Eight teams are 2-0 on the 2023 NFL regular season following Sunday's Week 2 games. Two more 1-0 teams (Saints, Browns) could join them to increase that to nine after Monday night's doubleheader, making it more than 31 percent of the league still undefeated.
On the flip side, eight teams have now started 0-2. Two more 0-1 teams (Panthers, Steelers) could be added there to make it a whopping 10 winless teams to represent a different near-third of the league.
How important is getting a big jump in the record or digging a significant early hole? Historical numbers don't lie every often.
Going back to the NFL merger in 1970, 256 of the 403 teams that started 2-0 made the playoffs (63.5 percent). All five teams that started 2-0 in 2022 made the playoffs, including the Chiefs, who became the 33rd 2-0 team in 57 tries to win the Super Bowl (57.8 percent) last season.
MORE: How many NFL teams have made the playoffs after 0-2 starts?
The stats are more staggering for stumbling 0-2 teams. Also since 1970, only 39 of 405 NFL teams who lost their first two games proceeded to make the playoffs (9.6 percent). That Bengals were the lone exception from five teams last season. Unfortunately, they are back at 0-2 to start this season.
Looking at this year's 2-0 and 0-2 teams, Sporting News plays NFL "contender or pretender" to break down how good or bad they all really are:
2-0 teams: Contenders or pretenders?
Philadelphia Eagles
Let's get the easy one out of the way. The reigning NFC champions haven't gotten their offense fully going with Jalen Hurts and their injury-hampered defense has shown some more holes, a result of losing both coordinators under Nick Sirianni. But they've ground through with tough wins over the Patriots and Vikings, showing why they are favorites to return to the Super Bowl.
The Eagles will be again embroiled in brutal NFC East battle with the Cowboys. The wins won't come as simply with a more difficult schedule as a marked, hunted, team. But as long as Hurts doesn't miss significant time, Philadelphia is on the fast track to a playoff return, either as a mighty repeat division winner or league's most dangerous wild card. Um yeah, they're contenders.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are right there with the Eagles, except their offense has been limited while their defense has dominated. Start spreading the news: Dallas has outscored New York, New York by a 70-10 count in two games and gets Arizona and New England next before a challenging road date at San Francisco. Expect the Cowboys to be 4-0 then and see whether they are stronger NFC championship contenders this season.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers had little problem vs. the Steelers and Rams on the road with their offense dictating terms and their defense shutting the door. They are the best team in both the NFC and entire NFL. No duh, they remain awesome Super Bowl 58 contenders.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins have started 2-0 again under Mike McDaniel, putting them in first place in the AFC East, a game up on both the 1-1 Jets and 1-1 Bills. Their offense is difficult to slow down, literally, with all their speed in wide open spaces. They also can run when needed and are finding more defensive pop until Jalen Ramsey can return to improve things on the back end. The offensive line is a weakness and Tua Tagovailoa's durability is a concern, but McDaniel has them back as more boom than bust contenders.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens looked a little messy with their new offense for Lamar Jackson in Week 1, but they had big margin for error when facing the Texans. Losing JK Dobbins hurts and now Odell Beckham Jr. might be on the shelf, but Baltimore is plenty deep at running back and wide receiver to not skip a beat with Gus Edwards, Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews and others. Jackson is settling in well with more restrained running.
The defense will keep having issues against the pass all over the field with questionable coverage, but it can compress with its pressure and also is a consistent run-stopping force as usual. But the Ravens now have a massive early AFC North road win at Cincinnati and favorable schedule outside of tricky division play. The Ravens are contenders, new favorites to win the loaded North assuming no major health issues.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are a feel-good run-heavy story early with dazzling rookie of the year front runner Bijan Robinson. Their dominant rushing attack from last season also has Tyler Allgeier rolling. But it's also clear that other than more running, they're trying to hide shaky second-year QB Desmond Ridder. That will catch up to them at some point and keep in mind both opening games were on the road.
Trips to Detroit and Jacksonville will likely set Atlanta up for .500 soon at 2-2, while Houston and Washington back at home can continue the roller coaster toward 8-9. The Falcons' defense is improved overall with a Saints-like scheme and personnel, but it's not close to dominant. Trusting Ridder and Arthur Smith is hard, so, yeah, we're going pretenders.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers outlasted the Vikings on the road and then dominated the Bears at home. There has been nothing fluky about Baker Mayfield's smart passing with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in tow, operating with solid protection and an underrated running game. Credit new offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who was helped Geno Smith's career resurrection last season, for getting Mayfield in the comfort zone of a balanced, diverse system mirroring the 2022 Seahawks.
But the lead of Todd Bowles' defense might be buried here. The Bucs racked up six sacks vs. Justin Fields. Big Vita Vea and the star linebackers have been outstanding inside and out. now with more help from Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson.Jamel Dean and Antoine Winfield Jr. remain secondary leaders and Ryan Neal has been a good free-agent addition. The Bucs look complete, and as the shocking, sudden new favorites in the NFC South, they're contenders.
