The shared DNA of the NFL’s three remaining winless groups is easy: All of them anticipated a lot, far more. All three from the AFC, it’s affordable to imagine that each one had at the least an opportunity to assume they might win their respective divisions. Now their seasons are in tatters.
An 0-3 begin doesn’t imply every part is over, however it does imply needing to have a look at the remaining schedule, discover which video games will be wins, and hope every part goes proper from right here on out to be able to discover a path to the playoffs. Right this moment we take a look at which groups ought to truly be panicking about their 0-3 begin, and who can nonetheless maintain out some hope for the season.
3. Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals being ranked third on this record doesn’t imply it isn’t time to fret in Ohio. There are clearly causes to be involved proper now in case you are a Bengals fan. You simply noticed a rookie quarterback in Jayden Daniels carve up your protection on Monday Evening Soccer, and when your offense goes out and scores 32 factors, together with scoring on each possession save one — a possession that ended with a missed discipline objective — you have got some issues to kind out.
Nonetheless, a saving grace for the Bengals will be discovered. Regardless of their 0-3 begin they’ve each single Divisional sport remaining on their schedule, to allow them to make up floor within the AFC North in a rush. Ja’Marr Chase is getting on top of things after holding-in for coaching camp, Tee Higgins made his 2024 debut Monday evening after working again from a hamstring harm, and they’re discovering manufacturing within the operating sport between Zack Moss and Chase Brown.
The opposite saving grace for Cincinnati, at the least in terms of a bit like this one?
The opposite two groups are in deep trouble.
2. Tennessee Titans
The largest factor with the Titans is that they don’t do something nicely. There’s nothing you may hold your hat on and say “because of this it’s essential worry the Titans.” They’re twenty eighth within the NFL in factors scored, twenty fourth in factors allowed. They don’t move nicely, they don’t run nicely — and all they’ll do is hope they run into somebody worse on the schedule.
When it comes to panicking for 2024 the Titans are proper up there. This is kind of a lifeless season for them, which was partially anticipated in a rebuilding season with Brian Callahan. The large challenge is that Will Levis is enjoying dangerous soccer, and there hasn’t been the type of progress Titans followers wished to see in 12 months two.
If there’s any silver lining right here it’s that the Titans have a comfortable schedule arising. Plenty of the video games arising are in opposition to 1-2 or different 0-3 groups, offering alternatives to enhance. The large challenge is that because it stands the Titans really feel like a corporation essentially missing expertise, and that may’t be fastened in the midst of a season.
Nonetheless, it might be worse. They might be …
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
As a Jaguars fan, I needed to sit by way of City Meyer forgetting who gamers have been and receivers operating into one another. Titans gamers laughed and pointed when LaViska Shenault and Laquon Treadwell (WR1 Laquon Treadwell, by the best way) bumped into one another in a sport in opposition to the Titans that received Meyer fired.
This was, undoubtedly, the worst loss the Jaguars have had for the reason that Gus Bradley period. Down 30 factors at halftime, no semblance of an offense and a protection that lastly broke after holding this staff collectively through foolish string and masking tape. This staff has no identification on offense, the primary main knock in opposition to head coach Doug Pederson and firm. The subsequent one is that everybody on offense has gotten worse. The franchise QB (who received paid some huge cash within the offseason) appears to be like like he hates everybody and every part, the offensive line that’s been dangerous for years hasn’t grown or gotten higher. Above all that, there’s no depth, so when CB Tyson Campbell and S Darnell Savage miss a sport, that’s what the protection appears to be like like.
This staff has no hope, no silver lining and isn’t any enjoyable to look at. They’re simply miserable, ready for the season to be over to allow them to hearth this head coach and make one other half measure.
I would like a drink, and I don’t even drink.
