NFL · 1 year ago

NFL Panic Meter: Which Teams Should Worry After Week 2 Results

Zack Cook

Host · Writer

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Baltimore Ravens
The one team that's been puzzling to watch through two weeks is the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson hasn't been his MVP-caliber self, and maybe we should have seen some signs of regression coming leading into the year. The Ravens had plenty of turnover on their offensive line, and we've consistently given them the benefit of the doubt to replace talent in that regard. Through two weeks, the offensive line has struggled mightily, and that's a major red flag for this group. We'll keep a close eye on how their offensive line performs the rest of September, but it's hard to have a ton of confidence in their direction after this early sample size. What's scary for the Ravens is that closing out the month doesn't get any easier. Baltimore visits the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3 and follows that up with a home date against the Buffalo Bills in Week 4 on Sunday Night Football. Would it shock anyone if the Ravens were 1-3 or 0-4 after Week 4?

Panic Meter: High

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Cincinnati Bengals
After laying an egg in Week 1 at home against the New England Patriots, the Cincinnati Bengals followed that up with a strong showing on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs. Even with a strong effort, the Bengals still find themselves 0-2 after Week 2. Joe Burrow hasn't looked like his dynamic self yet, but it was at least optimistic that the team made a game of this and showed they can compete at a high level. The Bengals have some get-right opportunities with games against Washington and Carolina. That should take some of the urge away to push the panic button.

Panic Meter: Low
Miami Dolphins
This one is a little different because, as of the time we're writing this, we have no information on what the Miami Dolphins will be doing regarding their quarterback situation. Tua Tagovailoa won't be returning anytime soon (at least we hope not), and if Miami rolls out Skylar Thompson as their QB1 moving forward, you might as well sound the alarms of a wasted season. The Dolphins are littered with talent all over this roster, especially on offense, but if they don't have a quarterback that can get them the football, this team is in for a world of pain.

Panic Meter: Very High

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Jacksonville Jaguars
We were higher than most on the Jacksonville Jaguars entering the 2024 regular season. Maybe we didn't get this one right. The Jaguars have rolled out to a 0-2 start, and there haven't been a lot of positives to write home about during that stretch. The Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns aren't poor competition, but we expected at least a split. The Jaguars had plenty of chances to win both matchups, but ultimately, they couldn't finish. That's been a problem for this team lately, and if it doesn't sort itself out, they can kiss goodbye to their postseason chances.

Panic Meter: Moderate to High
Chicago Bears
Let's get one thing straight immediately: we're not overly concerned about what we've seen from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams through two starts. We are concerned about the Chicago Bears' offensive line and pass protection. Williams was pressured on 36 of 37 pass attempts in Week 2 against the Houston Texans. If that number doesn't skyrocket, the Bears are in for a world of pain in 2024. There's too much talent on this roster to continue looking like this on offense.

Panic Meter: Moderate to high
Los Angeles Rams
No team has felt the injury bug like the Los Angeles Rams early on. After giving themselves a punching chance in Week 1 on the road in Detroit, the Rams were straight-up outclassed by the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. There's a lot of talent on this roster, but the injuries are killing our initial faith in this group. It will be difficult for this team to make any run this season with the revolving door of players coming in and out. It's only Week 2, but it won't be getting easier in LA.

Panic Meter: High

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Baltimore Ravens
The one team that's been puzzling to watch through two weeks is the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson hasn't been his MVP-caliber self, and maybe we should have seen some signs of regression coming leading into the year. The Ravens had plenty of turnover on their offensive line, and we've consistently given them the benefit of the doubt to replace talent in that regard. Through two weeks, the offensive line has struggled mightily, and that's a major red flag for this group. We'll keep a close eye on how their offensive line performs the rest of September, but it's hard to have a ton of confidence in their direction after this early sample size. What's scary for the Ravens is that closing out the month doesn't get any easier. Baltimore visits the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3 and follows that up with a home date against the Buffalo Bills in Week 4 on Sunday Night Football. Would it shock anyone if the Ravens were 1-3 or 0-4 after Week 4?

Panic Meter: High

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