As the first quarter of the NFL season nears completion, desperation has started to rise for teams that have stumbled out of the gates.Half of the teams own losing records through three weeks, and six of those squads have yet to post their first victory. Among the teams that find themselves in these undesirable circumstances are 2024 playoff squads such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos (all 1-2) and the Houston Texans (0-3). Another projected contender, the Dallas Cowboys, also owns a 1-2 mark.The Chiefs and Ravens meet this week in Kansas City for what will rank among the most high-pressure early-season games in recent history. By the end of that contest, one of these perennial members of the AFC elite will own a 1-3 record.At 1-2, teams such as Kansas City, Baltimore and Denver have already dug themselves into a hole. Rebounding from such a start to reach the playoffs isn’t impossible. However, since 1990, only 24.9 percent of teams (93 of 374) that have opened the year at 1-2 have gone on to reach the playoffs. And only four out of 165 teams (2.4 percent) to start 0-3 have rebounded to advance to the postseason. Meanwhile, only 35 teams have come back from 1-3 starts to reach the playoffs.So, is it time to panic yet?We’re taking a look at these 16 struggling teams and examining whether they, along with their fans, should take a deep breath and keep the faith, hit the panic button or abandon all hope.Keep the faithKansas City Chiefs (1-2)We’re not accustomed to seeing the Chiefs disjointed, plagued by miscommunications and lacking explosiveness. The front office invested in the offensive line this offseason, however, Patrick Mahomes and coach Andy Reid continue to wait for improvement. Mahomes has had to get rid of the ball more quickly, and shots downfield have been ineffective. Meanwhile, injury, suspension and age have also robbed the Chiefs of the potency they once enjoyed at the skill positions.The second half of Sunday’s win over the Giants seemed to reflect some improvement out of the offense. Was that a get-right game? The Chiefs need it to have been because this week they host the Ravens, who have plenty of motivation to rebound after gutting losses to Buffalo and Detroit. This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Kansas City, which opened the 2021 season 1-2 before eventually finishing 12-5. The healthy return of wide receiver Xavier Worthy and fellow wideout Rashee Rice’s Week 7 return from a six-game suspension will help, and if the young left side of their offensive line (rookie tackle Josh Simmons, second-year guard Kingsley Suamataia) steadily improves, the Chiefs have hope. The playoffs remain a realistic goal. But chances for a top seed and homefield advantage seem bleak.Baltimore Ravens (1-2)The Ravens lead the NFL in scoring (37.0 ppg). But their defense can’t stop anybody, yielding a league-high 415 yards per game and 32 points per contest (second most). The Ravens have also managed only two takeaways. Couple those struggles with two back-breaking fourth-quarter fumbles by Derrick Henry against Buffalo and Detroit and the 1-2 record makes sense.The Ravens badly missed injured top defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike and edge rusher Kyle Van Noy against Detroit. They’ll need other defenders to shoulder larger loads in their absences. Fortunately for Baltimore, things in the AFC North are also unstable elsewhere. Cincinnati will be without Joe Burrow for much of the season. Cleveland is limited by shaky quarterback play, and the Steelers are inconsistent.If Henry can cure his sudden fumblitis and if the defense can start getting some key stops, the Ravens have winnable games ahead (three straight home games: Texans, Rams, Bears, and a road trip to Miami) and could improve their positioning by the midpoint of the season.Denver Broncos (1-2) Given the fast start by the AFC West rival Chargers and the struggles (rather than Year 2 growth) exhibited by quarterback Bo Nix in losses to Indianapolis and the Chargers, panic feels justified. However, it’s a long season, and Sean Payton teams have a habit of starting slow. Fortunately for the Broncos, they have a solid defense.Payton can help Nix, who has missed badly on key throws, by scaling back some of his workload. Yes, Nix delivered a strong finish to his rookie season, but he is still young, and defensive coordinators better understand his weaknesses. A greater emphasis on the run game would ensure balance, which would likely translate into improved effectiveness. Denver could capitalize on a date with the beleaguered Bengals this week before a tough matchup in Philadelphia and then has a less daunting stretch (home versus the Jets, Giants, Cowboys and a trip to Houston) ahead.Cleveland Browns (1-2)Entering the season, the Browns didn’t necessarily have the look of a contender given the instability at quarterback (aging Joe Flacco, unproven Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders). But as they showed last week when they shocked the Green Bay Packers, the Browns are a scrappy bunch led by a dominant defensive front. They got blown out by Baltimore, but should have beaten Cincinnati and would be 2-1.Are they going to go on a deep playoff run? Not likely. But given Cincinnati’s misfortunes, Pittsburgh’s inconsistencies and Baltimore’s slow start, the Browns have a chance to make things interesting. Detroit looks daunting this week, but Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Miami and New England are all beatable and Cleveland has a chance to enter Week 9 with a positive record.