• Carolina Panthers: There have been enough flashes to suggest Bryce Young will get better the more he plays, and the defense is coming off a good effort against the Saints.
• Chicago Bears: It's fair to worry about Justin Fields (56.3) and his development. He has the second-lowest grade in the NFL on intermediate throws (29.9), the ninth-lowest grade on short throws (62.3) and the third-lowest grade on throws behind the line of scrimmage.
• Minnesota Vikings: A Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers could have been an outlier, and Week 2 is excusable when playing a juggernaut like the Eagles.
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Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
It’s not the end of the world when an NFL team goes winless after two weeks, but it can certainly feel that way. Not only does hope start to fade, but where that excitement once lived there is now dred. Optimism is replaced by the fear of what might be as the team struggles, unable to win for the rest of the year.
But we’re here to tell you why that won’t happen, so smile. Oh, and we’re also here to tell you why it might happen. So maybe check that smile a little.
Arizona Cardinals
Why They Won’t: The Cardinals came oh-so-close against the Giants in Week 2, so there is hope that they can turn a game of margins in their favor. Plus, they're keeping games close with Joshua Dobbs (60.1) at quarterback. You have to assume they’ll be better with Kyler Murray if and when he returns, even if that 2021 version is never to be seen again.
Why They Will: It feels risky to assume anything regarding Murray at this stage, so what if Arizona does have to start Dobbs all year? Arizona ranked 32nd in our offseason roster rankings. Has anything happened to change the opinion that they’re the worst team in the league?
Carolina Panthers
Why They Won’t: The Panthers have been competitive in two divisional games but are dealing with the strains of a now-injured rookie quarterback in Bryce Young (40.8). There have been enough flashes to suggest he’ll get better the more he plays, and the defense is coming off a good effort against the Saints.
Why They Will: As much as you consider that Young will improve over time, will his offensive line give him the chance? They struggled against New Orleans and made the Falcons look better than anyone expected. The interior is especially worrying, a large part of why the line has a 79.0 pass-blocking efficiency score, the fifth lowest in the league.
Cincinnati Bengals
Why They Won’t: Can a team with a decent offensive line, Ja'Marr Chase and Joe Burrow really go winless? It feels absurd even considering it.
Why They Will: What if that calf injury lingers? Burrow (57.2) was better against the Ravens in Week 2, but better only matters if you’re on the field. But seriously, it feels absurd trying to rationalize this.
Chicago Bears
Why They Won’t: They should have success running the ball, designed or on scrambles. That should open things up elsewhere. Should. As inconsistent as the Bears might look, they do have playmakers who can swing games in their favor.
Why They Will: You do worry about Justin Fields (56.3) and his development. He has the second-lowest grade in the NFL on intermediate throws (29.9), the ninth-lowest grade on short throws (62.3) and the third-lowest grade on throws behind the line of scrimmage. If he can’t get it together, it’s asking a lot of a defense that hasn’t exceeded low expectations through the first two games.
Lowest Passing Grades Through Week 2 | 2023
Denver Broncos
Why They Won’t: The Broncos can’t keep losing close games, right? The defense has talent at every level, and surely Sean Payton will get the best out of Russell Wilson (65.2).
Why They Will: Maybe Payton is getting the best out of Wilson and this is just the player he is now at 34 years old. Through two games, the Broncos have the fifth-lowest team grade. For all their talent, nothing stands out. And it’s not like they’ve faced a difficult stretch on their schedule.
Houston Texans
Why They Won’t: Suddenly, this team has playmakers at wide receivers and a quarterback who, if kept free of pressure, can make use of them. Nico Collins (89.0) has started the year on fire, and C.J. Stroud (60.7) is displaying tons of potential.
Why They Will: This is not a line that when healthy looks like it will keep its quarterback clean, and then you factor in all the injuries. That’s important, with Stroud dropping from an 80.0 grade when clean to a 31.1 mark when pressured. Houston's 38.1 team run-defense grade is atrocious, but they deserve some slack based on the opponents they’ve faced.
Los Angeles Chargers
Why They Won’t: Much like the Bengals, the Chargers are too good to stay winless. They may be the unluckiest team in the league. Eventually, talent will trump that and Justin Herbert (72.3) will get them in the win column. The offensive line looks decent at worst and useful at best.
Why They Will: You can understand losing to the Dolphins, but falling to the Titans is a concern. The Chargers were better on defense, but they still allowed Ryan Tannehill to complete pass after pass against them.
Minnesota Vikings
Why They Won’t: Nobody can cover Justin Jefferson (89.5). A Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers could have been an outlier, and Week 2 is excusable when playing a juggernaut like the Eagles. Good quarterbacks win games, and Kirk Cousins (77.2) is very much still a good quarterback.
Why They Will: When you know what someone is doing and still can’t stop them, that is a worry. How much of that in Week 2 was the Eagles' offensive line and how much was the Vikings' run defense remains to be seen. That’s one area where it’s never good to be sieve-like.
New England Patriots
Why They Won’t: The Patriots have played two good teams and made them really work for wins. Defensively, they look like a tough matchup for anybody, and you only have to look at what the Eagles did to the Vikings to see how impressive New England was in that regard.
Why They Will: This offensive line has to scare you. They’re not great in pass blocking (51.6), and they’re worse in run blocking (league-worst 39.1 grade). Some of that is injuries forcing backups to start, but some of it is simply a lack of talent to match up with better teams.
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