Aaron Schatz
Is all the pieces all proper with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs? The AFC juggernaut is 0-2 after Week 2's 20-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in a Tremendous Bowl LIX rematch.
Many have heard concerning the thought of a Tremendous Bowl loser curse, however the Chiefs are solely the eighth such workforce to begin the following season 0-2. Much more stunning is that Kansas Metropolis final began 0-2 in 2014, which was coach Andy Reid's second season with the workforce and three years previous to quarterback Patrick Mahomes' arrival.
So the place do the Chiefs stand all time among the many 0-2 Tremendous Bowl losers? Does it give us any thought how the remainder of the season will play out? And what are their possibilities of making it again to the large sport? We checked out all eight under, primarily based on efficiency and utilizing DVOA (defense-adjusted worth over common) and opponent high quality — and sized up what occurred subsequent.
Leap to the place the 2025 Chiefs rank
Misplaced 31-19 to Pittsburgh Steelers in Tremendous Bowl XIV
Week 1: 41-20 loss vs. Detroit Lions
Week 2: 10-9 loss at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
How they received to 0-2: The Rams went 9-7 in 1979 earlier than an inconceivable playoff march to Tremendous Bowl XIV. They usually had a 20-10 lead in the course of the second quarter in Week 1 after a landing plunge by Elvis Peacock, one of many all-time greatest-named operating backs. However the Lions got here again and destroyed the Rams with 31 straight factors to win at Anaheim Stadium. Ultimately, the Lions had 494 complete yards, plus three takeaways.
The loss to Tampa Bay — who the Rams had crushed within the earlier season's NFC Championship Sport — was a lot nearer. The Rams outgained the Bucs 360 yards to 183, however quarterback Vince Ferragamo threw 4 interceptions. (The Rams additionally fumbled twice however recovered each.) The loss seems like an even bigger deal due to the Buccaneers' slide to complete the 1980 season 5-10-1 and twenty fourth in DVOA. The Rams are the one considered one of these eight groups to lose to a workforce that completed the season within the backside half of the league in DVOA.
What occurred subsequent: The Rams received scorching with 5 straight wins, together with a 51-21 dismantling of the Inexperienced Bay Packers in Week 3. They completed the season 11-5 however second within the NFC West, ending their streak of seven straight division titles. The Rams misplaced 34-13 to the Dallas Cowboys within the wild-card spherical. The franchise wouldn't return to the Tremendous Bowl till after the 1999 season — a 23-16 win over the Tennessee Titans.
Misplaced 34-19 to Denver Broncos in Tremendous Bowl XXXIII
Week 1: 17-14 loss vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 2: 24-7 loss at Dallas Cowboys
How they received to 0-2: A loss to the Vikings in an NFC Championship Sport rematch began the Falcons' 1999 season. It was shut, and the Vikings had really are available in as favorites. Atlanta fumbled 3 times and Minnesota recovered all three. However the true downside was that quarterback Chris Chandler strained his hamstring late within the sport and missed three of the following 4 video games.
The Falcons began Tony Graziani at quarterback on “Monday Evening Soccer” in Week 2, however he went 7-of-16 for 90 yards with a choose. They benched Graziani within the third quarter for Danny Kanell, who threw one other two interceptions. Even worse, operating again Jamal Anderson tore his ACL early within the sport and was misplaced for the season. “Proper now, it is a state of emergency,” cornerback Ray Buchanan mentioned after the sport.
What occurred subsequent: The accidents simply stored piling up, and the Falcons began 0-4. That was 1-6 after which 2-9 earlier than Atlanta completed 5-11. The 1998 Tremendous Bowl look ended up as a blip and the workforce did not have a successful file once more till 2002.
Misplaced 23-20 to Los Angeles Rams in Tremendous Bowl LVI
Week 1: 23-20 loss vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (OT)
Week 2: 20-17 loss at Dallas Cowboys
How they received to 0-2: The Bengals getting off to a gradual begin? By no means! (In response to ESPN Analysis, previous to the 2025 season Cincinnati was an NFL-worst 1-11 in Weeks 1-2 since Zac Taylor grew to become the coach in 2019.)
Week 1 was the notorious sport during which the Bengals had been about to beat the Steelers due to a Joe Burrow-to-Ja'Marr Chase landing go with two seconds left … after which kicker Evan McPherson's further level was blocked. That despatched the sport to extra time and neither workforce may rating on two possessions apiece earlier than the Steelers knocked down a 53-yard Chris Boswell discipline aim as time expired. Cincinnati outgained Pittsburgh 432-267, however Burrow threw 4 interceptions and misplaced one fumble. He was additionally sacked seven instances, together with three by Alex Highsmith.
