 with out these two performs.

I don’t actually understand how Callahan can coach that out of Levis, however I do know the Titans aren’t going anyplace if Levis retains turning into Josh Allen’s Wario when he feels pressured.

Panic meter: 4/10

It’s really the panic that’s the issue.

Indianapolis Colts

It’s been an up-and-down begin for the Colts offense. Per week after second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson threw some dazzling deep balls within the opener in opposition to the Texans, the Packers (surprisingly) performed principally two-high security appears to be like, and Indy wasn’t in a position to reap the benefits of open appears to be like beneath.

An incapacity to make the layups is a gap in Richardson’s sport. He usually appears to be like rushed in his decision-making, and after throwing three picks on Sunday in Inexperienced Bay, he’s tied for probably the most within the NFL.

Nonetheless, he’s proven actual bodily expertise, and that ought to have Colts followers feeling hopeful. Head coach and play caller Shane Steichen can most likely assist him out greater than he has by way of these two weeks by relying extra on the run sport and permitting Richardson to make use of his personal legs extra usually than he has to this point.

An even bigger downside than Richardson’s rising pains is that the protection is already badly banged up. Final yr’s crew chief in sacks, Samson Ebukam, tore his Achilles throughout coaching camp. Beginning nook JuJu Brents went on injured reserve with a knee damage from Week 1. And each star defensive deal with DeForest Buckner and first-round edge rusher Laiatu Latu left the sport in opposition to the Packers with accidents, an ankle sprain for Buckner, who was carted off the sphere within the first quarter, and a hip damage for Latu.

Partly—and the Colts ought to hope largely—due to these absences, the Packers managed to actually run up the rating. Inexperienced Bay ran for 237 yards in opposition to Indianapolis in simply the primary half of the sport and managed to win 16-10 with Willis cat quarterback. Indy faces two comparatively restricted offenses in Chicago and Pittsburgh subsequent, and each of these video games are at residence—however it’s laborious to really feel assured after that Week 2 efficiency.

Panic meter: 5/10

Take some deep, calming breaths—and look ahead to the MRIs.

New York Giants

An 0-2 begin isn’t precisely surprising for this Giants crew, however there are lots of jobs on the road in New York. If this winds up being the ultimate season of Brian Daboll’s tenure as head coach, we might look again on the silliness of Week 2 as the actual starting of the top.

To recap: Daboll’s crew misplaced to Washington, a division rival, and in doing so, managed to grow to be the primary crew in NFL historical past to attain three or extra touchdowns, enable none, and lose in regulation.

The state of affairs at kicker was a full-blown clown present. Starter Graham Gano injured his groin late final week, however the teaching and medical staffs determined he was wholesome sufficient to kick Sunday and didn’t name up backup kicker Jude McAtamney to the game-day roster. Then, Gano pulled his hamstring on the opening kickoff. For the remainder of the sport, the Giants tried just one additional level, taken by punter Jamie Gillan, who missed it extensive proper.

The Giants play the Browns and Cowboys subsequent. The tank is all however on. Daniel Jones has a $23 million damage assure for 2025, and the questions on whether or not the Giants will bench him to keep away from triggering it could’t be far off. He has began eight video games since signing his four-year, $160 million contract and is 1-7.

Panic meter: 6/10

Simply. Shield. Malik Nabers.

Denver Broncos

By way of two weeks, the Broncos have mainly nullified any of the hype they constructed up within the preseason. That offseason gross sales pitch was based mostly on coach Sean Payton’s capacity to design an offense and rookie quarterback Bo Nix’s slot in Payton’s particular scheme. However to this point, the Denver offense appears to be bravely elevating a query: What if late-career Drew Brees weren’t correct with the ball?

To date, Nix has been working inside a painfully restricted system. He’s averaging simply 5.0 yards per try and has accomplished solely 5 passes of greater than 10 air yards. If the Broncos mascot, a horse named Thunder, wish to hang around and munch on some subject grass throughout video games, something greater than 15 yards past the road of scrimmage is out there.

Only a few NFL offenses will succeed whereas taking part in so conservatively, and the uncommon ones that do normally want pristine quarterback play (à la late-career Brees). Nix isn’t giving Denver that proper now.

