It may only be Week 2, but every team that is 0-1 faces a crucial test already. Going into the 2022 season, since 2007, 125 teams have started the season 0-2. 12 had gone on to make the playoffs. That is a less than 10% success rate! This goes to show that every single game in the NFL creates a significant sense of urgency, and unlike in other sports, every single game carries the utmost importance.
So which teams with the biggest playoff hopes are at the greatest risk of falling to 0-2? The Seahawks, Giants, Bengals, Chargers, and Chiefs are all playoff teams from last year at risk of falling to 0-2. The Steelers also had playoff hopes coming into the year, and they are home underdogs to their divison rival, the Cleveland Browns. However, it’s safe to say that the team under the most pressure this week is the New York Giants. They came into the year with justifiably high hopes, but proceeded to suffer a historically bad loss to the Dallas Cowboys last week in primetime. Now, they play a team that was projected to be one of the worst teams in the league in the Arizona Cardinals. However, the Cardinals nearly pulled off the upset on the road last week, and it’s their home opener this week. How will the Giants react off a short week and having to travel across the country? We will see just how good HC Brian Daboll is in these adverse conditions.
The NFL is king because every single week is so important. Already, a playoff team from last year is in deep trouble. After going 13-4 last year and running away with the NFC North, the Minnesota Vikings are already 0-2 this year. They’re fortunate to be in the weaker conference, but they have a lot of work to do to get back into the playoff chase. For other teams, the road back to contention will be just as difficult after Week 2.