NFL · 17 minutes ago

5 NFL Teams That Should Be Worried Right Now

Harrison Montavon

Host · Writer

Did We Get It Right?
The NFL season can change week by week, with new storylines and narratives forming daily. An 0-2 start is not an automatic death sentence, and so much can still change for these teams in the coming weeks. But for the Packers, Chargers, Commanders, Texans and Buccaneers, the warning signs are already becoming difficult to ignore. Injuries, turnovers, and inconsistent performances have put all five under some early-season pressure.

Which NFL team should be the most worried after the first two weeks of the season?

Did we give anyone a pass? Are we overreacting?

Let us know in the comments!
5 NFL Teams That Should Be Worried Right Now
While the NFL season is still young and plenty of football remains, a few teams have gotten off to bumpier starts than they’d hoped.

Several of the league’s premier franchises that entered the 2026 campaign with playoff expectations and even dreams of making it to the Super Bowl have already stumbled out of the gate. Whether it’s underwhelming quarterback play, peculiar coaching decisions, or untimely turnovers, all five teams on this list have plenty to work out if they want to reach their preseason potential.
1) Green Bay Packers
Unlike the other four teams on this list, the Packers avoided going winless through the opening two games of the season. Still, a narrow overtime win over the New York Jets doesn’t exactly give Packers fans much confidence. Green Bay’s star QB Jordan Love threw for only 145 yards, and the team finished with a measly 199 yards, committing 14 penalties for 133 yards and bogging down their struggling offense even further.

Green Bay Packers Team Profile
- Head Coach: Matt LaFleur
- Offensive Coordinator: Adam Stenavich
- Defensive Coordinator: Jonathan Gannon
- Stadium: Lambeau Field
- 2026 Record: 1-2
The Packers entered the season already shorthanded, with superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons still sidelined after an ACL tear last year. The injury bug has continued into the 2026 season for Green Bay, with both wide receiver Jayden Reed and guard Aaron Banks out for the Packers’ contest on Thursday night. Former All-Pro running back Josh Jacobs also remains out due to legal issues, with seemingly no return in sight. Thursday night was an interesting test for the struggling Packers as they faced the 0-2 Atlanta Falcons. A test they failed. Green Bay’s offense still can't get going this week, which signals a rough season ahead for the Cheeseheads.
2) Houston Texans
After a hard-fought but disappointing loss to the Buffalo Bills 36-31 in Week 1, Houston still seemed to be on the right track. While their defense struggled, their usually challenged offense consistently moved the ball and found the end zone enough. Quarterback C.J. Stroud had a solid game, finishing with 274 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Minus Stroud's two costly fumbles, he seemed more comfortable in the pocket and threw with much more confidence and accuracy than he did a season prior. As for the defense, while they allowed 36 points, it was assumed they would quickly bounce back and return to form with the immense talent Houston has on that side of the ball.

Houston Texans Team Profile
- Head Coach: DeMeco Ryans
- Offensive Coordinator: Nick Caley
- Defensive Coordinator: Matt Burke
- Stadium: Reliant Stadium
- 2026 Record: 0-2
However, in Houston’s Week 2 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, the once formidable defense continued to look pedestrian, and the offense reverted to its 2025 form. The Texans fell to the Bengals 20-6, falling to 0-2 on the year. This week, the Texans offense and Stroud should have a chance to bounce back against a Colts defense that has allowed more than 30 points in both games this season. As for the defense, it should be interesting to see whether it’s simply a slow start or if Houston has a bigger problem.
3) Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers entered this season with a lot of hype surrounding its offense, especially the new pairing of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and quarterback Justin Herbert. McDaniel, who only a few years ago built a league-best offense in Miami with Tua Tagovailoa under center, now has the chance to build an offense around one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the NFL. This seemed to be a match made in heaven for Los Angeles, especially with their two starting tackles returning from injury to begin the 2026 season.