In the meantime, Payton’s decision-making, like selecting to cross up an onside kick in opposition to the Steelers on Sunday, additionally appears to be like suspect.

It’s not as if the Broncos entered this season with large expectations, however this crew’s calling card is supposed to be Payton’s management and his capacity to work with quarterbacks. Denver’s long-term rebuild will depend on Payton’s success on each fronts, and it’s a giant deal that he appears to be delivering on neither proper now.

There’s one main space for optimism, although: the protection. Denver ranks eleventh in EPA per play by way of the primary two weeks, regardless of a tricky outing Sunday for star cornerback Pat Surtain II, which shouldn’t be a long-term concern.

The Broncos have additionally turned the ball over 5 occasions to this point this season, and if they’ll defend it higher whereas controlling video games defensively, they’ll put themselves in a greater place to win. However they’ll need to do it quick, and sure because the underdog, since they’ve highway video games in opposition to the 2-0 Buccaneers and 1-1 Jets up subsequent.

Panic meter: 7/10

Please establish your nearest exit.

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams won’t be this dangerous, however they’re this injured. Two weeks into the season, Los Angeles’s offensive depth chart is depleted. Within the opener, the Rams misplaced extensive receiver Puka Nacua, guard Steve Avila, and deal with Joe Noteboom—who was already filling in for Alaric Jackson whereas he serves a two-game suspension—to injured reserve, which can have them out for a minimum of the following month. And through Sunday’s 41-10 loss to Arizona, veteran extensive receiver Cooper Kupp joined the listing of Rams coping with illnesses when he harm his ankle on a crossing route within the second quarter.

I’ll inform you who doesn’t appear to be panicking: Sean McVay, who had his 36-year-old quarterback and finest remaining wholesome playmaker, operating again Kyren Williams, nonetheless on the sphere within the third quarter Sunday, when the Rams have been down by 4 scores.

I like McVay’s optimism, but when this offensive line can’t discover a technique to deal with the 49ers defensive entrance this Sunday to keep away from an 0-3 begin, this season could also be over earlier than it ever actually started.

Panic meter:8/10

Put Stafford in bubble wrap.

Jacksonville Jaguars

What’s most worrisome in Jacksonville is that areas that needs to be strengths proceed to appear like weaknesses. The leaders of this franchise are a heralded quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, and an achieved offensive-minded coach, Doug Pederson. And but, in a continuation of final season’s points, the offense seems disjointed and is very impotent within the purple zone. Jacksonville ranked twenty ninth in anticipated factors added (EPA) contained in the 20-yard line final season, and to this point, the Jags have transformed on simply three of seven journeys this season.

There are extra issues than that, nonetheless. There’s little taking place within the run sport, the offensive line is dangerous, and but they’re nonetheless asking Lawrence to air it out. Lawrence has the second-highest supposed air yards of any quarterback—a full 11.0 yards per throw, in keeping with Subsequent Gen Stats—however is finishing solely 51 p.c of them, 10.7 share factors beneath expectation. You need a quarterback of his caliber to push the ball downfield, however Jacksonville’s safety points and lack of receiver separation make {that a} harmful and ineffective technique.

On a elementary degree, that is alleged to be an offensive crew with a generational expertise at quarterback. Lawrence has now misplaced his final seven begins courting again to final season. Since he was drafted at no. 1 in 2021, the Jags have made the postseason one time and gained one playoff sport. Up subsequent are two powerful highway video games in opposition to the Payments and the Texans. The Jaguars must win one, if not each, of these video games in opposition to AFC contenders or their playoff hopes will likely be all however lifeless.

Panic meter: 9/10

Beginning to fear that it needs to be NeverBank Stadium. 🙁

Carolina Panthers

After two losses by a mixed 60 factors, and together with his offense accountable for only a single landing and solely 10 passing first downs, Bryce Younger was requested Sunday evening how he maintains confidence. In his reply, he invoked religion.

I don’t know what it says that that is how he was answered:

Good for first-year head coach Dave Canales for recognizing what completely wasn’t working and performing on it. Sounds easy sufficient, however it doesn’t at all times occur, particularly when excessive draft picks are concerned. The Panthers have a really lengthy technique to go, however a minimum of now there’s an opportunity they’ll be headed in the appropriate route.

Panic meter:10/10

Let there be Dalton.