The NFL season has already been brutal for many teams. You need to look no further than the New York Jets to see that extreme reality. Heading into the season with the most promise, the Jets were stripped of that just four snaps into the season. Several projected top teams have started out 1-3 and will need to turn things around fast. Historically, only 12 percent of teams since 2002 (11-for-89) have made the playoffs after starting with a 1-3 record.
Analysis of 1-3 Teams
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have two losses of a touchdown or less and one loss that was a complete blowout of 35 points. The team is struggling to get points on the board and when it does, it struggles to stop the other team from doing the same. In three of the four games this season, the team has scored less than 17 points.
New York Jets
The New York Jets are in the hands of backup quarterback Zach Wilson working in a scheme designed for Aaron Rodgers. Hiccups were bound to happen. Since the team secured a special teams touchdown for the win in Week 1, the Jets have lost three straight games, mostly recently a competitive loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Cincinnati Bengals
This is one of the most surprising on this list. The Cincinnati Bengals started the season 0-2 last year as well and went on to face the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game. However, this season is different. The offense looks stagnant. Joe Burrow is not getting the ball down the field, and with his perceived calf injury, he has become more susceptible to sacks.
Denver Broncos
There was a burning fire in the house of the Broncos last year after trading away their future for Russell Wilson. The team hoped that those issues would be solved by hiring star coach Sean Payton out of retirement. Well, in the last two weeks, the team has given up 70 points to the Dolphins and lost a 27-point lead to the Bears.
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings have been a one-dimensional offense through the first four games and it is costing them. Teams are backing off of the line of scrimmage to guard wide receivers Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson and running back Alexander Mattison is struggling to get things going. With the addition of Cam Akers, this ground game should improve going forward this season.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals have been in full tank mode this season. With Kyler Murray on the PUP, the team is starting Joshua Dobbs, and has virtually no offensive or defensive weapons. USC quarterback Caleb Williams is on the horizon for Arizona.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders were not expected to have a great season without Derek Carr at the helm. However, not many expected this start. The team’s only win came by one point in Week 1 against the Broncos. Since then, the team has been beaten by 28 by the Bills, five by the Steelers, and seven by the Chargers.
Top 2 with the Best Chance
The top two teams with the best chance of turning the ship around are the teams with the most potent offenses. Those two teams are the Cincinnati Bengals and the Minnesota Vikings.
Joe Burrow is hurt. The team can either continue to be mediocre, starting the immobile quarterback, or it can put him on IR for four weeks, let him heal, and trust that Jake Browning can get the job done against two bad teams and two great teams.
The Minnesota Vikings just need to focus on finishing. As stated above, the team has lost by less than a touchdown in its only three losses of the season. This team has no problem getting the ball in the endzone, it just needs to focus on careless, late-game turnovers and clock management to secure wins.
Watch the NFL on Fubo!
Regional restrictions may apply.
