Week 2 delivered a lot of surprises, with some teams swinging wildly from one extreme to the other — the Chicago Bears being the poster child after going from a 59-point outburst in Week 1 to failing to reach the end zone in Week 2 thanks to bad weather. Yahoo Sports writers Frank Schwab, Jay Busbee, Jori Epstein and Eric Edholm broke down which clubs should stay calm and which might be deceiving us after two games.
Which 2-0 team makes you most uneasy?
– Schwab: Las Vegas. The Raiders look better, and Brock Bowers’ eventual return should help, while first-year coach Klint Kubiak is changing perceptions. Still, beating weak opponents so far doesn’t prove much, so they’re my pick for a 2-0 team I doubt.
– Busbee: Also the Raiders — credit for taking care of business, but caution is warranted. He also pointed to Cincinnati as a cautionary tale: the Bengals are fragile around Joe Burrow’s health and have an easy stretch coming up that could mask deeper problems; revisit them in mid-November.
– Epstein: He admits the Raiders are the obvious answer but instead picks the San Francisco 49ers. A fully healthy 49ers squad can contend for a title, and even an mostly-healthy one could make noise, but the team has bet on older or frequently injured players. If injuries pile up beyond the expected absence of rookie De’Zhaun Stribling, surviving the league’s toughest division becomes a real question.
– Edholm: The Raiders again — their wins have come against teams that are 0-2, and one was a Dolphins squad that hasn’t led this season. Kirk Cousins has been effective, the pass rush looks strong and keeping Maxx Crosby is paying off, but a difficult next five-game stretch will reveal whether they’re legitimate; remember the Cardinals’ quick fade a year ago after a 2-0 start.
Which 0-2 team do you still back?
– Schwab: The Houston Texans. Starting 0-2 at home is rough, but last year they began 0-3 and still went 12-5. Schwab trusts Houston’s defense to be among the league’s best by season’s end and says the offense simply needs Nico Collins back; coach DeMeco Ryans will figure things out, though the team may have to win on the road to overcome the slow start.
– Busbee: The Los Angeles Chargers. He wants to believe Mike McDaniel can get more out of Justin Herbert, but adapting Herbert’s game has proven difficult and the Chargers face a brutal upcoming schedule. If they survive the next five weeks and then pick up division wins, they could creep into playoff contention.
– Epstein: The Indianapolis Colts. “Believe” might be generous, but Epstein defines belief as a realistic playoff possibility. The AFC South is weak — no team there is 2-0 — and the Colts’ upcoming slate is manageable. With Jonathan Taylor likely to help control games and Daniel Jones progressing after injury, Indianapolis looks like the most plausible 0-2 playoff hopeful.
– Edholm: The Texans. He isn’t ready to give up on Houston after losses to quality opponents; they underperformed offensively but have a strong defense, and with two of their early losses at home it’s not all doom. If any 0-2 team is worth rooting for, Edholm picks the Texans.
Fan Take: Early-season records can be wildly misleading, so paying attention to injuries, strength of schedule and underlying play is crucial for predicting who will rise or fall. These early judgments matter because they shape narratives, betting lines and fan expectations — and a few key injuries or upsets could reshape the playoff picture entirely.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
