NFL Analysis
9/20/24
9 min read
Ranking Which 0-2 Team Has The Best Chance To Make The NFL Playoffs
Nine NFL teams have not won a game, and almost all of them will miss the playoffs. During the last three seasons (since the NFL moved to a 17-game schedule), 19 of the 21 teams that have started 0-2 have missed the playoffs.
That's what makes this league special. Every game matters so much, and even a few early losses in September can derail an entire season.
However, there is a pretty decent chance one of these teams will overcome its 0-2 start and make the playoffs. Which team has the best odds of getting back on the right track? We ranked them all from 9-1 with their odds to make the playoffs listed via FanDuel Sportsbook:
9. Carolina Panthers 
Odds To Make Playoffs: +1800
Implied Playoff Probability: 5.2%
While you can never say never in the NFL, it would be quite a shock to see the Carolina Panthers in the postseason. They have arguably the NFL's worst roster and are now turning to a 36-year-old Andy Dalton to give them competent quarterback play. While he could prove to be a massive upgrade over Bryce Young, he will still be among the eight-worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL.
Another reason a trip to the postseason is even more unlikely for Carolina is that their division looks stronger this season, with the Buccaneers and Saints off to a 2-0 start. It might be a while before the Panthers even get their first win, so it’s pretty surprising that their odds of making the playoffs are even 18:1.
8. New York Giants 
Odds To Make Playoffs: +1040
Implied Playoff Probability: 8.7%
The good news for the New York Giants is that the NFC East is wide open, with the Cowboys and Eagles losing in Week 2. However, it is quite a stretch to believe that the Giants are anywhere close to those two teams.
Malik Nabers looked fantastic against the Commanders, and Daniel Jones certainly played better, but the defense continues to be a major issue, and it doesn’t appear that it will get better anytime soon.
We’ve seen the Giants sneak into the playoffs previously under Brian Daboll and Jones, so it can’t be completely ruled out. Still, New York's schedule is about to get a lot harder, and it can’t afford a loss to the Browns this week if they want to have any hope of making the tournament this year.
7. Denver Broncos 
Odds To Make Playoffs: +880
Implied Playoff Probability: 8.7%
Nothing we have seen from the first two weeks indicates that the Denver Broncos will go on a run. Their offense is one of the league's worst and now they will be without RT Mike McGlinchey for the next several weeks due to an injury.
Denver’s defense has been impressive in the last two games, which is its only hope of making a run to the postseason. It doesn’t help that it plays in a competitive division, and there is no chance it can win the AFC West.
Nine wins could earn a spot in the playoffs in the AFC, but it’s tough to imagine the Broncos going 9-6 in the next 15 weeks, given how poorly Bo Nix has played to start the season. The Broncos are at least a year away from competing in the conference, and they need a major influx of talent on the offensive side of the ball.
6. Tennessee Titans 
Odds To Make Playoffs: +440
Implied Playoff Probability: 18.5%
You can make a strong case that the Tennessee Titans should be 2-0 after allowing the fewest amount of yards in the NFL through two games. And yet, they sit at 0-2 because their quarterback can’t stop making costly turnovers. Tennessee has talent on both sides of the ball, and its veteran roster has allowed it to hang in games despite Will Levis' struggles.
There are some positives for the Titans, and they might luck into playing backup quarterbacks (Packers, Dolphins) in back-to-back weeks. They also have a home game against the Colts in Week 6 after their Week 5 bye.
If the Titans can just take care of business against backup quarterbacks and win the games in the division that they are supposed to, it wouldn’t be a shock to see this team hanging around .500 by the time we get to Halloween. But it’s hard to buy into the Titans until Levis does a better job of holding onto the football.
5. Los Angeles Rams 
Odds To Make Playoffs: +410
Implied Playoff Probability: 19.6%
It’s hard to completely rule out a team with Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay, but this roster has been ravished by injuries, and they are expected to be without several star players for at least the next month.
