Five winless NFL teams enter Week 5 with their playoff hopes already in jeopardy. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, and Miami Dolphins all start the year 0-4, leaving their chances at making the playoffs in danger as the season nears the halfway point.
There is still time to recover for these five teams, but little room left for error. With just 13 games remaining, each team would need to finish the year with nine to ten wins just to reach a 9-8 or 10-7 record. Neither 9-8 nor 10-7 would secure a guaranteed postseason spot, making it essential these teams figure it out quickly.
In the history of the NFL, there has only been one team to reach the playoffs after a 0-4 start. The 1992 San Diego Chargers rattled off wins in 11 of their last 12 games to capture the AFC West title and a spot in the postseason.
All five of these teams face different circumstances that are holding them back. Miami has struggled to generate any production on offense, on top of losing their best offensive weapon, Devon Achane, to a season-ending injury. Meanwhile, the Titans offense has averaged a whopping 13.8 points per game due to slow starts, turnovers, and missed opportunities in the red zone.
Tampa Bay, Houston, and Los Angeles offer the best chances at a potential comeback story, but as history has proven, the odds are against them.
Why These Three Winless NFL Teams Still Have Playoff Hope
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Division Is Still Wide Open
Tampa Bay’s strongest reason not to give up hope is its position in the NFC South. Carolina and Atlanta are both at the top of the division at 2-2, meaning the Buccaneers sit only two games behind the division leaders despite not winning a game.
More importantly, Tampa Bay has yet to play a division opponent. All six of their NFC South matchups remain, providing an opportunity to gain ground quickly on division rivals. With the win/loss record inside divisions being a playoff tiebreaker, this could give the Bucs a chance to squeeze out another division title.
The Buccaneers’ defense is another reason for a turnaround. Last week, Tampa Bay held the Packers to 283 total yards and a 2-10 third-down percentage. Even though the Bucs ended up losing the game 17-14, the defense provided a great chance for an inexperienced quarterback.
The main concern is quarterback Baker Mayfield. Mayfield suffered a dislocated right thumb against Minnesota in week three, and the team announced he will miss a minimum of three weeks. His availability remains the key question in whether a comeback is possible for the Buccaneers. Without Mayfield, the offense hasn’t been providing enough support, even with the outstanding defensive play.
Undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels threw for 148 yards and a touchdown and added 55 rushing yards in his first appearance against Green Bay. However, he threw two costly interceptions that allowed the Packers to take over with good field position. Tampa Bay has also allowed 16 sacks through the first four weeks, making the job for the rookie quarterback harder than it already is.
The Buccaneers need better offensive production in the coming weeks without Mayfield. Daniels doesn’t need to be perfect, but he must take care of the ball and avoid putting every game in the hands of the defense.
Mayfield’s eventual return will help the Bucs chances, but it can’t be treated as the solution at this point. Tampa Bay has an uphill battle, but a struggling division offers them hope. Keeping that hope alive starts with getting through Dallas and Pittsburgh before its first NFC South matchup in week seven.
Houston Texans: Offensive Improvement Has To Be The Focal Point
Houston’s latest loss provided evidence as to why a turnaround is possible and why it hasn’t started yet.
CJ Stroud threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns against Dallas, his best performance of the season. Nico Collins returned from a two-game absence due to a hamstring injury and immediately filled back into his WR1 role, catching seven passes for 118 yards and both of Stroud’s touchdown passes.
That offensive performance is all the evidence needed to give the Texans a chance at a playoff push. Last season, Houston had one of the most elite defenses, and only got better over the offseason. This year, some key injuries have sidelined defensive stars Derek Stingley Jr. and Henry To’oTo’o. Hopefully, with these players returning, the defense can get back to its 2025 form.
The Texans scored 30 points, including a go-ahead drive that gave them a 30-27 lead with 2:23 remaining. The Cowboys then drove 74 yards and scored the winning touchdown with too little time left for Stroud and the Texans to counter.
This is the central problem for Houston. Offensive production has been improving through the early stages of the year, but that means little if their defense can’t protect a lead. That being said, hope shouldn’t be completely lost for the Texans. Getting Stingley and To’oTo’o back should bolster their defense and make a difference in weeks to come.
Their schedule makes the Texans an immediate contender to still make the playoffs. They travel to the 0-4 division opponent, the Tennessee Titans, in Week 5, then face Jacksonville in London in Week 6. Houston still has five AFC South matchups remaining, allowing them chances to make up ground.
Beating Tennessee would stop Houston’s losing streak; following it up with a win over the Jaguars would give the Texans momentum and a win against the current division leader.
For both the Texans and Buccaneers, their playoff chances improve due to the lack of success by their fellow division opponents. It won’t be an easy path from 0-4 to the playoffs, but their circumstances don’t make it impossible.
Los Angeles Chargers: Herbert Gives Them A Chance, But Offensive Line Must Improve
For the past few seasons, the Los Angeles Chargers haven’t lived up to the expectations set by analysts and fans alike. Since the 2020 season, they have finished at best second in the AFC West, reaching the playoffs three times, each resulting in a Wild Card loss.
This year, the Chargers team’s argument for a comeback begins with Justin Herbert, although he hasn’t been as effective as in past seasons.
Los Angeles struggled offensively in the first half of their most recent loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but showed signs of life in the second half. Herbert completed 14 of 17 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown after the mid-game break, helping the Chargers outscore the Seahawks 20-6 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough as they wound up losing 30-23.
Their last two quarters of football showed the potential of a Mike McDaniel offense with Herbert at the helm. The problem is the consistency and turnovers, forcing Los Angeles to chase points most games.
The offensive line is the biggest concern. Rashawn Slater suffered a high ankle sprain against Seattle, Joe Alt left with a neck injury, and Trevor Penning is undergoing concussion protocol. Herbert still gives this team a chance, but protecting him is necessary for that to happen.
These next two weeks will have heavy influence over the Chargers’ playoff chances, as they have two divisional matchups against Denver, then Kansas City. With the Chiefs already 4-0, the route to a division title seems unlikely, but sneaking into another Wild Card spot is definitely in reach.
Of these three teams, the Chargers have the most unrealistic comeback opportunity. Even though Herbert has had experience in the NFL, he has consistently shown an inability to win in big games. On top of that, the Chiefs and Broncos aren’t going anywhere in the AFC West, and Las Vegas has performed above expectations so far this season.
Starting the year 0-4 is quite literally as bad as it can get, but if any of the winless teams have a chance at making history, it’s one of these three.
