Now, it’s real.
Six weeks of regular-season NFL action is in the books, essentially one-third of the season. Players and coaches have worked off the rust. Blaming shortcomings and disjointed performances on little to no preseason action no longer works.
Of the league’s 32 teams, 13 have losing records. Another five are at .500. Some are banking on their fortunes changing as the season progresses, but others are already starting to run out of time. This is about the point of the season when panic begins to strike. For instance, the New York Jets already hit the panic button, firing coach Robert Saleh after only five games, even though all of their season goals remained in reach.
Then, there are teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, who entered last week in a precarious situation before winning, improving to 3-2 and avoiding the red-alert mode that would have engulfed the franchise had it fallen to 2-3.
So which of these unfortunate teams should keep the faith? Which are in dangerous territory? Which already are in a full-on panic? Let’s dissect.
Keep the faith
Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)
No one projected a 1-4 start for one of the most talented teams in the AFC. But contract disputes and early-season injuries only expounded Cincinnati’s typical slow-start struggles and cost it in winnable games against New England, Washington and Baltimore. A victory over the Giants offers a degree of relief, but the Bengals remain in a hole. A 41-38 overtime loss to Baltimore showed that Cincinnati can still go toe-to-toe with an AFC power. And the season plays out favorably the next three weeks (at Cleveland, versus Philadelphia, versus Las Vegas) before a rematch in Baltimore on Nov. 7. Take a deep breath, and keep swinging.
Arizona Cardinals (2-4)
The 34-13 loss at Green Bay was bad. Three turnovers, third-down struggles and just one touchdown in three trips to the red zone proved crippling. But the Cardinals have earned quality NFC West wins over San Francisco and the L.A. Rams (before all of the Rams’ injuries). Consistency is lacking on offense and defense, but the potential is there. A stretch of winnable games (Chargers, Dolphins, Bears, Jets) awaits. Arizona could enter its Week 11 bye on solid footing.
Miami Dolphins (2-3)
Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion and the lack of a strong contingency plan at quarterback rocked the Dolphins for three weeks. This projected playoff team got some much-needed relief with the win over New England and then its bye. Coach Mike McDaniel says Tagovailoa will play again in 2024, but not this week at Indianapolis. Fortunately for the Dolphins, it’s a long season, and the AFC East features the talented Bills, rebuilding Patriots and a Jets team with an interim coach. If Tagovailoa returns and remains healthy, an electrifying offense also could return and steer Miami back to relevancy.
Indianapolis Colts (3-3)
Intriguing young quarterback Anthony Richardson has missed two games with injury, but hope remains thanks to good ol’ Joe Flacco, who just led the Colts to another victory. Another winnable game (against Miami) awaits, and then comes a stretch that includes AFC South foe Houston, followed by Minnesota and Buffalo. But the home stretch of the season includes six beatable opponents. Flacco took a discounted Cleveland to the playoffs last season. What’s to say he can’t do it again with the Colts?
Denver Broncos (3-3)
Bo Nix has provided some bright spots and signs of growth through six starts. He helped Denver win three straight after opening the season 0-2 and twice has recorded games with multiple passing touchdowns. Sure, he’s had some low points, like last week, when he had only 27 passing yards through three quarters. But Nix kept dealing and finished that game (a 23-16 loss to the Chargers) with 216 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Nix has also shown some fire, refusing to back down from coach Sean Payton during sideline exchanges. As a whole, the Broncos have displayed some improvement, and rank in the top half of the league with a point differential of plus-16. They need to cut down on the turnovers (they have nine), but they’re trending in the right direction.
Seattle Seahawks (3-3)
After opening the season 3-0, Seattle has lost three straight. But hope is not lost. Two of the three losses came against Detroit and San Francisco, teams viewed as Super Bowl contenders. The loss to the Giants sandwiched in between was a surprise, but it’s possible the Seahawks got caught looking ahead to that divisional matchup with the 49ers that followed four days later. First-year coach Mike Macdonald and his charges have some things to tweak on both sides of the ball. But quarterback Geno Smith is playing well despite a recent uncharacteristic rash of interceptions, and Seattle remains balanced on offense. The NFC West remains up for grabs. Last week’s bye and a win over Atlanta this week can restore order.
Low-grade panic mode
Dallas Cowboys (3-3)
The record suggests a manageable situation, as does an NFC East that features the surprising but still developing Commanders, a glitchy Eagles team that may be getting its groove back and a Giants team not positioned for contention in 2024. But the lack of feel and answers that coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer have displayed while directing an underachieving squad, and the injuries on defense, give real cause for concern. The bye comes at a much-needed time following the blowout loss to Detroit. But is a week enough time for the coaches to assess and fix all of their shortcomings?
San Francisco 49ers (3-3)
It has been a rough stretch for the Super Bowl runner-up 49ers, who have battled injuries throughout this young season. Well-coached and well-constructed, they have weathered adversity and own a 3-3 record. But on tap is a tough stretch beginning with a rematch with Kansas City this week and continuing with Dallas, a bye, Tampa Bay, Seattle, Green Bay and Buffalo. Uncertainty remains about the return dates of reinforcements like Christian McCaffrey, so this challenging slate could make or break the Niners’ season.
Las Vegas Raiders (2-4)
The 5-4 finish to 2023 that Antonio Pierce directed while interim head coach has not carried over into 2024. Now 2-4, the Raiders have benched quarterback Gardner Minshew (an offseason acquisition) and they just traded top wide receiver Davante Adams to the Jets. Luke Getsy struggled as offensive coordinator in Chicago, and now his Raiders unit ranks among the bottom third of the league. Improvement seems unlikely. Meanwhile, there are few apparent quick fixes for a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde defense that ranks 12th best in yards per game yet fifth worst in points allowed. Priority No. 1 for Pierce is solving the turnover issue that has crippled his team on both sides of the ball. The Raiders lead the NFL with 12 turnovers this season, with only two takeaways.
