Ranking the 0-1 NFL Teams By Chances of Making the Playoffs
By Bobby Burack
15 fanbases are feeling down on themselves after a week 1 lost, but not all should be. Here is a ranking of the 15 0-1 teams by chances of making the playoffs this season:
15. Buffalo Bills
The Bills are not making the playoffs this season. Their offense is bad, they do not have playmakers and have less talent than both the Lions and Browns did when they went 0-16. The positive, however, is they will be starting Josh Allen in week 2 which could mean Nathan Peterman, who is the worst week 1 starting quarterback ever, could not be ruining their season even worse.
14. Arizona Cardinals
It is hard to believe the Redskins are going to be anything more than an average team this season and they just put it on the Cardinals. It is not just a bad first week, either. Coming into the year it was expected that Arizona would be a mess. Teams that start of 0-3 have made the playoffs less 3 percent of the time and the Rams and Bears are going to make that their reality. It will be interesting to see how long the Cardinals hold off going to Josh Rosen if it happens at all this season.
13. Oakland Raiders
The Raiders are a dumpster fire. They just traded their best player, play in an embarrassing stadium, are leaving the city they play for, have an out of touch coach, and looked really bad week 1. The Raiders do not have the talent to beat most teams and it has begun to appear they don’t have the quarterback to beat most teams either.
12. Detroit Lions
Coming into the year, the Lions did not look like they had a defense that could lead them back to playoffs. In week 1, they did not look like they had anything that could lead them back to the playoffs. It is going to be a trial for the Lions to avoid starting 0-2 against the 49ers, however, that pales in comparison to what it will take to even break .500. The Lions have to face Aaron Rodgers twice, a loaded Vikings team, the Patriots, the most talented team in the NFL the Rams, and the now a hellacious Bears defense. On top of that, they probably are not good enough to go 2-2 against Carolina, Miami, Dallas, and Seattle.
Is Matt Patricia any good?
11. Seattle Seahawks
Seattle’s dynasty years are long gone. The days of missing the playoffs should be expected to continue. Their offensive line ruins any chance of Russell Wilson making an MVP case that he clearly has the talent to do. The Seahawks’ playoff hopes will be all but over at the end of November with a month that features meetings with the Rams, Packers, Chargers, and Panthers. The Vikings and Chiefs will ensure their December is also not delightful.
10. Chicago Bears
The Bears do have a slim, slim shot to sneak into the last wild card spot if everything goes right. With Khalil Mack the Bears were the surprise team of week 1 … and he was on a snap count! What having Mack and that defense does is gives them a puncher’s chance weekly. Mitch Trubisky looked much improved but still not a quarterback ready to win big games. Chicago’s schedule is a major concern. If one three-game winning streak is going to happen, I don’t see where.
9. Tennessee Titans
It was a brutal start of the Titans. Luckily, Marcus Mariota dodged a major injury. Tennessee made the playoffs last season due to both the Texans and Colts losing their quarterbacks for the season. Tennessee gets the edge over Chicago and Seattle because they have the luxury of playing in a weak conference and an even weaker division. If the Jaguars fall apart and the Colts and Texans cannot fix their issues, the Titans have a chance to once again undeservingly make the playoffs.
8. Dallas Cowboys
Barring injury or Caron Wentz’ return massively being delayed, the Eagles are winning the NFC East. That means the Cowboys will have to fight for a wild card spot, with one spot by all expectations going to either the Packers or Vikings. Dallas is a team with very little upside. They do not have the receivers that can break things open, the offensive line is not as overpowering as it once was, and Dak Prescott has been nothing more than okay over the past 12 months. This is an 8-8 team talent-wise that will need erosion from several NFL teams to return to the playoffs.
7. Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck is back and looked like Andrew Luck. The Colts are back and looked like the Colts. They have not given Luck anything to work with for years, but they have slightly improved the team in the trenches. Luck has made the playoffs with less and depending on Jacksonville, the AFC South could be up for grabs. But this is not a playoff roster and the Colts should not be expected to be participating come January.
6. New York Giants
The Giants, like the Cowboys, are fighting for a wild card spot. Unlike their divisional foe, they have upside. Saquon Barkley is a stud and will have a profound impact on the Giants’ season. The Giant concern is at the quarterback position. Eli Manning is a liability at this point. The good news for the Giants is that they have a weak schedule. Jacksonville is one of the three best teams they face this season and they almost beat the Jags last week. Don’t rule out week 17 vs. Dallas deciding Big Blue’s season.
5. Houston Texans
Unlike the Colts, the Texans do have a playoff roster but may not have a playoff quarterback this season. Deshaun Watson did not play well coming off of injury and expecting him to look like last season until week 8 is a stretch. There should also be questions surrounding Bill O'Brien as the long-term answer at head coach. The Texans come in at six due to a lackluster AFC. With their front seven and the possibility Watson can return to his rookie season’s form at some point, the Texans are capable of making the playoffs.
4. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers could have beaten the Vikings if it was not for bad turnovers and penalties. They were right there until the end. Their playoff hopes are going to depend mostly on Jimmy Garoppolo and if his receivers can give him anything. The NFC West is the Rams’ division to lose but the Seahawks and Cardinals make things much easier for the 49ers. San Francisco’s last nine games are against the Cardinals, Raiders, Giants, Buccaneers, Seahawks (twice), Broncos, Bears, and Rams. Translation: finishing 8-1/7-2 is well in reach if they can hold steady early.
3. New Orleans Saints
Well, the Saints defense looked awful in week 1. If that does not get fixed next week, they are not making the playoffs. If they can fix it, and they should at least get it back to being competent, the Saints are a playoff team. They have one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL that is far from finished. What prevents the Saints from ranking higher is they are staring at a 10-6-type season. They have to travel to Minnesota then have the Rams, Eagles, Falcons at home in three of the next four weeks. Of course, they still have to travel to Atlanta and face Carolina’s ferocious defense twice in three weeks with Pittsburgh breaking it up. The Saints can still both with the division or get a wildcard but they must avoid upsets like what just took place against Tampa Bay.
2. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chiefs should be the favorites to win the AFC West after last week’s victory, but the Chargers will be right there. No, luck is not their thing. What is there thing is talent. This is a really good team with a really good quarterback. They may not have a ton of A-players but they are filled with B-players. The schedule is manageable and this is a team that could get hot late, secure a playoff berth with serious momentum.
1. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are not good in the red zone — that is about it. This is the best offense in the NFL led by one of the better quarterbacks throwing to a top two wide receiver. Unlike every other team that lost in week 1, the Falcons still project to be the best team in their division, though they will now have to overcome key defensive injuries. They cannot afford to lose to the Panthers this week and after that expect them to start racking up several wins. Other than the two games against the Saints and the Packers, Atlanta will have the edge at quarterback for the rest of the season. It is hard to find five more losses on this schedule.