Chasing The First Victory in 2026: The Hunt Continues For The Feckless Five
Chasing The First Victory in 2026: The Hunt Continues For The Feckless Five
The 2026 NFL season is well underway, with most teams reaching the quarter pole with surprising, less-than-ideal records. Which teams are still chasing the first victory in 2026? When will they taste the sweet nectar of a win after a winless first quarter?
Note: All winless teams were ranked using Tankathon data and are ranked in terms of the best chance to conclude the chasing the first victory of their seasons.
Chasing The First Victory In 2026: The Hunt Continues For The Feckless Five
1. Houston Texans (0-4)
Next Three Games: AWAY @ Tennessee, Neutral vs. Jacksonville (London), HOME vs. New York Giants
Much digital and print ink was spilled about how the vaunted Texans would bring utter ruination to opposing offenses before training camp. Well, it certainly hasn’t come to fruition yet this season, but it’s still early enough for Houston to recover from another tailspin start. The good news for the Texans is that embattled quarterback C.J. Stroud bounced back from his subpar seasons. Bad news: the defense still isn’t quite there to help the offense stay apace with opposing offenses.
Even better news for Houston arrives in the form of a moribund Titans squad also seeking its first victory. The Texans hold every advantage over their longtime blood rival. There should be enough of a margin to flex their muscles before seeking revenge against the Jaguars in Week 6 overseas. Will Houston finally end chasing the first victory of a stressful season?
Oct 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws the ball during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
2. Tennessee Titans (0-4)
Next Three Games: HOME vs. Houston, AWAY @ Indianapolis, HOME vs. Cleveland
True to form, the Titans are winless and almost hopeless, but a few bright spots remain, including an emerging rookie wide receiver, Carnell Tate. The defense is holding its own despite virtually zero help from a toothless offense, plagued by hilariously inept playcalling by OC Brian Daboll, especially in the red zone. Can the team recover from its self-induced delusions of being good and eke out a win this season? The schedule presents very few opportunities to do so in the coming weeks.
After a home game against a smarting Texans squad eager to prove that their own winless streak is a fluke, the Titans travel to hated Indianapolis. They then host a surging Cleveland team battling for AFC North supremacy in Week 7. Mercifully, the grinding schedule ends with a road trip to Cincinnati before the bye week. A win, any win, will do for the struggling Titans as they look to end chasing the first victory of 2026.
Oct 4, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate (14) runs the ball during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-4)
Next Three Games: AWAY @ Dallas, HOME vs. Pittsburgh, AWAY @ Carolina
The vibes in Tampa are decidedly not ideal as the quarterback is injured, the head coach is under extreme duress, and the team is floundering in every phase. Quarterback Baker Mayfield injured himself in the loss to Minnesota after trying a patented Baker comeback in the dying embers. Todd Bowles is proving to everyone that the Buccaneers made a catastrophic decision to retain him after a 2025 slump that cost them the division. The malaise has continued in 2026, with the Bucs losing 11 of their past 13 games, dating back to last season’s bye week.
Tampa Bay’s tired defense doesn’t get much relief in Week 5 with the high-powered Cowboys hosting the weary Bucs on their last legs. However, there is a silver lining as rookie UDFA QB Jalon Daniels could improve against yet another woeful Cowboys defense. If the Bucs don’t win Thursday night, the road to chasing the first victory gets tougher, with the Steelers and defending NFC South champion Carolina on deck.
Sep 27, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles shakes hands with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell after the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
4. Los Angeles Chargers (0-4)
Next Three Games: HOME vs. Denver, AWAY @ Kansas City, BYE
No franchise is more dysfunctional than the junior partner of SoFi Stadium at this juncture of the season. The once-touted marriage between offensive wunderkind Mike McDaniel and quarterback Justin Herbert is on the rocks. So much so that the head coach is already fielding questions about McDaniel’s tenure. The offensive line has remained a worrisome, jumbled mess, leading to Herbert’s incessant questionable decision-making. He’s battled back and produced a few highlights, but the situation is currently beyond terrible in Tinseltown.
The schedule doesn’t relent as a Denver team looking to make amends for a horrendous showing in Santa Clara visits before the once-again powerful Chiefs host LA in Week 6. Hope is slim pickings after the bye week, with games against the Rams, Texans, and Ravens looming. 2026 could be a lost season for the talented squad from SoCal as they continue chasing their first victory.
Sep 27, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel looks on from the sideline in the first half against the Buffalo Bills at New Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
5. Miami Dolphins (0-4)
Next Three Games: HOME vs. Cincinnati, BYE, @ New York Jets
The Dolphins are a spirited bunch this season, but have been stripped down to the studs as they rebuild the franchise under new leadership. Their lack of playmakers is showing through four relatively competitive losses. Unfortunately, the road to seeking their first win is paved with fraught intentions. The Bengals come to Vice City in Week 5 to battle the elements and a feisty Dolphins team chasing the first victory of their imperiled season. Cincinnati is coming off two consecutive losses to fellow AFC pretenders and could be without most of its vaunted wide receiver room.
The Bengals could be caught looking ahead to a pivotal Week 6 showdown with a similarly injured Ravens, so Miami has its best chance to spring an upset in the next few weeks. Their next best chance to escape from the AFC East basement arrives in Week 7 against the lowly Jets. New York will be coming off a bruising escapade with the Patriots, then.
Oct 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Miami Dolphins kicker Riley Patterson (47) celebrates a field goal during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
The Last Word
The NFL enters Week 5 with five winless teams chasing the first victory of their 2026 seasons, including a surprise entrant among the feckless five. Which teams have the best shot at doing so and getting off the ground before the meat of the schedule arrives in full force? How many teams are destined to pick from the top ten selections in the 2027 NFL Draft? These winless teams haven’t had the best starts, but they have varying levels of small successes they can build on going forward. How many coaches will get fired for their team’s on-field misadventures?
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