NFL Teams That Need to Win the Most in Week 2

If you are an NFL fan, you have either already heard these numbers this week or are about to.

Dating back to 1990 and the current playoff format of 12 teams, clubs that open 2-0 reach the playoffs 63.1 percent of the time.

Conversely, teams that dropped their first two games of the season have gone on to the postseason just 24 times in 205 instances, a mere 11.7 percent.

Sixteen teams were not so sweet in Week 1 this year. Now, each looks to rebound this Sunday or Monday to avoid a rough start. Here, we have selected the top 10 teams (in descending order) that need to even their record if they intend on having a successful season.

We made these choices based in part for their expectations as contenders as well as just how difficult it may be this week to avoid that 0-2 start. We also factored in players as well as coaches who may be under the most pressure to succeed this season.

In case you’re wondering, only three times in 49 years (1993 Dallas Cowboys, 2001 New England Patriots and 2007 New York Giants) has a team lost its first two games of the season and then gone on to win the Super Bowl.

10. New Orleans Saints

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Week 1 Result: Lost to Arizona Cardinals, 31-19

Week 2: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It’s been a rough stretch for a team that was becoming a staple in the NFL playoffs.

A year ago, the New Orleans Saints finished 7-9 for the second time in three seasons. Back in 2012, you could blame the fact that head coach Sean Payton had been suspended for the year.

That wasn’t the case this past season, when Drew Brees and Co. dropped five of their last eight games (all of those losses at home) following a 4-4 start.

Last week at Glendale, Arizona, the much-maligned New Orleans defense once again failed to do its share as the team allowed 427 total yards in a 31-19 setback to the Cardinals.

Payton and Brees have brought the franchise to new heights since they both arrived in the Crescent City in 2006. But the last three years have been shaky in one way or another. Even the season in which they reached the playoffs in 2013, the Saints faded down the stretch and allowed the Carolina Panthers to overtake them for the NFC South title.

Given the way this team plays on defense, even a visit from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is far from a guaranteed win.

9. Detroit Lions

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Week 1 Result: Lost to San Diego Chargers, 33-28

Week 2: at Minnesota Vikings

A year ago, the Detroit Lions finished with their most wins since 1991 and featured a defensive unit that gave up the second-fewest yards in the league and was No. 1 in the NFL versus the run.

Last week, the club’s new-look defense squandered a 21-3 second-quarter lead at San Diego, and the team was on its way to a 33-28 setback to the Chargers.

There were certainly some positives, including the play of rookie running back Ameer Abdullah. But that aforementioned defensive unit allowed 483 total yards to the Bolts. Even three takeaways by the Lions failed to help their cause.

Next up are the Minnesota Vikings, a team Detroit has beaten three times in the past two seasons. But that’s followed by a visit from the 2-0 Denver Broncos and then a trip to the Pacific Northwest to face the Seattle Seahawks.

The Lions had better find a way to continue their winning ways against the Purple Gang, or it’s going to be an intriguing few weeks.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers

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Week 1 Result: Lost to New England Patriots, 28-21

Week 2: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Was anyone really surprised what happened to the Pittsburgh Steelers on opening night at Foxborough?

The defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots handled Mike Tomlin’s club, 28-21, just over a week ago as quarterback Tom Brady took advantage of a green version of the black-and-gold defense.

That new defensive coordinator Keith Butler’s unit had its issues was hardly shocking. But the fact that the Steelers’ mistake-prone offense—sans suspended standouts running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Martavis Bryant—managed to roll up 464 yards by game’s end had to be somewhat encouraging.

But encouragement can only take you so far. And if you saw the San Francisco 49ers defense on Monday night against Minnesota, the Pittsburgh offensive line minus center Maurkice Pouncey will indeed face a test.

So will head coach Mike Tomlin’s patience if the Steelers drop their home opener on Sunday.

7. New York Giants

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Week 1 Result: Lost to Dallas Cowboys, 27-26

Week 2: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Forget the fact (if you can) that the New York Giants showed us exactly not how to kill the clock in last Sunday night’s loss at Dallas.

But let’s not bury the lead when it comes to the team in general. The Cowboys outgained Tom Coughlin’s team 436-289 in total yards. New York came up with three takeaways, including a pair of interceptions courtesy of Tony Romo, but still fell short on Sunday night because a non-existent pass rush totaled zero sacks by game’s end.

Now enter the Atlanta Falcons, who come off an impressive win over the Philadelphia Eagles thanks to a more physical approach courtesy of new head coach Dan Quinn.

Yes, the Cowboys were the only team in the NFC East to win in Week 1. And given the state of the four teams in the division, the title could be up for grabs. And unlike the failed effort on Sunday night, time may be running out for a head coach and a club that have missed the playoffs five of the previous six seasons.

6. Minnesota Vikings

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Week 1 Result: Lost to San Francisco 49ers, 20-3

Week 2: vs. Detroit Lions

It’s only one game and one loss, but there had to be collective groan coming from the Twin Cities on Monday night.

The supposedly improved Minnesota Vikings laid a prime-time egg against a team that was thought to be undermanned and on the ropes. Instead, the San Francisco 49ers racked up 230 yards rushing on Mike Zimmer’s team in a surprisingly easy 20-3 victory.

Now the Vikings come home to face a Lions team that is not only coming off a loss at San Diego but one that swept Minnesota a year ago.

Plenty of people felt that if there was one team with a losing record in 2014 that could make a big-time jump and reach the playoffs this season, it would be Minnesota. Of course, one loss doesn’t make a season, and the team plays at home this week. But the Vikings' performance on Monday night has some of the so-called experts scratching their heads quite a bit.

