0-2 is nearly end of playoff chances
Take a look at the NFL standings coming out of the second Sunday of the 2019 season, at the teams that have started 0-2, and two themes emerge: There are teams that were expected to be in some kind of rebuilding mode (Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals), and teams that were expected to contend for playoff spots but are facing challenging circumstances as a result of injuries to their quarterbacks (Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars).
Since 1990, just more than 15 percent of teams that start 0-2 end up making the playoffs. Which of this year’s 0-2 teams have the best chance of rebounding to make the postseason?
At this point, it’s hard to say, but it’s fair to assume that Ben Roethlisberger’s season-ending surgery on his elbow will keep the Steelers out of the mix. Backup Mason Rudolph did some good things in a hard-fought 2826 home loss to the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, but he’s not Big Ben. Not only that, but the team was already struggling to adjust to life on offense without stars Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. In the six quarters he played, Roethlisberger had only been able to lead Pittsburgh to 13 points. They haven’t had a No. 2 wide receiver step up behind JuJu Smith-Schuster, with Donte Moncrief dropping five passes through two games. Running back James Conner was banged up in the Seahawks loss.
The Steelers go on the road to play the 2-0 San Francisco 49ers next week, followed by a home contest against the Bengals, a home game against the division-leading Baltimore Ravens and a road game at the Los Angeles Chargers. You never want to rule a team out too early, but that’s a tough stretch to navigate with a backup quarterback.
“We understand the position we are in,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after the game, before the extent of Roethlisberger’s injury was known. “We understand the negativity that comes with it. We will get singularly focused and get better for our next opportunity. . . . But today, it was painful, as it should be.”
Like Pittsburgh, the Jaguars had an opportunity to do some things in the wide-open AFC this season, and while rookie Gardner Minshew nearly led an upset over the Houston Texans Sunday, they’re at risk of having a lost season without injury starter Nick Foles. They have a quick turnaround this week with a home Thursday night game against the Tennessee Titans.
As for the Panthers, Cam Newton simply doesn’t look right. He’s had two shoulder surgeries in the past couple of years, and during the end of last season, he couldn’t throw well downfield. He worked on his throwing mechanics during the offseason but in the first two games, he appears limited, whether it’s the shoulder or a lingering leg injury.
Newton has lost his last eight starts. His physical playing style may have finally caught up to him. Carolina is on the road the next two weeks against the Arizona Cardinals and the Texans, making next week something of a must-win if the Panthers are to get back on track in a competitive NFC South. Of all the teams starting 0-2, they might have the best shot at making a run at the postseason, but they’ll need to get things fixed quickly - and most of that depends on Newton returning to his early-career form.
- More Week 2 takeaways
- This season could be defined by its backup quarterbacks. The most significant among them might be Teddy Bridgewater, who will fill in for the New Orleans Saints for as long as Drew Brees is out. It was reported Monday that could be six weeks, as he it is likely he’ll require thumb surgery.
Brees stayed in Los Angeles Sunday and Monday to have a doctor to check on his injured right thumb, which he hit against Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald. It’s not out of the question for him to be sidelined until November. That could kill the Saints’ Super Bowl chances, and an upcoming two-game stretch at Seattle and at home against the Dallas Cowboys doesn’t make things any easier.
- Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard showed he understands the value of a good backup quarterback. After Andrew Luck retired, he gave Jacoby Brissett a twoyear, $30 million extension and signed Brian Hoyer to a $4 million a year contract. Brissett, who usually does a good job of protecting the ball, did enough good things Sunday to beat the Tennessee Titans, 19-17.
- This was a telling comment from New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins: “I can’t cover nobody for 10 seconds.” That was the predictable problem for the Giants when they traded edge rusher Olivier Vernon to the Cleveland Browns this offseason. They have no pass rush, and they’re thin at wide receiver after also shipping Odell Beckham Jr. to Cleveland. This could be a rough season for New York.
- With seven touchdown passes in two games, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes sure seems as though he will buck the trend of passers regressing following a 50-touchdown season. I expected Mahomes would throw somewhere in the 30s this season, but he appears poised to at least throw into the 40s.