There are 10 NFL teams off to a 2-0 start, but not all look like legitimate contenders.
Since the playoff field expanded in 2020, 78.6% of teams that started 2-0 have reached the playoffs.
Several returning postseason teams have re-established their credentials, but a handful of 2-0 teams still carry major question marks.
The odds are certainly in the favor of those that remain perfect through the first fortnight of the regular season. Of the 42 teams that have gone 2-0 since 2020, when the league expanded the regular season to 17 games and its postseason field to 14 teams, 33 (or 78.6%) made it to the playoffs. Last year alone, seven of the nine teams that began on that pace ended up sealing a spot, with another – the Seattle Seahawks – missing out via a tiebreaker.
The one outlier from 2024? That would be the New Orleans Saints, who stunned many by scoring 91 points in their first two outings … and then went on to lose their next seven and fire coach Dennis Allen. The team’s nosedive still stands as a warning to take the schedule and other circumstances into account when evaluating any group that enjoys an early surge.
With that in mind, here is our ranking of the NFL’s 10 2-0 teams from most to least legitimate, with all of them separated into two tiers:
Legitimate contenders
1. Green Bay Packers
When the Packers were bumped out of the playoffs in the wild-card round last season, several players bemoaned an inability to measure up with the league’s elite groups, with the team flopping to 0-6 against opponents that finished four or more games above .500 in 2024. Consider that problem a thing of the past. Green Bay systematically dismantled both the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders in what has amounted to easily the most impressive start to the season by any team.
How much staying power does this group actually have? While a cooling down seems inevitable, there’s little reason to question what has gotten the team to this point. The addition of Micah Parsons has had a compounding effect throughout the defense, with the formerly languid pass rush ranking among the league’s elite with a 20% pressure rate, according to Pro Football Reference. Green Bay has taxed opponents with a ‘cheetah’ package that gets fellow pass rushers Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness on the field at the same time as Parsons, with the powerful Van Ness notching a sack in the opener while lined up inside. All those options for creating havoc up front have opened up an array of possibilities for defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley in coverage, and cornerback Keisean Nixon is showing early signs of a breakout season after recording five passes defensed in the win against Washington.
What has been most impressive about the unit, however, was its ability to take away critical elements from each of the high-powered attacks it has faced. Green Bay controlled the line of scrimmage and shut down the Lions’ formidable run game before eliminating the rushing threat posed by Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. With that, the Packers have allowed the fewest yards per play (3.7) of any team.
The offense might be more volatile given the ups and downs that come with a Jordan Love-led aerial attack. While the heavy volume of his vertical shots is likely unsustainable – Green Bay has an average depth of target of 13.49, nearly 2.5 yards higher than any team in 2024 – the passing game can still create problems with its calculated aggression. But while Tucker Kraft’s ascension to one of the top receiving threats at tight end has unlocked new capabilities for Love, Matthew Golden might have to be called on to provide even more early in his rookie season after Jayden Reed was sidelined with a broken collarbone. Green Bay leaned on the run game last year when Love went through rough patches, however, and Josh Jacobs should be up to the task again if needed.
Setbacks are sure to come for a roster that yet again ranks as the NFL’s youngest. But as of now, there’s probably no team that’s a more imposing matchup.
2. Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen has grown accustomed to strong September showings, with this year marking the fifth instance in his tenure that the team had opened 2-0. It wasn’t exactly easy getting here, however, with the journey entailing a wild comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens and a bloody nose for the quarterback in the subsequent blowout of the New York Jets.
The Bills are enjoying the fruits of not only the reigning MVP, but also one of the league’s best play callers in offensive coordinator Joe Brady. The shape-shifting attack can easily toggle between one that leans on Allen going into hero mode, as he did late against the Ravens, and a stampede led by its running backs, which materialized against the Jets. A well-rounded receiving corps also appears to have been elevated by Keon Coleman’s Year 2 development, which could pay substantial dividends for a group that was missing a gotta-have-it guy last season.
