Ascher Marks

The Texans, Chargers, and Buccaneers all came in with lofty expectations, but now find themselves behind the eight ball.

There are eight teams still in search of their first win after two weeks. This isn’t a surprise for most of them. The Dolphins were planning to tank, the Titans had questions coming into the season, and the Colts, Falcons and Commanders have either dealt with injuries at quarterback or have theirs coming off injury.

Tampa, Houston and the Chargers all entered the season favored to make the playoffs, yet find themselves among the bottom of the league. Roughly 12% of teams make the playoffs after starting 0-2 since 1990, so how worried should those three be?

Los Angeles Chargers

There is no other way to say it; this is bad. LA went from being excited about a healthy offensive line being added to an 11-win team to losing to a Cardinals team whose win total was 3.5. They followed that up with a loss to the Raiders, making them the first team since the Racine Tornadoes in 1926 to lose two home games to teams that finished under .200 the prior season.

Sometimes teams start slow, but there is still something shown that maintains hope. That isn’t this Chargers team. Justin Herbert looks like he has massively regressed, getting outplayed by journeyman Jacoby Brissett and 38-year-old Kirk Cousins.

The offense that was supposed to take off with new OC Mike McDaniels is currently the fourth-worst scoring unit in the league. The defense looks lost with the departure of Jesse Minter. The worst part, though, they’ve looked soft. Jim Harbaugh’s teams have not always been the most skilled, but they’ve always been the more physical team. This team is currently playing like a squad Harbaugh would dominate.

The Chargers and their fans should be terrified. These first two games were supposed to be the starters’ preseason. Of their next seven games, six made the playoffs last year, and the other is the Ravens. It looks like there may be no chance to bounce back.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa is in a unique situation. On one hand, the NFC South doesn’t have a standout team that feels like it’ll take over the division. On the other hand, the Bucs lost seven of their last nine games last season to fumble away the division. In other words, the postseason is still very much within their reach, but they desperately need to generate some positivity.

They looked like they were starting to gain some momentum right before the season started with both Vita Vea and Baker Mayfield getting contracts done, but their first two games ruined those vibes.

While the situation isn’t as bad as the Chargers’, there should still be substantial concern in Tampa. Rumors about Todd Bowles’ job security made the rounds last season. The roster is mostly older players on movable contracts. It could quickly turn into a rebuild with the Bucs.

Houston Texans

The Texans are no strangers to slow starts. This is the third time in the last four years that Houston has started 0-2, yet has made the playoffs three years in a row. They lost their first three games last year and finished a division-winning 12-5.

Should there be some concern about the defense giving up more points than normal? A little, but they’ve played games against two dominant offenses. They’ve had Josh Allen’s number in the past, but elite quarterbacks will find a way at least sometimes, and the Bengals started their scoring with a catch by Ja’Marr Chase that maybe only he can make.

The offensive line needs to be better, but it will get there. They have three new starters again this year, and limited reps in training camp keep those units from meshing right at the beginning of the year.

Panic should be at a minimum for Houston. Their division doesn’t have a runaway favorite, and they’ve shown the ability to bounce back from slow starts.