The 2024 NFL season is well underway, but for nine teams, their Super Bowl dreams may already be in jeopardy as they find themselves winless after just two weeks of play. While it’s not impossible to turn things around, the odds are stacked against them.
“We’re 0-2,” said Ravens coach John Harbaugh. “We’re going to play a 17-game season, and we will be defined by the next 15 games.”
Unfortunately for Harbaugh and the other winless teams, history is not on their side. Since the playoff field expanded in 1990, only 11.5% of teams starting 0-2 have made it to the postseason. And in recent years, that number has only decreased. Since 2019, only two out of 41 teams have managed to recover from an 0-2 start.
Only three teams have ever won the Super Bowl after starting 0-2, including the 2007 New York Giants who famously upset the undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl 42. The odds are certainly daunting, but they also suggest that one of this year’s winless teams could defy them and make a run at the playoffs.
The Broncos, led by rookie quarterback Bo Nix, have struggled on offense, scoring just 22 points in two games. Their tough division and lack of playmakers make their path to the playoffs seem unlikely. On the other hand, the Houston Texans, despite a strong defense, have been let down by turnovers from quarterback Will Levis. However, with other AFC South teams also winless, there may still be hope for them.
As the season progresses, the pressure mounts for these struggling teams to turn things around. It remains to be seen if any of them can defy the odds and make a comeback.
