The adage is to not get too far forward of your self, proper? And whereas that is largely true, there’s a good quantity that we will collect from groups via the 2025 NFL season’s first two weeks. Does it imply that we will crown a Tremendous Bowl champion or an MVP? After all not. Nonetheless, what we have seen unfold via two video games does give us a way for a way the remainder of the 12 months will unfold, significantly on the subject of golf equipment which have jumped out to a 2-0 report and what which means for his or her playoff fortunes.
Since 1990, groups that start the season with a 2-0 report make the payoffs 64.3% of the time. These are fairly good odds, however they don’t seem to be 100%. So, we’re tasked with combing via the ten undefeated groups via the season’s preliminary two weeks and rating them from impostors to true contenders.
Jake Browning is the Bengals’ QB1 within the wake of Joe Burrow’s turf toe harm, which is slated to sideline Burrow for not less than three months. Browning did go 4-3 as Cincinnati’s starter in 2023 and lifted it to its 31-27 win over the Jaguars in Week 2, however this workforce’s ceiling has cratered. The Bengals have deficiencies alongside the offensive line and on protection, however Burrow masked all of that. Of us continued to view the workforce as a playoff menace as a result of they’d an elite participant at his place underneath middle. With out Burrow, these weaknesses are prone to be delivered to the forefront, which demotes Cincinnati out of any significant playoff dialog.
Who noticed the 2-0 Indianapolis Colts coming?! The Colts’ choice handy the offense over to Daniel Jones has confirmed to be a masterful stroke by coach Shane Steichen, as the previous Giants quarterback has lit it up via two weeks. The Indianapolis offense has been dialed in so far and is but to punt, scoring on 83% of its drives (the very best price by any workforce via two video games since not less than 2000). So, what’s the issue? Why are they so low? I nonetheless need to see extra from Jones. As CBS Sports activities fantasy soccer analyst Jacob Gibbs just lately famous, Jones had a 97% first-read goal price in Week 2 towards Denver. That is an enormous quantity. What occurs when defenses get a bit of wiser to that and make Jones undergo his development a bit extra? How a lot of a regression (if any) will we see? As thrilling and shocking as Indy has been via two video games, I am continuing cautiously right here.
Some NFL consultants this offseason thought of Arizona as a dark-horse candidate win the NFC West. I used to be on the extra skeptical aspect of that and stay so regardless of the Cardinals leaping out to a 2-0 report. They narrowly escaped a New Orleans Saints workforce in Week 1 that many imagine will end with the NFL’s worst report. In Week 2, Arizona jumped out to a 24-point lead over the Panthers however nearly had an epic collapse because it surrendered 19 straight second-half factors in its 27-22 win. Kyler Murray has been stable via two video games, however let’s pause on rating them any larger till they show themselves.
Regardless of everybody right down to seemingly the tools supervisor getting damage, the Niners are 2-0. Sunday’s 26-21 win over New Orleans with Mac Jones underneath middle additional proved the benefit the group has at head coach with Kyle Shanahan. They will must get wholesome and have Brock Purdy and George Kittle return sooner slightly than later to really contend for a playoff spot, nonetheless. Till we see key figures on this workforce get out of the infirmary and again onto the sphere, we won’t put them a lot larger.
The cardiac Bucs! Tampa Bay is 2-0 after a few last-second highway victories towards the Falcons and Texans. Baker Mayfield has been stellar via these first two weeks, and the group has seemingly hit on one other broad receiver with first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka piling up eight catches for 96 yards and three touchdowns to start his NFL profession. That has helped cushion the lack of Chris Godwin to start the 12 months, however this membership desperately wants begin left sort out Tristan Wirfs (knee) again. Mayfield has taken 5 sacks and been hit 9 occasions, which is not sustainable. That stated, when each Godwin and Wirfs return, that’ll solely make Tampa Bay extra harmful, so this 2-0 begin provides them a robust inside monitor at one other division title.
After all of the preseason considerations round Matthew Stafford and his again, the Rams quarterback has a 107.1 passer ranking (the seventh-best determine amongst quarterbacks) via two weeks whereas main L.A. to a 2-0 report. The mix of Stafford and Sean McVay, together with an rising younger protection, makes the Rams a legit contender not solely to win the NFC West however go deep into the playoffs. L.A. finds itself at 2-0, and I do not imagine that it is performed its greatest ball but, which is a scary thought for the remainder of the NFC.
We’re watching Justin Herbert degree up proper earlier than our eyes. By means of two video games, Herbert is second in passer ranking (127.8), tied for second in passing touchdowns (5), and has but to throw an interception. He outdueled Patrick Mahomes within the opener and was hyperefficient within the win over Las Vegas on Monday evening, notching two key AFC West wins. With Herbert thrusting himself into the MVP dialog and the protection flying across the area, the Chargers are dwell to win the division.
These subsequent three 2-0 groups are in a tier of their very own. These are the golf equipment that not solely ought to be within the playoff or division dialog however may win the entire rattling factor. And let’s begin with the Packers, who arguably seem like the NFL’s greatest workforce via two weeks. The commerce for Micah Parsons has labored out splendidly, and the protection has been excellent. What ought to excite Inexperienced Bay followers much more than the protection, nonetheless, is that Jordan Love is popping out of the gate scorching. Since changing into the full-time starter, Love had been a bit chilly via the primary half of his campaigns. Not in 2025. Love boasts the league’s fourth-highest passer ranking (120.0) and has not thrown an interception. If the Packers are getting a extra constant model of Like to pair with this high-powered protection, look out.
The defending champs are getting a bit of little bit of grace as we place them above the Packers, albeit with out wanting as dominant out of the chute. They have been a bit out of sync, however have received back-to-back one-possession video games nonetheless towards a division rival within the Cowboys after which on the highway towards Kansas Metropolis. They’ll win in so many alternative methods and outmatch most groups by way of expertise. They’re firmly within the Tremendous Bowl dialog and have an important probability to repeat, particularly after leaping out to a 2-0 report.
Josh Allen is the distinction maker right here, and what places Buffalo above the remainder of the 2-0 groups. Proper now, he is the NFL’s greatest participant after beating Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in Week 1 after which dealing with the Jets fairly simply in Week 2. The offense is averaging 35.5 factors per sport, and the protection confirmed flashes in that convincing win over New York. The Payments ought to run away with the AFC East and will very properly find yourself because the convention’s No. 1 seed.
