Nine NFL teams have almost no chance nine weeks into the season.

The Patriots, Raiders, Jaguars, Browns, Giants, Saints and Panthers are 2-7. The Dolphins and Titans are 2-6.

On the other hand, 11 teams have at least six victories.

So much for parity.

The goal of the league has always been to allow each team to stay in contention for as long as possible. But 28.1% of teams, or more than a quarter of the league, will likely spend the second half fighting for draft positioning.

Maybe Miami still has a chance at a turnaround because Tua Tagovailoa is back and playing well. The Dolphins went 1-3 when Tagovailoa was concussed, averaging just 10 points. They have lost both games since his return but have scored 27 each.

Oddsmakers give Miami respect. The Dolphins are only 1-point underdogs on the road against the Los Angeles Rams (4-4) Monday evening.

“I live in real hope. How do people’s games improve? Are we getting better? coach Mike McDaniel said Thursday. “Does this mean that it is up to standard or that the losses are acceptable? Absolutely not, but it is essential for football teams to be successful in any NFL season that they master the art of improving through noise and not confuse noise with just losing.

“The noise is also very loud when you’re winning, and sometimes that can happen – you could be sitting at 6-2 and if the ball doesn’t improve through all the noise, I don’t have any real hope. My hope is real because the football I watch and detail is getting better, and I think the team is focusing on a game where they feel like their brand of football is in control I think the football team. knows that when this happens, things will work out themselves in the win column.

The Dolphins are one of two two-win teams that made the playoffs last season. Cleveland is the other. Both finished 11-6 and lost in the AFC wild-card round.

The Jaguars, Saints and Giants had playoff aspirations.

Jacksonville was 9-8 in each of the previous two seasons, winning the AFC South in 2022 and advancing to the divisional round. But this year has been a disaster for quarterback coach Doug Pederson Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars. They have lost five games by five points or less.

“You have to rebuild them,” Pederson said. “We have to prepare them to take on another challenge. I have to show them and talk to them in a way that is responsible, responsible, do your job, do it better, do the little things.

“I have to show that in a team, bring it to light and just show the guys, ‘Look, this is what’s holding us back right now, play X, Y and Z,’ whatever it is.”

The Giants also made the playoffs in 2022 when Brian Daboll was named AP Coach of the Year in his first season in New York. They were 6-11 last year when quarterback Daniel Jones missed 11 games due to injuries.

Jones is back but things haven’t improved for the Giants.

“Well, these guys, everyone, the coaches, the players, again, you see we’re all doing this to try to win,” Daboll said. “We spend a lot of time here. We practice the right way. We work hard. When you don’t get results, it’s certainly frustrating. You do everything you can to achieve victory. Ultimately, it’s my job and my job is to support and lead. Again, the blame lies with me, not these guys. They work hard.

New Orleans finished last season with a 9-8 record and is off to an impressive start this year, going 2-0 and scoring 91 points. Nothing has gone well for the Saints since Week 3. The loss cost coach Dennis Allen his job this week.

Carolina, New England, and Tennessee were expected to rebuild, so it’s no surprise that each team struggled.

At least the Patriots have reason to be optimistic, as rookie Drake Maye looks like he could become a franchise quarterback. Las Vegas, Cleveland, Tennessee and Carolina have question marks over this important position.

“I know everyone is excited about our quarterback and he’s a good player for us,” coach Jerod Mayo said. “He will continue to develop in the future, but he understands that there are a lot of things to work on for himself as well. You see some of the other guys, and they’re at different points in their rookie year. Your rookie year, no matter what position you play, it’s always difficult. Again, these guys, it’s about getting better every day, and you’re going to deal with different situations every day, whether you’re talking on the field or off the field.

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