5. Houston Texans

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Week 1 Result: Lost to Kansas City Chiefs, 27-20

Week 2: at Carolina Panthers

More times than not, the Houston Texans have always been one of those teams whose name comes up when talk turns to playoff sleepers.

Unfortunately, someone hit the snooze button too many times last week against the wide-awake Kansas City Chiefs (who fell to the Denver Broncos on Thursday night), as Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer was miserable in a 27-20 setback.

Hence, Houston head coach Bill O’Brien had no problem changing quarterbacks this week. Ryan Mallett will get the start Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

“He’s a decisive player,” said O’Brien earlier this week, as recapped by Conor Orr of NFL.com. “Let it rip and go play quarterback.”

On Sunday with the Texans trailing 27-9, Mallett entered the game and led the team within seven points of tying the score. Now he makes just his third start in the NFL, and the Carolina defense certainly won’t be easy to solve.

More importantly, Houston will face each of its AFC South foes once in the following six weeks. Digging an early hole won’t help its cause when it comes to unseating the Indianapolis Colts this season. Then again, Chuck Pagano’s club is off to an ominous start as well.

4. Philadelphia Eagles

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Week 1 Result: Lost to Atlanta Falcons, 26-24

Week 2: vs. Dallas Cowboys

It was a case of too little, too late for the always intriguing Philadelphia Eagles.

And once again, Chip Kelly’s defense made it far too interesting…and not for the correct reasons.

In 2013, no team in the league allowed more passing yards per game than the Eagles. Last season, this team improved all the way to 31st in the NFL in the same category. We are still trying to figure out how a defensive unit can rack up 49 sacks and still give up 30 touchdown passes, as was the case with Kelly’s club in 2014.

The Eagles didn’t re-sign Bradley Fletcher and cut loose Cary Williams this offseason, their prized free-agent cornerback acquisitions from a few seasons ago. Enter former Seattle Seahawks defender Byron Maxwell, who hoped to bring a little moxie to the Philadelphia defense.

On Monday night at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones was more than happy to get to know Maxwell. Jones reeled in nine catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns, mostly at Maxwell’s expense.

“I didn’t play up to par,” said the 2015 free-agent pickup to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News. “My technique was bad on a couple of those big plays. Definitely could have been better…My eyes were bad, and all that…”

Hopefully, Maxwell’s sight is better now, and he sees that the Dallas Cowboys are coming to town this Sunday. Yes, a 0-2 start is certainly possible for the Eagles. And while every season is different, Philadelphia failed to make the playoffs despite a 10-6 finish in 2014.

3. Indianapolis Colts

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Week 1 Result: Lost to Buffalo Bills, 27-14

Week 2: vs. New York Jets

We are aware of the fact that the Indianapolis Colts not only opened the 2014 with a pair of losses but still managed to reach the AFC Championship Game.

That’s not something any team would like to make a habit of doing on a regular basis. It’s worth noting that of the 24 teams that have reached the playoffs since 1990 following a 0-2 start, no franchise managed the feat in consecutive seasons.

But it’s safe to say that one week after facing one of the most talented defenses in the league, Chuck Pagano’s squad could be looking at a similar task in the form of the visiting New York Jets.

And while the Colts have reached the playoffs in each of their three seasons under Pagano and general manager Ryan Grigson, another sluggish start could make a seat hotter these days (as explained by Greg Bedard of SI.com) for that duo.

Still, the task ahead this Monday night is the Jets, a team capable of pressuring Colts quarterback Andrew Luck into more miscues. Dating back to the start of 2014, the talented signal-caller has thrown 42 touchdown passes but coughed up the football 24 times in 17 regular-season outings.

If the Indianapolis defense fails to come up big against New York’s running game on Monday night, it could be another rough outing for a team that many have penciled in as the AFC representative in Super Bowl 50.

2. Baltimore Ravens

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Week 1 Result: Lost to Denver Broncos, 19-13

Week 2: at Oakland Raiders

Hats (or helmets) go off to the Baltimore Ravens defense last week in Denver as they harassed Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning into four sacks, held his team to 19 points and allowed a mere 219 yards of total offense.

Unfortunately for John Harbaugh and his talented club, they fared even worse when they had the football. The Ravens rang up a mere 173 yards of offense against a fierce Broncos defensive unit and, like Denver, failed to score an offensive touchdown.

Harbaugh’s squad is expected to get healthy on Sunday when it travels to Oakland to square off against the Raiders. But one thing we do know is that basically anything goes when the Ravens are away from home (at least in the regular season). Dating back to 2011 and including the postseason, Baltimore is 28-6 at home and a disappointing 17-21 on the road.

1. Seattle Seahawks

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Week 1 Result: Lost to St. Louis Rams, 34-31 (OT)

Week 2: at Green Bay Packers

After just one week of play, did anyone think that the only team in the NFC West that would not come away with the win would be the Seattle Seahawks?

While the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers were busy pummeling their opposition, Pete Carroll’s defending conference champions were in a tussle in St. Louis and came up short to the Rams in overtime, 34-31.

Seattle’s offensive line was a problem area during the preseason, and that issue reared its ugly head on Sunday against the Rams, who sacked quarterback Russell Wilson six times and also rose up to stop running back Marshawn Lynch on 4th-and-1 in overtime.

This Sunday night at Lambeau Field, the revenge-minded Green Bay Packers will be primed to avenge last season’s NFC title-game setback at Seattle. It will take a big effort from the defending NFC champions to come away with a road win here, and it’s safe to say that a loss here would put the Seahawks in a position that not many would have expected prior to September.

Advanced statistics compiled through author's own research unless otherwise noted.