The defense, however, needs a few more performances like Sunday’s outing against Gang Green before it can move on from giving up 40 points and 8.6 yards per play to the Ravens. Safety play has been a particularly thorny issue, with neither Taylor Rapp nor Cole Bishop looking up to the task of eradicating big plays so far. But the defensive line and linebackers also faltered against Baltimore, and answers need to be unearthed quickly to avoid a repeat performance. And while Joey Bosa’s resurgence (one sack, six pressures, two forced fumbles against the Jets) has revved up the pass rush, can the unit continue to offer enough support for Ed Oliver and Greg Rousseau come January?
What sets Buffalo apart from others in this tier, however, is a truly enviable schedule. The rest of the AFC East doesn’t look like it will offer much resistance, and there are no tilts against teams that had winning records in 2024 until November. With that setup and the Kansas City Chiefs in a deep 0-2 hole, the Bills have a good opportunity to surge out to the front of the pack for home-field advantage in the AFC.
3. Philadelphia Eagles
Maybe relegating the defending champions to this spot won’t sit well with some, especially as the Eagles come off a triumphant Super Bowl rematch at Arrowhead Stadium. But no matter how one views the first steps of the team’s title defense, it’s clear that the first few strides have not been without some stumbles.
An offense that returned 10 starters ranks 30th in yards per play at 4.3, trailing the likes of the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers. Scrutiny has naturally landed on first-time offensive play caller Kevin Patullo, who has taken the ball-control approach to a perhaps untenable extreme for an attack that hasn’t yet managed to consistently break big plays. The offense has sorely missed those long jaunts by Saquon Barkley, who has been held under 100 yards in both contests, as well as A.J. Brown quick hits that become long gains.
‘The goal is to win the game no matter what that looks like,’ Brown told reporters after the win over the Chiefs. “The reason people may want to talk about it is they want to know if it’s substantial, and can you sustain it throughout the season? I think that’s a fair thing to talk about. But our job is to try to find a way to win.’
Brown’s assessment is entirely reasonable, as the Eagles have established a track record of being able to overcome having certain players or even entire facets of their offense get shut down. That doesn’t mean it’s any way for a leading contender to live, though. Give this group grace as it adapts to a new day under Patullo, but Philadelphia might not be able to carry on with this act much longer with three more 2024 playoff teams on the slate in the next three weeks.
4. Los Angeles Chargers
When the Bolts jumped out to a 2-0 start last season in Jim Harbaugh’s inaugural campaign in Los Angeles, many questioned whether the hard-nosed approach was truly viable. This time, however, there shouldn’t be much doubt about the Chargers’ credentials.
After leaning on a run-heavy approach from the outset in 2024, offensive coordinator Greg Roman has picked up where he left off last season by letting Justin Herbert set the tone by ripping defenses with deep play-action shots. Amid questions of how the aerial attack would reduce its reliance on Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston has emerged as a legitimate downfield weapon after shaking off the drop issues that dogged him throughout his first two pro seasons. And while the ground game has yet to meet the standard set by Roman’s past offenses, Los Angeles looks adept at both staying on schedule and capitalizing on any windows for long gains.
But the Chargers’ defining strength so far might very well be their defense. Coordinator Jesse Minter took the league’s stingiest group in points allowed and made it even more vexing. Los Angeles shut down the deep and intermediate passing games of both the Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders, with proficient vertical passer Geno Smith not completing an attempt more than 10 yards downfield while throwing three interceptions on Monday night. Linebacker Daiyan Henley has gone from a budding star to a fully blossomed one, and he’s surrounded by a collection of sure tacklers and reliable playmakers. The one question mark might be in a pass rush that could be without leading asset Khalil Mack for some time after the edge rusher injured his elbow Monday.
Having already bested the Chiefs, Harbaugh and the Chargers size up as a serious threat to bring an end to Kansas City’s nine-year reign over the AFC West. Regardless of whether not they achieve that feat, Los Angeles will be an extremely difficult matchup for any foe if Herber and the defense don’t waver.
5. Los Angeles Rams
Under Sean McVay, the Rams have been notoriously slow starters. But with few major questions beyond Matthew Stafford’s balky back, Los Angeles is now 2-0 for the first time since its 2021 Super Bowl campaign.
Don’t ticket the team for Santa Clara just yet, however. While the Rams have allowed the third-fewest yards per play, it’s difficult to separate what the defense did from the shortcomings of the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans, which both failed to properly support their young quarterbacks in their respective outings against Los Angeles. A suspect secondary also has been spread even thinner by the loss of cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who landed on injured reserve after suffering a broken clavicle Sunday.