Without Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, it's just hard to envision the offense putting up enough points to compete with playoff-level teams. What's more concerning is that their offensive line continues to struggle with injuries, which will put Stafford's health in jeopardy for the next several months.
The loss to the Cardinals in Week 2 was concerning because they weren’t competitive at all and the schedule doesn’t lighten up as they host the 49ers in Week 3. The Los Angeles Rams need to lean more on their defense to win. But with an 0-3 start likely coming out of Week 3, it’s hard to buy into this team at all right now.
4. Indianapolis Colts 
Odds To Make Playoffs: +265
Implied Playoff Probability: 27.4%
It shouldn’t be surprising that the Indianapolis Colts have struggled on offense early in the season as Anthony Richardson knocks off the rust. Unfortunately, they have lost two games that they probably should have won, and now they are fighting an uphill battle to make it to the playoffs. In typical Colts fashion, they have several massive injuries on the defensive side of the ball, including DeForest Buckner and JuJu Brents.
For the Colts to get their season back on track, they need to be more efficient on offense. There is no denying that the deep passes from Richardson are incredible to watch. But the Colts have not connected on the layup throws that help extend drives. Their run defense has also been an unmitigated disaster, and it surely won’t get better with Buckner on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
Indianapolis's schedule is not overly difficult, and most of its games should be close moving forward. Can it find a way to start winning these close games? We’ll see. But after nearly winning the division in 2023, anything less than a playoff appearance in 2024 would be highly disappointing.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars 
Odds To Make Playoffs: +265
Implied Playoff Probability: 27.4%
It feels like forever ago when the Jacksonville Jaguars were 8-3 and atop the standings in the AFC in 2023. But they have now lost their last seven games with Trevor Lawrence under center, and their offense remains widely inconsistent.
There are moments when it’ll click, and it looks fantastic. Brian Thomas Jr. looks like a future star, and Travis Etienne remains one of the NFL's most dynamic running backs. Still, their offensive output is inconsistent, and they have struggled to close out games.
Jacksonville has a talented roster and a coach with a winning pedigree. But something about this team has just felt off since midway through the 2023 season. Can it get back their mojo and contend for the AFC South title again? The Jaguars need a win in Buffalo in Week 3 to have any chance of saving their season.
2. Baltimore Ravens 
Odds To Make Playoffs: -130
Implied Playoff Probability: 56.5%
Not only are the Baltimore Ravens -130 to make the playoffs after an 0-2 start, but they are also still +200 to win the AFC North. They have the shortest odds to win the division, and that is with the Pittsburgh Steelers starting 2-0.
The tough part for Baltimore is that its upcoming schedule is brutal, with games against the Cowboys, Bengals, and Bengals next. If they can find a way to survive that stretch, the schedule does lighten up. Another reason to be optimistic is that Lamar Jackson has a career record of 20-3 against NFC opponents, so they can go 3-1, at worst, in the NFC East.
However, Baltimore has some serious concerns on both sides of the ball, and a Week 3 loss to the Cowboys in Dallas might just end its season. It’s fair to think that Baltimore will figure things out eventually, but this will be a tough uphill climb for the No. 1 seeded team in the AFC from just a year ago.
1. Cincinnati Bengals 
Odds To Make Playoffs: -134
Implied Playoff Probability: 57.2%
The Cincinnati Bengals went toe-to-toe with the Chiefs in Kansas City and should have won that game if not for a defensive pass interference call on fourth and 16. But they couldn't close that game and now sit at 0-2 again.
For whatever reason, the Bengals struggle early in the season but usually figure things out by the middle of October. The good news for Cincinnati is that Joe Burrow is much healthier than last year, and Tee Higgins should be back in Week 3 or by Week 4 at the latest.
They have a pretty soft upcoming schedule with games against the Commanders, Panthers, and Giants in the next month. Assuming they win those games, they should be over .500 in no time. However, they haven’t given themselves much wiggle room, and the middle part of their schedule is brutal.
As long as they beat the teams they are supposed to beat in the next month, it’s not hard to envision the Bengals challenging the Steelers and the Browns for first place in the AFC North.
