The 2024 NFL season has taken an unexpected turn—and not necessarily for the better. With so many teams racking up losses, fans are starting to look beyond playoff dreams and toward the promise of next year’s draft. Already, a rare nine teams have logged six or more losses in just eight weeks, tying a record set in 2000.
And if Miami loses one more game, the league could witness an unprecedented 10 teams with 2-6 or worse records to start the season. So, how did we get here? Let’s break it all down.
A Record-Breaking Struggle Across the League
As it stands, nine teams have already taken six or more losses in just eight weeks, something we’ve only seen one other time back in 2000. This year’s losing trend is particularly strong in the AFC East, where three teams—the Jets, Patriots, and Dolphins—are struggling. Meanwhile, the Bills are taking advantage, sitting comfortably at 6-2 and becoming only the eighth team since the 2002 realignment to have at least four more wins than any other team in their division by this point in the season.
The story is similar in other divisions. In the AFC South, Jacksonville (2-6) and Tennessee (1-6) find themselves at the bottom, while the NFC South has New Orleans (2-6) and Carolina (1-7) struggling to keep up. The Saints had a promising 2-0 start but quickly went downhill, marking six straight losses and joining an unlucky group—only nine teams in NFL history have followed a 2-0 start with six straight defeats. Other teams with equally grim records include Cleveland (2-6), Las Vegas (2-6), and the New York Giants (2-6). Altogether, it adds up to one of the rockiest starts we’ve seen in NFL history.
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The Lions’ Bizarre 52-Point Blowout Over the Titans
One of the most unusual games of the 2024 season so far came when the Detroit Lions hammered the Tennessee Titans 52-14, despite gaining only 225 total yards. It’s a game where, if you looked just at the stat sheet, you’d probably think Detroit had no shot. This game set records—Detroit scored more than 50 points with the fewest offensive yards since 1948, and the fewest net passing yards since the Giants scored 55 with just 51 net yards in 1950.
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Detroit’s success came down to defense and special teams. A 90-yard punt return for a touchdown from Kalif Raymond, along with three Titans turnovers and a 72-yard kickoff return by Khalil Dorsey, created short fields for Detroit’s offense. Incredibly, Jared Goff threw for just 85 yards (lowered by four sacks) but still managed three touchdown passes, marking the lowest passing total for a three-TD game since Steve Grogan’s 83 yards for the Patriots in 1976.
Despite the blowout score, the Titans actually outgained the Lions by 191 yards—the largest yardage difference for a team that lost by at least 26 points since at least 1948.
Kirk Cousins Lights Up the Buccaneers
One player who has been on fire—at least against the Buccaneers—is Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins. In a 31-26 victory, Cousins dismantled Tampa Bay’s defense for the second time this season, completing a season sweep that started with a 509-yard, four-touchdown performance in Week 5. In their second matchup, Cousins threw for 276 yards and four more touchdowns, joining NFL legends Joe Montana, Dan Marino, and Y.A. Tittle as one of only four players to throw for at least 750 yards and eight touchdowns against a single team in a season.
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The Colts’ Experiment with Anthony Richardson Stalls
The Indianapolis Colts have paused their all-or-nothing experiment with rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 pick from the 2024 draft. Richardson was benched after a rough outing against Houston, where he completed only 2 of 15 passes in the first half and ended the game with just 10 completions on 32 attempts. His season completion rate now stands at 44.4%, which puts him in rare territory—only one quarterback in the past two decades has posted a lower rate over an entire season with 100+ attempts (Josh Freeman’s 42.9% in 2013).
Richardson’s numbers are a mixed bag; while he’s shown a knack for big plays, tying the league lead with four passes of 50+ yards, he’s struggled with consistency. His average yards per completion stands at 16.2, which is the second-highest since 1990 for players with over 100 attempts, just behind Chris Chandler’s 16.6 in 1998. However, the Colts have decided it’s time for a reset.
Why 2-Point Conversions Are Failing More Than Ever
Another strange trend this season is the sharp drop in successful 2-point conversions. So far in 2024, teams are converting just 31% of their attempts, an all-time low. For comparison, last year’s rate was 55%. If things don’t improve, 2024 could mark the first season since 1999, in which 2-point conversions drop below a 40% success rate.
It’s even tougher when looking at attempts from the standard 2-yard line spot (as opposed to attempts following penalties that move the ball up or back), where the conversion rate is just 28.6%, down from 55.8% last season. Historically, teams have converted 2-point attempts at around a 48% rate, making it almost a 50-50 decision. This year’s numbers reflect just how much offenses are struggling across the league.
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