Pairing Puka Nacua with Davante Adams has already paid off, with the duo combining for 242 of the Rams’ 439 yards from scrimmage against the Titans. But between the reliance on those two targets and the looming questions about Stafford’s ability to hold up over the course of the season, Los Angeles’ recalibrated offense might have trouble maintaining its current equilibrium for an entire campaign.
With a major chance to showcase its contender credentials on the road against the Eagles next week, the Rams currently belong behind both Philadelphia and Green Bay as the lead team in the NFC’s next tier of contenders. But given how McVay’s teams have grown down the stretch in past seasons, Los Angeles is on a promising trajectory.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs and standout slot Chris Godwin both sidelined for a stretch to start the season, Tampa Bay could be forgiven for not scoring abundant style points out of the gate. But while the bottom line for the Bucs is a 2-0 start for a fifth consecutive year – a run that no other team can match – the manner in which the team got to this point might create some discomfort. Todd Bowles’ group needed late fourth-quarter rallies against both the Atlanta Falcons and Texans to eke out wins on the road.
A return to full health could radically transform the team from one that tries to scrape by to one capable of racing past its opponents. The Buccaneers also lost stellar right tackle Luke Goedeke early in Monday’s contest, and the offensive line’s consistent reshuffling is not something that any attack could easily navigate. While rookie Emeka Egbuka has already cleared the high bar that Bucs brass set for him this summer, Baker Mayfield might be able to settle in more easily with Godwin at his disposal.
Still, with defensive tackle Calijah Kancey suffering a pectoral injury that will end his season, per reports, Tampa Bay’s depth might be tested throughout the year. With no guarantees on the health front, the Buccaneers know the team has to put things together in a hurry.
‘It’s good to see that we haven’t played even close to our best ball in all three phases, and we’re still finding ways to win on the road, and that’s really important,’ Mayfield said Monday. ‘To not lose sight of that, we’re finding ways to win, but we do need to get things fixed.’
Rendering a verdict now on the Buccaneers seems especially foolhardy. Given that Tampa Bay has suffered midseason downswings in the form of a four-game losing streak in each of the last two seasons, another turbulent ride could be ahead. Still, the four-time NFC South champions deserve to be placed in this tier given their resiliency, even though a breakthrough will be required to propel them past the divisional round for the first time since 2020.
More to prove
7. Indianapolis Colts
Most teams would be wise to avoid riding too high after a promising beginning to the season. The Colts, however, deserve to bask in this unique moment. A franchise that hadn’t won an opener since 2013 not only delivered the most dominant Week 1 performance with its rout of the Miami Dolphins, but Indianapolis also followed it up with perhaps an even more impressive comeback victory over the Denver Broncos.
Daniel Jones is driving the team’s success, as well as much of the confusion regarding what to make of Indianapolis. And while his outing against a decrepit Dolphins defense could be seen as a reflection of his opponent rather than him, his encore against a Broncos group that last season ranked first in expected points added per play isn’t so easy to dismiss. While being blitzed by Denver on a stunning 71.1% of his dropbacks, Jones managed to complete 16 of 25 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown whenever he faced five or more rushers, according to Next Gen Stats. That composure and the ability to leverage Jonathan Taylor’s performance in the ground game enabled Indianapolis to set a record with 10 consecutive scoring drives to open the season. Of course, the previous holder of the mark belonged to the infamous 2024 Saints, so buyer beware on runaway hype.
For all of the promising signs Indianapolis has displayed so far, however, the offense still largely relies on remaining on schedule. At some point, things will come unraveled, and Jones will have to conjure an answer. The Colts also can’t afford for coach Shane Steichen to revert to the late-game conservative approach he employed against Denver, which he on Monday acknowledged was a misstep. And if not for a leverage penalty against the Broncos on a missed 60-yard field goal by Spencer Shrader prior to the game-winner, Indianapolis wouldn’t be in this discussion at all.
At this point, however, Jones and the offense’s ascension can’t be written off as a mere mirage, even if somewhat of a regression seems likely at some point. For an organization that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2020 and long seemed mired in mediocrity, there’s good reason to ride this wave of excitement, regardless of how long the crest lasts.
