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 in regards to the thought of a Tremendous Bowl loser curse, however the Chiefs are solely the eighth such crew to begin the subsequent 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 crew 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 probabilities of making it again to the massive recreation? 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.
Soar 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 obtained to 0-2: The Rams went 9-7 in 1979 earlier than an unbelievable playoff march to Tremendous Bowl XIV. They usually had a 20-10 lead in the midst of the second quarter in Week 1 after a landing plunge by Elvis Peacock, one of many all-time greatest-named working backs. However the Lions got here again and destroyed the Rams with 31 straight factors to win at Anaheim Stadium. In the long run, the Lions had 494 whole yards, plus three takeaways.
The loss to Tampa Bay — who the Rams had overwhelmed within the earlier season’s NFC Championship Recreation — 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 certainly one of these eight groups to lose to a crew that completed the season within the backside half of the league in DVOA.
What occurred subsequent: The Rams obtained sizzling 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 obtained to 0-2: A loss to the Vikings in an NFC Championship Recreation rematch began the Falcons’ 1999 season. It was shut, and the Vikings had really are available in as favorites. Atlanta fumbled thrice and Minnesota recovered all three. However the actual downside was that quarterback Chris Chandler strained his hamstring late within the recreation and missed three of the subsequent 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, working again Jamal Anderson tore his ACL early within the recreation 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 became 1-6 after which 2-9 earlier than Atlanta completed 5-11. The 1998 Tremendous Bowl look ended up as a blip and the crew did not have a successful document 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 obtained to 0-2: The Bengals getting off to a sluggish begin? By no means! (In line with ESPN Analysis, previous to the 2025 season Cincinnati was an NFL-worst 1-11 in Weeks 1-2 since Zac Taylor turned the coach in 2019.)
Week 1 was the notorious recreation wherein the Bengals have been about to beat the Steelers because of a Joe Burrow-to-Ja’Marr Chase landing go with two seconds left … after which kicker Evan McPherson’s additional level was blocked. That despatched the sport to extra time and neither crew may rating on two possessions apiece earlier than the Steelers knocked down a 53-yard Chris Boswell discipline objective as time expired. Cincinnati outgained Pittsburgh 432-267, however Burrow threw 4 interceptions and misplaced one fumble. He was additionally sacked seven occasions, 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 obtained the ball with 57 seconds left and moved the crew 33 yards to arrange a 50-yard Brett Maher discipline objective.
“No panic,” Burrow mentioned on the time. “We have misplaced two video games earlier than. We misplaced two straight video games a number of occasions final 12 months. There’s a variety 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 Recreation.
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 obtained to 0-2: It is robust 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 greatest groups within the NFL that season.
The issue in Week 1 wasn’t yardage, the place the Colts and Rams have been mainly 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 tip.
In Week 2, Baltimore did something however that. The Vikings have been clearly the very best crew within the NFL in 1969, and so they 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 an additional 89 passing yards. General, the Vikings outgained the Colts 622-235.
Nonetheless, as dangerous as that recreation was, the Vikings have been doing this to a variety 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 obtained to 0-2: As with the 1969 Colts, the opponent high quality actually mattered on this rating. Washington began off by shedding 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 speeding yards and a landing from fullback John Riggins. Nonetheless, Washington turned it over thrice, 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 following week in San Francisco, Washington fell behind 27-0 earlier than Mark Moseley hit a 38-yard discipline objective 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 huge receiver Virgil Seay. San Francisco obtained 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 crew 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 obtained to 0-2: The Seahawks are ranked this excessive partly as a result of they have been the one crew that was on the street 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 document.
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 additional play, the Rams obtained the ball first, and Greg Zuerlein kicked a 37-yard discipline objective. Seattle had an opportunity to reply, however working again Marshawn Lynch was stuffed on fourth-and-1 on the Rams’ 42-yard line.
A Sunday night time recreation in Week 2 resulted within the Seahawks’ largest lack of the season. They’d a 17-13 lead within the third quarter, however the Packers scored the subsequent 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, but it surely 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 obtained to 0-2: The Rams dominated the 2001 season earlier than they have been upset within the Tremendous Bowl, so it was an actual shock after they began the subsequent season with two losses — although they have been very shut.
In Week 1, the Rams outgained the Broncos 327-291, with every crew turning the ball over twice. Nonetheless, the Rams struggled to get the ball into the tip zone, with only one landing. Ultimately, they kicked a 39-yard discipline objective 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 occasions. 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 obtained harm 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 damage to his proper hand.
By the tip of the season, the Rams had used 4 completely different beginning quarterbacks. Marc Bulger helped the Rams win 5 straight to even their document at 5-5, however he obtained harm as properly. 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 large recreation 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 obtained 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 can be eleventh in DVOA, simply the very best of the ten groups which have began 0-2 in 2025.
The Chiefs have 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 palms for an end-zone interception towards Philadelphia.
What occurs subsequent? We do not know but how good the Chiefs’ two opponents can be for all the 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 obtained again to the Tremendous Bowl within the season in query. Can the Chiefs be the primary? It is robust to check them to the opposite groups on this listing if we wish to study from historical past. Groups similar to 1983 Washington, the 1968 Colts and 2001 Rams have been extra dominant than the eventual champions throughout their respective common seasons, making their 0-2 begins the subsequent season stunning. The 2021 Bengals have been a younger crew on the rise, not seasoned champions just like the Chiefs. And the 1998 Falcons have 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 can be essential if the Chiefs hope to show issues round. The 1999 Falcons and 2002 Rams, for instance, have been considerably harm by accidents to their most essential gamers. Kansas Metropolis clearly misses huge receiver Xavier Worthy on the subject of stretching the sphere, but it surely’s arduous to think about the crew placing up a shedding document so long as Mahomes stays wholesome.
The largest 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 line with ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index, the Chiefs nonetheless have a 6.4% likelihood to make it to Tremendous Bowl LX and a 3.5% likelihood to win all of it. So do not rely them out but.
