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Fixing Each Winless NFL Team Ahead of Week 5
Entering Week 5, five winless NFL teams are looking for answers to save their 2026 campaign. Some of those clubs won't be able to right their season because of questionable coaching hires and mounting injuries.
At this point, teams at the bottom of the standings can either make significant changes to spur a turnaround or pivot toward roster plans beyond this season.ย
It's a tough task, but here are bullet-point action plans to fix the winless teams: the Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans.
With each blueprint, we address immediate issues, though a couple also include trades that can benefit the long-term outlook of a team's roster.
Houston Texans
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- Feature RB Woody Marks in short passing game
The Houston Texans need more production out of their running backs. Since David Montgomery's two-touchdown performance in the season opener, he hasn't moved the needle, averaging a career-low 2.7 yards per carry, with seven receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown.
After logging a double-digit number of touches in the Texans' first two games, Woody Marks has only touched the ball six times in each of the previous two outings. He's been inefficient on the ground since last season, which is why the Texans acquired Montgomery from the Detroit Lions, but the second-year pro should be more involved in the short passing game, where he excels as a playmaker in space.
In 2025, Marks caught 24 passes for 208 yards and three touchdowns. In three of four games this season, he has seen just one target. Houston can feature him in the short passing game as a substitute for an ineffective ground attack.
- Expand WR Jaylin Noel's role
Jaylin Noel averages a league-high 23.3 yards per catch. He's shown the ability to make explosive plays primarily out of the slot, though the second-year pro can also line up out wide.ย
Noel has seen only eight targets in a rotational role, but after racking up a career-high 85 receiving yards last week, his snap count should be on the rise as a complement to two-time Pro Bowler Nico Collins.
- Start Wyatt Teller at right guard
Wyatt Teller lost an offseason battle for the starting left guard spot and has filled in at right guard for Ed Ingram, who missed two games with an injury. When healthy, Ingram has struggled in pass protection, allowing 10 pressures in two games, per Pro Football Focus.
Teller has made most of his 103 career starts at right guard. He could be an upgrade over Ingram and improve the Texans' 30th-ranked ground attack.ย
Los Angeles Chargers
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- Fire OC Mike McDaniel, name Shane Day interim offensive play-caller
Yes, head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters that Mike McDaniel's job isn't in jeopardy following last week's loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Privately, he should reassess that coaching position.ย
Since the Los Angeles Chargers hired McDaniel, their offense has looked disjointed and hasn't shown much (if any) improvement through four weeks. Harbaugh shouldn't wait until the end of the season to re-evaluate McDaniel; he needs to dismiss him now and admit this football marriage isn't working.
Shane Day doesn't have pro play-calling experience, but he's worked with Justin Herbert as a quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. It would be hard for him to do a worse job than what McDaniel is doing now.
- Sign the best available offensive linemen
The Chargers are dealing with a slew of injuries across their offensive line. Right tackle Joe Alt has a neck injury that could sideline him. Left guard Kayode Awosika has missed the last two outings with a leg injury.ย
Regardless of how the season pans out, the Chargers must protect Herbert. They should try to reunite with guard Mekhi Becton and work out the top available offensive linemen who can patch up their injury-riddled group.
- Trade veterans for draft capital
At 0-4, in a tough division, with the 3-1 Las Vegas Raiders on a rapid rise, the Chargers are unlikely to climb back into the AFC West title race, especially if they lose to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
General manager Joe Hortiz should consider trading veterans on expiring deals who may not be around beyond this season. Players such as edge-rusher Khalil Mack, cornerback Donte Jackson and inside linebacker Daiyan Henley could fetch middle-round picks in next year's draft.
Miami Dolphins
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- Bench RT Austin Jackson for Caedan Wallace
The Miami Dolphins can improve their offensive efficiency with a few moves. First, they should make an immediate change at right tackle. According to Pro Football Focus, Austin Jackson has allowed 14 pressures and three sacks on 137 pass-blocking snaps.ย
Jackson's contract will expire at the end of the season. The Dolphins are unlikely to re-sign him because of his recent struggles. They should take a look at Caedan Wallace, whom they acquired from the New England Patriots this past offseason. He had a solid preseason showing at right tackle.