8. San Francisco 49ers
Good luck getting a read on this team. In addition to facing a soft September schedule that obscures exactly what this group really amounts to, San Francisco has been waylaid by another rash of injuries, albeit a less catastrophic set than the one that derailed the 2024 season.
With Brock Purdy sidelined, the 49ers offense got what it needed from Mac Jones, who repeatedly worked the middle of the field to rack up 279 yards and three touchdowns in Sunday’s win over the Saints. The performance should give San Francisco some confidence if it has to continue on with its backup, which might be the case for a Week 3 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. But if the team can get Purdy, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk back in the coming weeks – and avoid any major additional hits to the offense – Shanahan’s attack could be in strong shape at some point in October.
The defense remains somewhat of a mystery box as well. Fred Warner continues to deliver game-tilting plays at an incredible pace, with his forced fumble against Alvin Kamara representing his latest heroic effort. A secondary counting on two rookies – third-round nickel Upton Stout and fifth-round strong safety Marques Sigle – could be victimized by savvy signal-callers, but a pass rush boosted by the arrivals of Mykel Williams and Bryce Huff finally appears to be equipping Nick Bosa with sufficient help.
San Francisco’s last three 2-0 starts under Shanahan resulted in two trips to the Super Bowl (2019, ’23) and another NFC championship game appearance (2021). The 49ers are a long way off from recapturing their status as one of the conference’s elite teams, but an exceedingly soft schedule could allow them to pile up wins and remain squarely in playoff contention.
9. Arizona Cardinals
The knock against the Cardinals is not merely the close calls against subpar competition in the Saints and Panthers, but rather than wholly uninspiring manner in which the team scraped out two wins. Even quarterback Kyler Murray acknowledged the importance of an improved finishing touch.
‘We could be 0-2, but we’re 2-0 with this issue,’ Murray said Sunday. ‘I don’t want to make it a thing, but at the same time, yeah, we got to be better. We got to finish games.’
Many of the Cardinals’ problems boil down to simple operational miscues that should be eminently solvable. But poise isn’t procured overnight, and Arizona still has the trappings of an error-prone group that will thin an already narrow margin of error for the franchise.
It’s difficult to draw too many definitive conclusions on the team at this point given the quality of competition. A defense that has upgraded personnel in several key spots looks promising, though top cornerbacks Garrett Williams, Max Melton and Will Johnson were all injured in the win over the Panthers. But with the current level of play not being enough for those inside the organization, it’s clear that there’s still considerable work to be done before Arizona can be seen as a playoff-caliber outfit.
10. Cincinnati Bengals
With Joe Burrow out until at least the final few weeks of the regular season, Cincinnati might offer the least clarity of any team on this list. What is certain is this: A team that placed a disproportionate burden on its passing attack now will have to go the majority of this campaign with a completely different – and less powerful – engine behind center.
There’s at least some evidence to support the notion that things won’t completely go off the rails with Jake Browning stepping in. When he last stepped in for Burrow in 2023, the veteran backup led Cincinnati on a 4-3 stretch and posted the league’s highest completion rate at 70.1%. Emphasizing quick hits to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins could be the key to keeping the offense rolling. Even that, though, might not be enough. In the seven games he started in 2023, Cincinnati averaged 23.4 points per game, which was still a good bit off pace from the 27.8 mark in 2024. That, of course, still wasn’t enough for the Bengals to overcome the defense’s deficiencies.
Maintaining a high level of efficiency over the course of nearly an entire season could prove exceedingly difficult, especially as teams take away anything underneath and force Browning into riskier throws. In Sunday’s win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Browning already showed a proclivity for being a little bit wild with his three interceptions. At the very least, he’ll need much more support from a run game that has averaged a league-worst 47 yards per game so far. A young defense can only do so much to coalesce quickly under new coordinator Al Golden, but the group might be heavily reliant on generating takeaways and other big plays to shield some of its persistent problem areas.
Few players in the league shouldered as heavy of a load as Burrow, so spreading out the responsibilities might be a non-starter. But if Browning can merely keep things afloat and let others do their job, the Bengals at least have a chance to remain in the postseason mix by handling the leaner stretches of their schedule. Given that dynamic, however, it’ll come as little surprise if this is the team that falters from here on out.
This story has been updated with
This post appeared first on USA TODAY