New Orleans Saints (2-4)
Those two blowout victories to open the season don’t look nearly as impressive now given Carolina’s ineptitude and Dallas’ underperforming ways. Four straight losses have followed, and quarterback Derek Carr’s oblique injury forced the Saints to play rookie Spencer Rattler sooner than expected. The NFC South remains up for grabs. However, more concerning than a hot and cold offense are the struggles of an injury-plagued defense that gave up 51 points to Tampa Bay Sunday and failed to get key stops in winnable games against Philadelphia, Atlanta and Kansas City.
New York Giants (2-4)
Can you really call it panic mode when your roster had the look of a subpar operation to begin with? Maybe if you’re Brian Daboll, head coach of a team that regressed in Year 2 and continues to struggle in Year 3. Daniel Jones remains erratic and hasn’t thrown a touchdown at home since Jan. 1, 2023, while directing an offense that has failed to score 20 points four times in six games this season. The Giants weren’t going to win the NFC East this season, but they need to show some real improvement as their coach’s seat heats up.
L.A. Rams (1-4)
The Rams were probably the most injury-riddled team in the NFL through the first month-and-a-half of the season. Injuries along the offensive line. Injuries at wide receiver. Injuries in the secondary. But reinforcements have started to arrive on defense and they are on their way along the offensive line as well. Matthew Stafford apparently will have to wait a little longer for Puka Nacua to return, and while Cooper Kupp is questionable to play this week, he participated in individual drills Wednesday. If the Rams can piece together a couple of wins before Thanksgiving (the Raiders, Vikings, Seahawks, Dolphins, Patriots and Eagles await), in theory they can position themselves for a playoff push in the final third of the season. But their margin for error is incredibly slim.
Red-alert panic mode
Cleveland Browns (1-5)
Kevin Stefanski continues to pledge loyalty to Deshaun Watson, his $230 million quarterback, whom the Browns need to carry them and mask the deficiencies of an injury-plagued supporting cast. Instead, Watson has yet to pass for 200 yards in any game this season. Each week, Stefanski says he’s not considering a change to backup Jameis Winston because he believes Watson still gives Cleveland its best chance to win. He hasn’t made significant schematic changes to help Watson compensate for his struggles, however. It’s unclear if Stefanski believes that, or if he’s following a mandate from above so he can save his job. But as the Browns’ struggles and losses mount, the coach is at risk of losing the locker room, which could in turn cost him his job as well.
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5)
The bleeding continues for the Jaguars, who have now lost 10 of their last 12 games dating back to last season. If not for their two-week trip to London, Doug Pederson may have already been fired. Hired in 2022 to rescue Jacksonville from the Urban Meyer dysfunction, Pederson guided the Jaguars on a surprising late-season playoff push and postseason victory. But since the midpoint of last season, prized quarterback Trevor Lawrence has regressed, as has Jacksonville’s offense and defense. The Jaguars own a point differential of minus-65, second worst in the NFL behind the Panthers (minus-100). Many of the same league insiders who predicted Pederson would be good for Lawrence now find themselves baffled by the Jaguars’ struggles. Pederson’s Super Bowl-winning success with the Eagles to cap the 2017 season looks more like an anomaly now.
New England Patriots (1-5)
Everyone knew this would be a rebuilding year for the Patriots following the organizational reset that featured the firing of Bill Belichick, hiring of first-time head coach Jerod Mayo and drafting of quarterback Drake Maye third overall. The plan was to lean on veteran Jacoby Brissett while developing Maye, but after repeated displays of offensive anemia, the Patriots essentially hit the panic button and started Maye last week against Houston. The young quarterback will not solve a pock-marked roster, but he’ll get reps and hopefully learn while doing.
Carolina Panthers (1-5)
The Panthers hit the panic button after just two weeks, benching Bryce Young for Andy Dalton a year after using the No. 1 draft pick on Young. But first-year coach Dave Canales has seen only minimal improvement from his offense, which is averaging just 17.2 points per game for the season and 22.5 in Dalton’s four starts. Meanwhile, a defense led by Ejiro Evero is yielding a league-high 33.8 points per contest. There’s no quick fix for this talent-deficient team, which is likely headed for a top-three pick once again.
Tennessee Titans (1-4)
A roster that seemed to boast promise with a blend of homegrown players and smart free-agent acquisitions has yet to pan out for first-year head coach Brian Callahan and second-year general manager Ran Carthon. Many of Tennessee’s woes have to do with the slow development of second-year quarterback Will Levis, who leads the NFL with seven interceptions while passing for only 699 yards in five games. The Titans boast the top-ranked defense (allowing only 248.8 yards per game), but their offense (253.2 yards per game) is second worst in the league behind the Browns. Tennessee also averages just 19.2 points per game.
New York Jets (2-4)
Saleh’s firing was supposed to help the Jets move out of this panic category while jump-starting the team Woody Johnson calls one of his most talented ever assembled. But the Jets largely looked the same against Buffalo on Monday aside from a few spurts. Aaron Rodgers is still pointing fingers and throwing interceptions, and Haason Reddick is not walking through that door. Adams did, and perhaps he can offer Rodgers some comfort. But the Jets feel more combustible than cohesive at this point.
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(Top illustration: Meech Robinson / The Athletic. Photos of Kevin Stefanski, Aaron Rodgers and Jerry Jones: Elsa / Getty Images, Nick Cammett / Getty Images and Michael Zagaris / San Francisco 49ers / Getty Images)
