Three NFL games in Week 2 feature teams with a 0-1 record, and dropping to 0-2 forces an uphill battle to reach the playoffs, with added pressure on Dallas and Washington
The Dallas Cowboys face an uphill battle if they lose to the Washington Commanders
The Dallas Cowboys face an uphill battle if they lose to the Washington Commanders
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The Dallas Cowboys host the Washington Commanders on Sunday in Week 2 of the NFL season, and the losing team could be in for a miserable season.
It's been a thrilling start to the new NFL season, with the Buffalo Bills racing into a 2-0 start despite conceding 30+ points in both games. Josh Allen has established himself as an early MVP contender and is already the market favorite.
A record $595 million was wagered across Week 1 in the state of New York, though punters won't have been happy if the Cowboys or Commanders were in their opening week parlays. Whichever team drops 0-2 in Week 2 will also face uncertainty.
The Cowboys lost 28-20 to the New York Giants on the road in Week 1, as John Harbaugh made a winning start at MetLife Stadium. The Cowboys are under major pressure to reach the postseason and succeed, especially with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Javonte Williams on offense.
The Commanders fell 24-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles, as a late comeback attempt was unsuccessful. The Giants and the Eagles already have a one-game lead in the NFC East, and either the Cowboys or the Commanders will fall well behind their divisional rivals on Sunday.
Statistics show that NFL teams that open 0-2 have just an 11.5 percent chance of reaching the playoffs. From the 1990 season through 2023, only 32 of the 279 teams to start 0-2 made the postseason.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels missed 10 games in 2025
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels missed 10 games in 2025(Image: Getty Images)
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The NFL expanded the playoffs to 14 teams in 2020, so the odds will increase moving forward, but the probability remains low. Of those 279 teams, just 17 won their division, and only three have ever won the Super Bowl.
Coincidentally, the 1993 Cowboys were one of those three teams, with the 2001 New England Patriots and 2007 Giants later matching that achievement. Over the last three seasons, 21 squads have started 0-2, and only two made the postseason.
Unless there is an unlikely tie, which occurs in fewer than 1 percent of NFL regular-season games, either the Cowboys or the Commanders will drop to 0-2. Should the losing team suffer defeat again in Week 3, they will face a huge task.
The Cowboys and Commanders will face off at AT&T Stadium
The Cowboys and Commanders will face off at AT&T Stadium
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Of the 162 teams that have started the season 0-3 since the 1990 season, only four have made the playoffs. That would give any 0-3 team a 2.5 percent chance of reaching the postseason.
Of those teams, just two have won their division, and none have ever reached the Super Bowl, let alone won it. However, there is a chance of redemption for the Cowboys and Commanders should they win, though both have reduced odds.
NFL teams starting 1-1 have a historical playoff qualification rate of 51.4 percent, but only if they won Week 1 and lost Week 2. For teams that lose in Week 1 but win in Week 2, the qualification rate drops to 38.9 percent.
Aside from the Cowboys-Commanders game, there are only two other games in Week 2 involving teams without a victory. The Cleveland Browns face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Carolina Panthers face the Atlanta Falcons.