- Acquire wide receiver talent from the trade market
The Dolphins should focus on developing their young wide receiver unit, with rookies Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell and Kevin Coleman Jr. as part of the future at the position. Still, Miami's receiver group needs another veteran who can be a go-to target.
Keep in mind that Douglas has missed the last two games because of an ankle injury. The Dolphins should inquire about young wideouts on losing teams. They can make calls on Arizona Cardinals third-year pro Marvin Harrison Jr., Los Angeles Chargers fourth-year pro Quentin Johnston, and recent Houston Texans addition Kayshon Boutte.
- Use more two-tight-end sets
This is the new trend sweeping the NFL. Teams increasingly feature multiple tight ends in their offenses. Miami can follow suit by featuring Greg Dulcich in the passing game and expanding rookie third-rounder Will Kacmarek's role to bolster run-blocking schemes.
With more two-tight-end sets, Dulcich would have a better chance of playing up to the buzz he generated this past offseason, and Kacmarek could carve out a consistent role.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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- Fire OC Zac Robinson, tab Kevin Carberry as interim offensive play-caller
Somehow, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers watched the Atlanta Falcons' inconsistent offense under Zac Robinson for two seasons and decided to hire him as their play-caller. It's no surprise the Falcons offense is trending up while the Buccaneers struggle to move the ball.
Although Robinson has worked with quarterback Baker Mayfield in the past, his resume leaves much to be desired. Tampa Bay should relieve him of his duties and assign play-calling to Kevin Carberry.
With Carberry coordinating the run game and coaching the offensive line, the Buccaneers have rushed for 137-plus yards in two of their four games. They have a middling 17th-ranked ground attack, but it's notably better than their 28th-ranked passing offense.
- Feature RB Kenneth Gainwell in the passing game
The Buccaneers must help undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels with short pass plays while he fills in for Mayfield, who has a dislocated thumb. They can do that by designing quick strikes to Kenneth Gainwell out of the backfield.
Last season, with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Gainwell excelled in a receiving role, hauling in 73 passes for 486 yards and three touchdowns.
- Allow QB Jalon Daniels to use his legs
Daniels can be a dynamic signal-caller with his mobility. In six collegiate seasons at Kansas, he racked up 1,445 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground. In his pro debut last week, he ran for 55 yards on eight carries.
While settling into a rhythm inside the pocket, Daniels can also add another dimension to the Buccaneers' ground attack.
Tennessee Titans
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- Feature RBs Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears in struggling offense
The Tennessee Titans won't make a leap in the standings until they see more out of Cam Ward under center, but the best way to help him is to feature the run game. The Titans have trailed for most of the season so far, but they were competitive for a half against the New York Jets and in close games with the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants.
The Titans have had opportunities to feature Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears in the ground attack. Yet they rank 27th in rush attempts. On expiring contracts, Pollard and Spears will generate trade buzz, but they can be part of Tennessee's offensive identity if play-caller Brian Daboll can establish it.
- Sign G Mekhi Bectonย
Currently, the Titans are starting Atonio Mafi, whom they claimed off waivers before their season opener, at right guard. Starter Fernando Carmona is nursing an ankle injury, and his backup, Jackson Slater, is on injured reserve with a foot injury.
As a rookie fifth-rounder, Carmona had a decent showing through three games, but Becton, who played under head coach Robert Saleh with the New York Jets, can stabilize the interior of the offensive line and bolster the run game.
- Use tight ends in the passing game
While it's encouraging to see rookie first-round wide receiver Carnell Tate progress in a lead role, Daboll should design more plays for the tight ends to help improve the Titans' 28th-ranked passing offense.
Gunnar Helm and Daniel Bellinger have combined for 17 targets, and both are averaging fewer than seven yards per reception. Ward can look to them as safety blankets in the passing attack.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