Cincinnati then misplaced on the ultimate play once more in Week 2. The Bengals got here again from being down 17-3 to tie issues up towards the Cowboys with 3:45 left. After the groups traded punts, Dallas backup quarterback Cooper Rush received the ball with 57 seconds left and moved the workforce 33 yards to arrange a 50-yard Brett Maher discipline aim.
“No panic,” Burrow said on the time. “We have misplaced two video games earlier than. We misplaced two straight video games a number of instances final 12 months. There's quite a lot of soccer to be performed.”
What occurred subsequent: The Bengals righted the ship with wins of their subsequent two video games and finally gained eight straight to go from a 4-4 begin to a 12-4 end. They misplaced 23-20 to Kansas Metropolis within the AFC Championship Sport.
Misplaced 16-7 to New York Jets in Tremendous Bowl III
Week 1: 27-21 loss vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week 2: 52-14 loss at Minnesota Vikings
How they received to 0-2: It is powerful to know the place to rank this one as a result of we do not have DVOA for the 1969 season. However the Colts misplaced to arguably the 2 finest groups within the NFL that season.
The issue in Week 1 wasn't yardage, the place the Colts and Rams had been principally even, however relatively turnovers. Johnny Unitas threw three picks, and the Colts additionally misplaced a fumble. Nonetheless, Baltimore managed to maintain it shut till the top.
In Week 2, Baltimore did something however that. The Vikings had been clearly the perfect workforce within the NFL in 1969, they usually destroyed the Colts. Minnesota's Joe Kapp handed for 449 yards and 7 touchdowns. The Vikings introduced of their backup quarterbacks, and Gary Cuozzo and Bob Lee mixed for one more 89 passing yards. General, the Vikings outgained the Colts 622-235.
Nonetheless, as unhealthy as that sport was, the Vikings had been doing this to quite a lot of opponents in 1969. They later gained video games 31-0, 27-0 and 51-3 however finally misplaced 23-7 to the Chiefs in Tremendous Bowl IV.
What occurred subsequent: The Colts gained their subsequent three video games however misplaced twice to the division rival 49ers and completed the season 8-5-1, lacking the playoffs after a second-place division end. Coach Don Shula departed for Miami within the offseason, however the Colts gained Tremendous Bowl V the next season with Don McCafferty as their coach.
Misplaced 38-9 to Los Angeles Raiders in Tremendous Bowl XVIII
Week 1: 35-17 loss vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 2: 37-31 loss at San Francisco 49ers
How they received to 0-2: As with the 1969 Colts, the opponent high quality actually mattered on this rating. Washington began off by dropping to the 2 groups that met in that season's Tremendous Bowl.
Washington stored the yardage shut at house in Week 1, thanks partly to 98 dashing yards and a landing from fullback John Riggins. Nonetheless, Washington turned it over 3 times, together with two Joe Theismann interceptions. Miami's Dan Marino did not flip the ball over, was not sacked and had 5 passing touchdowns in a victory.
The subsequent week in San Francisco, Washington fell behind 27-0 earlier than Mark Moseley hit a 38-yard discipline aim proper earlier than halftime. Washington slowly climbed again into it and made the rating 37-31 following a 12-yard landing go from Theismann to extensive receiver Virgil Seay. San Francisco received the ball again with 3:44 remaining, and Washington couldn't make a cease. The sport basically ended after a private foul penalty on defensive finish Dexter Manley gave the 49ers one other first down with 1:52 left.
What occurred subsequent: Washington gained 5 straight in a run that included victories over three NFC East rivals. The workforce completed the season 11-5 however misplaced to the Chicago Bears 23-19 within the divisional spherical. The franchise returned to the Tremendous Bowl after the 1987 season, beating the Broncos 42-10.
Misplaced 28-24 to New England Patriots in Tremendous Bowl XLIX
Week 1: 34-31 loss at St. Louis Rams (OT)
Week 2: 27-17 loss at Inexperienced Bay Packers
How they received to 0-2: The Seahawks are ranked this excessive partly as a result of they had been the one workforce that was on the highway for each losses. Week 1 additionally required extra time for the Rams, who completed the season ranked thirteenth in DVOA, regardless of a 7-9 file.
The Rams had a 24-13 lead over Seattle going into the fourth quarter, and the Seahawks got here again with three straight scores. Then, a 37-yard landing go from Nick Foles to tight finish Lance Kendricks despatched the sport into extra time. In further play, the Rams received the ball first, and Greg Zuerlein kicked a 37-yard discipline aim. Seattle had an opportunity to reply, however operating again Marshawn Lynch was stuffed on fourth-and-1 on the Rams' 42-yard line.
A Sunday evening sport in Week 2 resulted within the Seahawks' largest lack of the season. That they had a 17-13 lead within the third quarter, however the Packers scored the following 14 factors to win. Nonetheless, the sport was pretty shut on the stat sheet, as Inexperienced Bay outgained Seattle solely 361-324 and had one turnover to Seattle's two.
