An 0-2 begin won’t utterly finish an NFL staff’s playoff possibilities, however it may be a deep gap to dig out of relying on the division it performs in and the way troublesome its remaining schedule is. So let’s check out some groups that misplaced their Week 1 recreation and might least afford an 0-2 begin.
Not solely do the Patriots must keep away from an 0-2 begin given the depth of the AFC and the very fact that they’re going to be in a season-long combat with the Buffalo Bills for the highest spot within the AFC East, but in addition as a result of they’re enjoying with out extensive receiver A.J. Brown for at the very least three extra weeks and face a very robust early-season schedule.
After enjoying Pittsburgh on Sunday, their subsequent two opponents are each on the street in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Payments. In the event that they drop Sunday’s recreation at house, that not solely means a 0-2 begin, nevertheless it places them right into a state of affairs the place they may need to beat two 2025 playoff groups, on the street, in back-to-back weeks to keep away from what may develop right into a 1-3 and even 0-4 begin.
Sunday is probably the most winnable of these video games on paper, they usually cannot miss that chance.
In addition they want to indicate that they’ll constantly beat high groups after getting each attainable scheduling break a 12 months in the past.
No staff within the NFL had a worse Week 1 loss than the Chargers, getting embarrassed at house in opposition to a Cardinals staff that’s presupposed to be one of many worst within the NFL this season.
It was one other instance of the Chargers being unable to escape their reputation as a perpetual disappointment.
The difficulty with beginning 0-2 for the Chargers is that they’re enjoying in one of many NFL’s finest divisions (the AFC West), whereas it could additionally imply dropping video games to 2 of the worst groups within the NFL. In the event that they cannot beat the Cardinals and Raiders, each at house in back-to-back weeks to open the season, then what would that imply for the remaining 15 video games on their schedule? Nothing promising, that’s for certain.
Similar to their cross-town rivals, that is all in regards to the power of the division and the competitors nonetheless forward. Particularly having already misplaced one recreation within the division.
The Rams entered the season as one of many high Tremendous Bowl contenders within the NFL, particularly after buying Myles Garrett and bringing Aaron Donald out of retirement.
However after a sloppy Week 1 loss, an injury to Garrett that’s going to sideline him for a couple of weeks, and a few uncertainty as to how a lot Donald nonetheless has within the tank, there is perhaps some cracks forming within the basis right here. It is a nice staff on paper, however a number of their key gamers are getting a bit of lengthy within the tooth.
Getting back from 0-2 may not be not possible for this roster, nevertheless it could possibly be a giant downside in a extremely aggressive NFC West.
