It wasn’t the best week for struggling football teams.
Week 7 kicked off with a bang as the Broncos dominated the Saints on Thursday night, taking a 30-point lead before the Saints managed a late touchdown. The week wrapped up on Sunday night with the Jets falling apart against the Steelers, who scored 31 unanswered points after an Aaron Rodgers interception, sealing a 37-15 victory.
In between, four more teams with losing records suffered double-digit defeats. The Browns narrowly escaped that fate, thanks to a last-minute touchdown pass by Jameis Winston, but they had arguably the roughest day: after committing to Deshaun Watson, they lost him to what looks like a season-ending torn Achilles. Meanwhile, the 2-5 Raiders lost a close game to the Rams, but they’re also facing quarterback issues after Aidan O’Connell broke his thumb.
So, which of these struggling teams is in the worst shape moving forward? None seem likely to make the postseason, but which team is furthest away from building a competitive roster that could challenge for a Super Bowl? Using a famous Harbaugh family phrase (though they won’t be making an appearance here), “Who has it worse than us?”
Nine teams stand out, but I’ll start by giving an honorable mention to three AFC East teams. The 2-5 Jets are spiraling, but they’re still closer to a playoff spot than most teams on this list. The 1-6 Patriots have struggled, especially on defense, but there’s promise in rookie quarterback Drake Maye. And the 2-4 Dolphins might bounce back once Tua Tagovailoa returns from his concussion, which could happen as soon as next week.
That leaves us with six teams in the running for “most hopeless.” Let’s break it down:
Cleveland Browns (1-6)
Last week, the Browns and Deshaun Watson were off to one of the worst offensive starts in recent memory. Things got even worse this week. Watson played well early but suffered what appears to be a season-ending Achilles injury. He was replaced by Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who also got hurt, forcing Jameis Winston to step in. Cleveland’s chances of making the playoffs are now down to 2.5%, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI).
Hopes for a 2024 postseason run have faded, and the situation with Watson is more complicated than ever. Even before his injury, it was unlikely the Browns could trade him. Now, they’re stuck with his massive $92 million contract for the next few seasons. They’ll get some cap relief from the injury, but it won’t be enough to offset their financial commitment.
For coach Kevin Stefanski and company, this is an opportunity to reset the Watson era. Cutting him before 2025 doesn’t make financial sense, but moving on before 2026 is a possibility. In the meantime, the Browns might keep Watson as an expensive backup while drafting a new starter with their top pick next year.
The good news? The Browns have the second-most cap space in the league, thanks to restructuring Watson’s contract. But the bad news? They gave up a treasure trove of draft picks for Watson, which has left the team lacking young, affordable talent. While some of those picks have turned into promising players like cornerback Martin Emerson, they’ll need to keep addressing those missing draft picks and revamp an offensive line that’s starting to struggle.
New York Giants (2-5)
When a coach says he’s benching a quarterback to “spark the team,” it usually means things aren’t going well. That was the case for Brian Daboll when he benched Daniel Jones in favor of Drew Lock. Despite having a star rookie receiver in Malik Nabers, the Giants’ offense struggled mightily, generating just 94 yards in three quarters. Lock didn’t fare much better, going 3-for-8 for just 6 yards.
Jones, who thrived last year by limiting turnovers and scrambling for key first downs, hasn’t been able to replicate that success this season. He’s thrown more interceptions and isn’t scrambling as effectively. It’s becoming clear that Jones isn’t the biggest issue, though—the offensive line has been a disaster, especially without left tackle Andrew Thomas, who is out for the season.
On the bright side, the Giants’ defense has been impressive, with a strong young unit and standout players like Tyler Nubin and Brian Burns. However, injuries and cap issues are piling up. If the Giants cut Jones after this season, they’ll have around $64 million in cap space, which could help them find a new quarterback and solidify their offensive line.
Tennessee Titans (1-5)
Titans fans must be tired of seeing their team blow leads. They’ve held halftime leads in three of their five losses this season, but they just can’t seem to hold on. In Sunday’s game against the Bills, the Titans were up 10-0 in the second quarter, only to allow 27 points after halftime.
The turnover problem has been a major issue, with the Titans giving the ball away on nearly 17% of their drives this season, the third-worst rate in the league. While Will Levis has shown flashes of talent, turnovers and sacks have been costly, and the offense lacks explosive plays.
Finding a more consistent quarterback would be a huge improvement, but the Titans also need to revamp their offensive line and receiving corps. Despite their struggles, the Titans’ defense remains solid, anchored by players like Jeffery Simmons. But without a young star quarterback or a clear offensive plan, it’s hard to see a quick turnaround.
