What 0-2 teams are in most danger of not making the playoffs?

What 0-2 teams are in serious trouble?

What do the Minnesota Vikings, The Dallas Cowboys, and the San Francisco 49ers all have in common as of today?  Besides the fact they are all 0-2 in the early portion of the NFL season, they were all stout picks to either win their divisions, make a serious playoff run, or a possible Superbowl trip this year.

Numbers show that a very small percentage of 0-2 teams make the playoffs, since 1990, only estimated 13% of 0-2 teams make the playoffs in that season. This does not bode well for any of these for the 2010 season.  The NFL season is very early, but with only 16 games in a schedule, it’s what makes the NFL such an exhilarating sport.  When losing a mere 2 early games can almost devastate your season.

Out of the eight 0-2 teams this season so far, these 3 teams are the most surprising.  Let’s take a look who is in the most trouble of these 3, and is it time to hit the panic button?

We’ll start with Minnesota.  Their defense has only given up an average of 14 points/game.  Losing by a total of 9 points in their 2 losses.  Even though the Four Norsemen have been relatively human thus far, 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble.  The team isn’t giving up a lot of points; this is a good thing for the Vikes. But, their offense has looked terrible, only scoring a total of 19 pts (9.5 ppg).  This was a team that loaded the scoreboard with points last season, scoring over 29/game. They lost an emotional game on the road to the defending Superbowl champions, not a serious loss.  Losing at home to defensive team like the Dolphins, not good.  Problem here is the receiving crew for Minnesota.  They have no one who can make the big plays Sidney Rice made last year for Bret.

Like Tony Dungy has quoted, “No excuses, no explanations”… Bret missing camp had definitely damaged this team.  It gave him not nearly enough time to develop a clique with any of his new receivers, and truth is, none are as talented as Rice either.  Berrian is a capable WR2, Harvin is unfortunately struck with a lot of health concerns, that look like they may hurt his NFL career.  Last year, Favre missed early games against lower ended teams, this season, no where near the favorable schedule.

With upcoming games with Detroit, at New York Jets, Dallas, at Green Bay, and at New England, the schedule is only getting tougher.  They can easily go 1-4 over that 5 game stint, and finish their post season hopes.

Next are the Cowboys.  Their defense is giving up 20/game. Their offense has been barely scoring as well, only scoring 27 total pts in their 2 losses. Romo has put up big numbers, but is passing the ball an incredible amount of time, throwing an average of 49 times/gm.  This is too much.  The running game of the Dallas team is obsolete with only 139 total rushing yards in 2 games.  Appalling.  This was a team that ran the ball comparatively well in 2009. No one has rushed for 40 yards yet in a game for the Boys.  They lost a divisional game on the road to the motivated Redskins, 13-7, not a terrible loss.  Then losing at home to an unexpected Bears team.  Problem here is the running game for Dallas.  They absolutely need to establish some sort of running game, to take pressure off Romo.

Cowboys secondary has to play better for this team.  Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins need to get the job done.  Miles Austin is a great WR, and proving this season so far, in the pass happy O-ffense, but the ‘Boys better get some feet pounding ASAP, or the Cowboys are going to be an easy pin down for defenses.

With upcoming games at Houston, Tennessee at Minnesota, New York Giants, and Jacksonville, the schedule is no walk in the park.  In the NFC East if they go any worse than 3-2 in that 5 game stretch, the Cowboys are likely done for.

Finally are the Niners.  Their team has been a team of 2 entirely diverse games.  They get pulverized against the Seahawks and lose a heartbreaker to the champion Saints, who are the 49ers?  They do play in a weak NFC West division, where I think 9 wins can perhaps get you the division title.  Alex Smith has to become the man in San Fran now.  It is time, to put up or shut up.  Lead your team to victory, he showed some good quality stuff vs New Orleans.  This is a team with a lot of talent on both offense and defense.  One problem to me is they have not established a WR1 yet in San Fran.  Vernon Davis is an exceptional football player, and great TE.  Having him is a bonus, but your team can’t win without someone who can truly stretch the field like a top quality WR.  Crabtree is producing poor numbers, 3 catches for only 44 yards, 0 td.  And 3^rd yr player, Josh Morgan with 9 for 102 yds and 0 tds.  Someone has to take the next step.  Divisional game on the road crushed by the Hawks, an awful loss, they were expected to win that game.  Losing in your division can be suicide.   Losing at home 25-22 to the Saints on a last second FG, different story.  Serious problem here also is CB coverage for San Fran.  They also need to get some pressure on opposing QBs, which they have the talent to do. 

 Alex Smith and the WR’s need to get the job done.  Frank Gore is a great RB, with upcoming games at Kansas City, at Atlanta, Philadelphia, Oakland, and at Carolina, the schedule is tricky.  In theNFC West, this schedule is winnable; they could very well go 3-2 or even 4-1 and get things back on track for themselves.

Odds are clearly stacked against these 3 teams, but if I was going to pick one of the teams to come out of this precarious group, to make the playoffs, it would have to be the 49ers.  They have a better schedule, an upstart QB who may be coming around, a mediocre division, a power RB, a sound LB corps, there are a lot of upsides to San Fran.

Until wins start piling up for any of these teams, keep that finger ready to press that button…