What occurred subsequent: Seattle rebounded in Week 3 with a 26-0 shellacking of the Bears, however it struggled with shut losses all season. The Seahawks completed the season 10-6, with 5 of these losses coming by six factors or fewer. They made it to the divisional spherical however misplaced 31-24 the Panthers, who finally fell in Tremendous Bowl 50 to the Broncos.
Misplaced 20-17 to New England Patriots in Tremendous Bowl XXXVI
Week 1: 23-16 loss at Denver Broncos
Week 2: 26-21 loss vs. New York Giants
How they received to 0-2: The Rams dominated the 2001 season earlier than they had been upset within the Tremendous Bowl, so it was an actual shock after they began the following season with two losses — although they had been very shut.
In Week 1, the Rams outgained the Broncos 327-291, with every workforce turning the ball over twice. Nonetheless, the Rams struggled to get the ball into the top zone, with only one landing. Finally, they kicked a 39-yard discipline aim from the Denver 21-yard line with 2:17 left to maneuver inside a landing. However they could not recuperate the onside kick, and the Broncos completed out the sport with a primary down. Denver went on to complete sixth in DVOA that season, so this loss was to an excellent opponent.
In Week 2, the Rams outgained the Giants on a per-play foundation (6.2 to six.0 yards) however turned the ball over 4 instances. The Rams misplaced two fumbles and quarterback Kurt Warner threw a pick-six to cornerback Jason Sehorn. The Giants went on to complete that season fifteenth in DVOA.
What occurred subsequent: Issues did not get higher for the Rams regardless of the shut nature of their losses. The Rams misplaced their subsequent three video games, ending off with a 37-13 drubbing by the hands of the 49ers in Week 5. Warner received damage early in a Week 4 loss to Dallas, returned in Weeks 12-13 after which was out once more for the remainder of the season with an harm to his proper hand.
By the top of the season, the Rams had used 4 completely different beginning quarterbacks. Marc Bulger helped the Rams win 5 straight to even their file at 5-5, however he received damage as nicely. They completed the season 7-9 and missed the playoffs. The Rams rebounded in 2003 to complete 12-4 with Bulger at quarterback. The franchise's subsequent massive sport look was in Tremendous Bowl LIII — a 13-3 loss to the Patriots.
Misplaced 40-22 to Philadelphia Eagles in Tremendous Bowl LIX
Week 1: 27-21 loss at Los Angeles Chargers
Week 2: 20-17 loss vs. Philadelphia Eagles
How they received to 0-2: With out opponent changes, the Chiefs are ranked 18th within the NFL with a minus-6.6% DVOA. If we used final season's opponent changes, Kansas Metropolis could be eleventh in DVOA, simply the perfect of the ten groups which have began 0-2 in 2025.
The Chiefs had been outgained by the Chargers by 50 yards, however Kansas Metropolis outgained the Eagles in Week 2 (294-216). The Chiefs have gained extra yards per play than their two opponents (5.6 to five.1) and solely thrown one interception — the ball that glanced off Travis Kelce's fingers for an end-zone interception towards Philadelphia.
What occurs subsequent? We do not know but how good the Chiefs' two opponents might be for the complete season, however the Chargers ranked ninth in DVOA final season and simply dealt with the Raiders on Monday. And clearly the Eagles are the defending Tremendous Bowl champions.
Not one of the earlier groups received again to the Tremendous Bowl within the season in query. Can the Chiefs be the primary? It is powerful to check them to the opposite groups on this listing if we need to be taught from historical past. Groups reminiscent of 1983 Washington, the 1968 Colts and 2001 Rams had been extra dominant than the eventual champions throughout their respective common seasons, making their 0-2 begins the following season stunning. The 2021 Bengals had been a younger workforce on the rise, not seasoned champions just like the Chiefs. And the 1998 Falcons had been a one-year surprise.
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Why Domonique Foxworth is ‘very involved' about Ok.C. offense
Domonique Foxworth shares his frustration with the Chiefs' offense and explains why Patrick Mahomes seems visibly indignant.
Good well being might be necessary if the Chiefs hope to show issues round. The 1999 Falcons and 2002 Rams, for instance, had been considerably damage by accidents to their most necessary gamers. Kansas Metropolis clearly misses extensive receiver Xavier Worthy with regards to stretching the sector, however it's arduous to think about the workforce placing up a dropping file so long as Mahomes stays wholesome.
The most important downside for Kansas Metropolis is its schedule. The Chiefs are closely favored over the Giants this week, however they play the Ravens, Lions and Payments earlier than their Week 10 bye. Nonetheless, it will get simpler after that. In response to ESPN's Soccer Energy Index, the Chiefs nonetheless have a 6.4% probability to make it to Tremendous Bowl LX and a 3.5% probability to win all of it. So do not rely them out but.