Las Vegas Raiders (2-5)
The Raiders are like the Titans but with more extremes. If you enjoy turnovers, you’ll love this team – they’ve been giving the ball away a lot! After backup QB Gardner Minshew turned the ball over four times in Sunday’s 20-15 loss to the Rams, the Raiders now have a total of 10 turnovers in the past three games, and 16 in their first seven games of the season. That’s four more than any other team and even more than the Texans had in the entire 2023 season (14).
In fact, a staggering 19% of the Raiders’ drives end in a turnover! Now, it’s not impossible to win with this kind of wild turnover rate – just look at the Cowboys and Chiefs – but the Raiders aren’t converting enough points when they aren’t turning the ball over. Unlike the Chiefs, who rank 4th in points per possession when you remove turnovers, the Raiders sit at 24th. Add in the fact that they’re 28th in third-down conversion rates, and it’s clear they’re struggling.
To be fair, injuries have played a role here. Before Aidan O’Connell’s thumb injury, the Raiders had already lost Davante Adams to a hamstring issue and Jakobi Meyers to an ankle problem, costing them their top two wide receivers. Big-money defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is on injured reserve with a broken foot, and edge rusher Malcolm Koonce is out for the season after a knee injury. The team’s strengths – their wide receivers and pass rush – have been severely impacted by these setbacks.
The real challenge for the Raiders, though, is the result of years of poor drafts and short-sighted decisions. From 2016 to 2023, the Raiders have struggled to find and develop homegrown talent, and this gap has left them with a lot of holes in the roster. They’ve tried to fill those gaps with aggressive free agency moves in the past, but the 2024 Raiders feature one of the league’s youngest rosters – a sign that change might be on the way.
There are some positives. Rookie tight end Brock Bowers has been fantastic, and the offensive line features three young starters on rookie contracts. The Raiders also have plenty of cap space and flexibility to make moves in the future. However, rebuilding the team will take time, and while Maxx Crosby is a standout defensive star, by the time the Raiders are truly competitive, he may be past his prime.
Carolina Panthers (1-6)
Remember Week 3? It was the one bright spot for the Panthers, as veteran QB Andy Dalton threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns in a win over the Raiders. Since then, things have taken a downward turn. The Panthers rank 26th in points per drive and 27th in EPA per play, with Dalton struggling to generate momentum. He’s thrown six interceptions compared to four touchdowns, and the Panthers have lost four straight games by nearly 22 points on average.
While Dalton was expected to stabilize the offense after the team benched Bryce Young, it hasn’t worked out as hoped. The Panthers are still lacking in key areas, especially at quarterback. Dalton’s pick-six on Sunday and the offensive line’s struggles – including a brutal fourth-and-1 stop – have highlighted the team’s ongoing issues.
On the bright side, the running game has been a highlight this season. The Panthers invested heavily in their offensive line, bringing in guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt. The run-blocking has improved, and if Jonathon Brooks can join Chuba Hubbard in the backfield, this could become a key strength for the team.
Unfortunately, things look bleak elsewhere. The defense has been revamped, but injuries have taken their toll. Star defensive tackle Derrick Brown is out for the season, and the Panthers are allowing the most points per possession in the league. Their once-promising pass rush is struggling, and the team ranks last in pressure rate.
Looking forward, the Panthers seem ready to move on from Bryce Young, but they’ll need more than just a new quarterback. They’ll need young talent on defense, a No. 1 wide receiver, and more draft picks to rebuild. The team is also missing several key players and picks due to the trade for Young, leaving them with a lot of work ahead.
New Orleans Saints (2-5)
The Saints started strong, going 2-0 and scoring a combined 91 points in those two games. But injuries have derailed their season. They’ve lost key players like center Erik McCoy, and by their last game, they were down to their third-string left guard. The Saints have now lost five straight games, with their playoff chances dropping from 80.8% after Week 2 to just 7.3%.
The Saints have had some tough luck in recent games, with key plays swinging against them. But the real issue is the collapse of their defense, which was once a strength under head coach Dennis Allen. After ranking 7th in EPA per play last year, the Saints now rank 17th, with missed tackles and blown coverages becoming all too common.
Making matters worse, the Saints are facing a massive cap issue. They project to be $81.4 million over the cap in 2025, and while they’ve managed to stretch their cap problems in the past, it’s becoming harder to do so without sacrificing their roster. Even if they decide to rebuild, cutting or trading veterans like Derek Carr, Taysom Hill, and Alvin Kamara won’t fix everything.
While they have some good pieces, like rookie Brock Bowers, the Saints are looking at a long, difficult road ahead. They’ll need to find a way to become cap compliant while also rebuilding their roster and defense.
Who has it the worst?
Of these three teams, the Saints seem to be in the toughest spot. Injuries have been a problem, but their long-term cap issues and defensive decline make a quick turnaround unlikely. While other teams like the Panthers can rebuild with more flexibility, the Saints are stuck with significant challenges for the foreseeable future.