Los Angeles Chargers Team Profile
- Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh
- Offensive Coordinator: Mike McDaniel
- Defensive Coordinator: Chris O’Leary
- Stadium: SoFi Stadium
- 2026 Record: 0-2
Through two games, the explosive Chargers offense many imagined in the offseason has been quite the opposite. Los Angeles has lost its first two games by identical 26-14 scores, one against the Cardinals in Week 1 and the other to the Raiders in Week 2, two teams who were at the bottom of their divisions last season. The Chargers turned the ball over three times against the Raiders, with Herbert throwing two interceptions and Omarion Hampton losing a fourth-quarter fumble that put the nail in the coffin. Those two crushing losses become even more concerning considering what is coming next. Los Angeles travels to Buffalo to face a 2-0 Bills team in Week 3 before clashing with the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks in Week 4. The Chargers won 11 games in each of Jim Harbaugh’s first two seasons, so expectations are much higher than simply competing for a playoff spot. Another loss would put them in a significant early-season hole in the AFC West.
Washington Commanders
While the Commanders have started the season 0-2, losing a divisional game to the Dallas Cowboys 37-20 last week, that isn't the franchise's biggest concern right now. Before halftime of the Week 2 loss, former 2nd-overall draft pick quarterback Jayden Daniels dislocated his elbow, likely sidelining him for multiple weeks. Daniels also missed much of the 2025 campaign due to multiple injuries, including two to the same elbow, causing concern that this could be a recurring problem for the star quarterback.

Washington Commanders Team Profile
- Head Coach: Dan Quinn
- Offensive Coordinator: David Blough
- Defensive Coordinator: Daronte Jones
- Stadium: Northwest Stadium
- 2026 Record: 0-2
Washington's problems go beyond quarterback, however. Dak Prescott completed 26 of 31 passes against the Commanders for four touchdowns as Dallas consistently moved the ball against Washington’s porous defense. Coming off a disappointing 5-12 season, after making an NFC championship appearance only two years ago, the Commanders needed a much better start in 2026. Instead, they are winless and once again facing uncertainty surrounding their franchise player.
5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers’ problems from the end of last season appear to have followed them into 2026. Tampa lost seven of their last nine games in 2025 and have now started 0-2 for the first time in 12 years. Tampa’s most recent loss came against the lowly Cleveland Browns 23-19, after having the ball with a chance to win the game with two minutes remaining. The game ended with quarterback Baker Mayfield overthrowing an open Emeka Egbuka in the end zone for what could have been a game-winning touchdown. Mayfield’s inaccuracy was a consistent problem in the loss to the Browns as he overshot open receivers several times.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Team Profile
- Head Coach: Todd Bowles
- Offensive Coordinator: Zac Robinson
- Defensive Coordinator: TBD
- Stadium: Raymond James Stadium
- 2026 Record: 0-2
While Mayfield recently signed a three-year, $165-million contract extension, making him tied for the third-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, his on-field performance has not lived up to that standard. After a career year in 2024, when he threw for 41 touchdown passes and 4,500 yards, he has been unable to sustain that level of play. His numbers dipped significantly last season, with only 26 touchdowns and 3,600 yards. That decline is even more noticeable through the first two games of 2026. Mayfield has already turned the ball over four times, taken seven sacks, and has only thrown one touchdown pass. Though the season is still young, Mayfield still hasn't returned to his 2024 form, meaning the Bucs may have a quarterback issue on their hands. An expensive quarterback issue.
Did We Get It Right?
The NFL season can change week by week, with new storylines and narratives forming daily. An 0-2 start is not an automatic death sentence, and so much can still change for these teams in the coming weeks. But for the Packers, Chargers, Commanders, Texans and Buccaneers, the warning signs are already becoming difficult to ignore. Injuries, turnovers, and inconsistent performances have put all five under some early-season pressure.

Which NFL team should be the most worried after the first two weeks of the season?

Did we give anyone a pass? Are we overreacting?

Let us know in the comments!
5 NFL Teams That Should Be Worried Right Now
While the NFL season is still young and plenty of football remains, a few teams have gotten off to bumpier starts than they’d hoped.

Several of the league’s premier franchises that entered the 2026 campaign with playoff expectations and even dreams of making it to the Super Bowl have already stumbled out of the gate. Whether it’s underwhelming quarterback play, peculiar coaching decisions, or untimely turnovers, all five teams on this list have plenty to work out if they want to reach their preseason potential.

5 NFL Teams That Should Be Worried Right Now

Green Bay Packers Team Profile

Houston Texans Team Profile

Los Angeles Chargers Team Profile

Washington Commanders Team Profile

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Team Profile

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