Ranking Every 0-2 NFL Team: Where do Cardinals Fall?
There are currently nine teams across the NFL that have started the season 0-2 and while the Arizona Cardinals are one of them, they may or may not be the worst of the bunch.
Unlike a lot of the 0-2 teams in the league, the Cardinals have shown up and played their hearts out in their two losses which both very well could've been wins. However, almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades - as the saying goes.
Beyond the Cardinals though, how would one rank the 0-2 teams from best to worst?
Ranking Every 0-2 NFL Team: Where do Cardinals Fall?
9. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are still projected to be one of the worst teams in the league, but they do not have their first-round pick in 2024.
It's a good thing the Texans have their quarterback of the future because outside of C.J. Stroud, the outlook of this team is bleak.
There are few things to celebrate when it comes to this Texans team. Stroud and fellow rookie Will Anderson look like cornerstones, but the rest of the roster needs a massive infusion of talent and they'll have to do it without their projected top-five pick thanks to a trade with the Cardinals. I wouldn't be surprised if the Texans won two or fewer games this year.
8. Chicago Bears
It feels like everything is going wrong for the Chicago Bears on both sides of the ball.
Justin Fields is flat-out a bad, if not terrible quarterback who is projecting blame across the roster and the staff to the media. He may not be wrong, but that's not exactly the kind of publicity you want on a team as bad as the Bears.
Beyond the shortcomings of Fields, this roster is a mess. There's next to nothing defensively to get excited about and the play-calling is suspect at best. This is a team that will be drafting very high in the 2024 NFL Draft to get some help, but thankfully the next team will also be providing them with a top pick.
7. Carolina Panthers
On one hand, Bryce Young has shown glimpses of being a franchise quarterback. However, as a whole, there is a long way to go for Young to get to that point and meanwhile, this Panthers team is one of the worst in football.
The Panthers have scored just two touchdowns offensively and are averaging just over seven yards per reception. Defensively, things have been OK, but there is so much room for improvement.
As we all predicted, this is a rebuilding team and things aren't getting better any time soon.
6. Arizona Cardinals
Josh Dobbs and the Arizona Cardinals have fought hard despite their 0-2 record.
Someone needs to tell the Cardinals they're supposed to be tanking because the way they've gone out and competed is more than commendable.
Don't get it twisted, this is still a bad Cardinals team that is devoid of talent and offensive firepower. This team also blew a 28-7 lead this past week against the Giants.. one we won't soon forget.
But even still, the Cards have played good football and should win more games than many will believe them to win. Jonathan Gannon is coaching this team up.
5. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos have all the talent in the world, but they've yet to make good on it.
As is usually the case with the Broncos, there is lots of talent on this roster and absolutely no execution to get the most out of it between the players and coaches. You can only be paper champs for so long before you have to flush it all.
One has to believe that eventually, a coach as talented as Sean Payton will get this team figured out. If he does, perhaps the Broncos can finally be the playoff contender everyone wants them to be.
4. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings still feel like they can compete in a wide open NFC North.
The Vikings are a very weird team to me. Many predicted the Vikings would severely regress in 2023 in spite of a rock-solid roster. Thus far that has appeared to be the case.
But the team has had some outstanding performances to start the year. Justin Jefferson is legitimately putting up an MVP-caliber season at wide receiver while Jordan Addison is playing like an Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite. Kirk Cousins has been putting up some of the best numbers of his career, as well.
I believe in the Vikings to get things back on track and compete for an NFC North that feels wide open.
3. New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have so much talent, but Mac Jones' play could be holding them back.
I am much higher on the Patriots than most admittedly. It's a very talented roster and they can go toe to toe with some of the better teams in the league. Unfortunately, Mac Jones continues to be an underwhelming quarterback and that will always hold this team back.
If Jones can ever find a way to even be an above-average quarterback, this Pats team is a true playoff squad. The defense is really good and there's enough firepower on offense to score enough points to win games. I have faith in them to get back on track and contend for a playoff spot even in a loaded AFC.
2. Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers - led by QB Justin Herbert - have all the talent in the world, but can they get out of their own way?
Of all the teams on this list, the Chargers have the most "upside" of anyone. Justin Herbert is always a sleeper MVP candidate and both sides of the football are stacked with Pro Bowl talent. This team is every Madden player's dream.
However, this team gets in their own way better than anybody else. Whether it's coaching, injuries, or just plain bad luck, the Chargers can never realize their potential. Even still, I would take the Bolts over nearly every team on this list with the exception of one...
1. Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals will eventually figure it out, and so too will the tandem of QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja'Marr Chase.
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The Bengals starting the season 0-2 isn't a fluke, but rather a showing of how talented the AFC North is. With in-division losses to both the Browns and Ravens, the Bengals have placed themselves behind the 8-ball for the division. With guys like Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase having unbelievably slow starts to the year, it makes sense why some may be pressing the panic button.
But don't let a 0-2 start fool you; the Bengals are an elite team and a heavy-weight Super Bowl contender. Cincy will absolutely figure it out and when they do they will be the juggernaut we've come to know the last two seasons.