Washington Commanders
The Commanders had some promise going into the season and now have wins over two 0-2 teams, Arizona and Denver. The first step to stop being a bad team is beating bad teams. But the Commanders also are in a brutal division where third place is best case behind the Eagles and Cowboys and there likely won't be room for three NFC East playoff teams again. Sam Howell is a nice story but the defense is fickle. The crash to .500 comes soon with the Bills and Eagles next, so yep, pretenders.
0-2 teams: Pretenders or contenders?
Cincinnati Bengals
Welcome to the Bungles, where it's not fun and games after spending a ton of money to lock up Joe Burrow between early injuries. The Bengals did start 0-2 in 2022, and rebounded to finish 12-2 to romp to another North title and matchup with the Chiefs in the AFC championship game. They cured that potential hangover fast, but it's not as automatic with a much tougher division this season.
The Bengals are 0-2 in North play, falling away to the Browns and at home to the Ravens. They have an interdivision interlude in the next six games, but that includes the Seahawks, 49ers and Bills on the back end. Now that home "gimme" in a Super Bowl 56 rematch with the "lowly" Rams in Week 3 doesn't look that way in desperate must-win mode. Cincy can be OK, right back at 3-2, by taking that game and the Titans and Cardinals on the road in Weeks 4 and 5.
Yes, the Bengals are contenders, but maybe more so now as a strong AFC wild-card team vs. winning a third consecutive North crown.
MORE: Joe Burrow tweaks calf in loss to Ravens
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are living up to the cliche and "Chargering" again under Brandon Staley. They couldn't finish one-possession thrillers late against the Dolphins and Titans. Justin Herbert and the new-look passing game under Kellen Moore looks fine, but the backfield badly needs a healthy Austin Ekeler, stat, and the talented defense takes turns struggling against the pass and wilting against the run.
That latter development is not good for the defensive-minded Staley with the likes of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack on the field for him and new coordinator Derrick Ansley. Staley is already on the hot seat for an underachieving team with an elite QB. Los Angeles also has zero home-field edge and hasn't gotten close to the meat of the schedule. With the Staley era nearing its end, they're pretenders.
Chicago Bears
The Bears may be slowly coming to the harsh realization that Justin Fields isn't the answer at franchise QB, just like Mitchell Trubisky, Rex Grossman, Cade McCown and other past first-round picks. Fields' continued poor play as a passer, now while contained more as a runner vs. the Packers and Buccaneers, puts Chicago in a tough spot after investing more to help him. GM Ryan Poles also has not seen an expected improved defense, after Green Bay and Tampa Bay did whatever they wanted to do.
Fields' dynamic dual threat and the potential for a big Year 3 leap provided optimism. That's quickly faded, now thinking the Bears won't be much better than the league-worst 3-14 team from 2022. Pour one out for these pretenders against the Chiefs in Kansas City in Week 3 in the ultimate Matt Nagy revenge game.
MORE: Inside the Vikings' turnover problems
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings' fourth-quarter magic has turned to dust in their pass-happy approach with Kevin O'Connell. Kirk Cousins has looked pretty good when not fumbling with immense weapons in Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson and rookie Jordan Addison. But Minnesota's offensive line is breaking down and has no running game without Dalvin Cook. The defense is OK at times, but it has key holes everywhere vs. run and pass. They were well inflated last season. With the expected regression below the man, they are pretenders.
New England Patriots
The Patriots have opened with consecutive home losses to the Eagles and Dolphins. That's extremely difficult out of the gate and under the circumstances, but the offense and defense have played as well as possible. The first two road games are coming up, but they face the Jets and Cowboys in those. The schedule is also backloaded with tough matchups in and outside the division. For a second straight year with Bill Belichick, the Patriots are pretenders.
Denver Broncos
Things were supposed to be different from the disaster of last season, right? Sean Payton has installed much better offensive vibes for Russell Wilson which came to fruition in Week 2, but what about the defense not looking so good, especially vs. the pass? The Broncos have lost two very winnable home games against the Raiders and Commanders. With the Dolphins next in Miami, 0-3 seems certain. Denver also plays Kansas City twice in October. Ouch. Yeah, just like 2022, the Broncos are pretenders right out of the gate.
MORE: The good and bad from Sean Payton-Russell Wilson connection so far
Houston Texans
The Texans have shown some positive signs so far with rookie QB C.J. Stroud and his diverse group of his receivers. But their offensive line woes minus Laremy Tunshil and others has caused the running game to evaporate. They also don't have a run defense and a pass defense that's growing through growing pains under DeMeco Ryans. As expect, they are pretenders.
Arizona Cardinals
Are the Cardinals tanking? That can't be proved, of course, but it's just very interesting how Arizona so casually blew a 28-7 lead to the Giants at home in Week 2 by suddenly not playing well in any aspect. The Cards stopped moving the ball with Josh Dobbs and made a dead New York offense come fully to life.
The Cowboys, 49ers and Bengals are next on the schedule, so the Cards are folding right into 0-5. The Cardinals are pretenders or anything except for the No. 1 and No. 2 overall draft picks, which they'll get if they and Texans would remain the 1-2 worst teams in the leagues.
