At 0-4, where do you go?

After four weeks of the NFL season San Francisco, Tampa Bay, Miami and Buffalo all sit winless and on the brink of playoff elimination.

Two of those teams came into the season with high expectations, while the other two are playing about as expected.

By looking at each team we can see how they have failed to make the grade in this young season.

From the moment it was announced that the 49ers would be going with Tim Rattey at QB and saying goodbye to players like Jeff Garcia, Terrell Owens, Derrick Deese and Garrison Hearst expectations for the 2004 version of this once proud franchise went way down.

The team took a further hit when Rattey's groin injury caused him to miss training camp and the bulk of the preseason.

The QB combination of Rattey and Ken Dorsey has played efficiently, but neither is ever going to be compared Joe Montana, Steve Young or even Steve Bono.

The duo is a combined 95 out of 157, for 943 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions.

Injuries have decimated the defense, which was considered the strength of the team coming into the season.

Former first round pick Mike Rumpf is the latest defense starter to go down.

Defensive end John Engelberger, line backer Derek Smith, and defensive end Andre Carter also will potentially miss this Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Brandon Whiting, acquired in the Owens trade, has been especially disappointing.

The defense has been unable to create turnovers and obviously misses the coaching of now Falcon head coach Jim Mora.

The bargain basement policies of this team have turned what was once the model franchise of the league into a complete disaster with little signs that there is hope for the future.

While the New England Patriots pursue immortality and a perfect season, the 49ers will spend the season pursuing another form of immortality a winless season, which is a very real possibility.

Dennis Erickson has done nothing to prove that he is a capable NFL coach and it is time for him, G.M. Terry Donahue, and ownership in San Fran to go.

Otherwise, the 49ers could fast become the new doormats of the league.

Perhaps not around the league, but locally and within the organization the Tampa Bay Bucs came into the season with very high expectations.

After four weeks those expectations have floated away. T

he Bucs played well enough to win Sunday's game against Denver, but red zone ineffectiveness and an inability to get key defensive stops when needed allowed Denver to escape with the win.

Many times we learn more about a coach from how they lose then how they win, this season could be key to learning just what Jon Gruden is about.

He did make the right decision in benching Brad Johnson in favor of Chris Simms for this past Sunday's game in New Orleans.

Simms gives the Bucs some mobility, which should take some of the pressure off a struggling offensive line.

Also the Bucs need to find out if Simms is the QB of the future or if they will have to address the position in free agency or the draft.

Gruden also has stated that players such as Anthony Davis and Sean Mahan will see time along the offensive line.

Davis will be in there in place of aging Derrick Deese and Mahan rotating in at each guard position replacing Cosey Coleman and Matt Stinchcomb.

The Bucs will win a few games, that is a definite.

The number of wins, however, will depend on the coaching of Jon Gruden and if he can keep his team motivated in the face of adversity.

The Ricky Williams mess aside, the Dolphins had to know they were in some trouble when they entrusted the QB job to a battle between A.J. Feeley and Jay Fiedler, and were trusting in the health of David Boston for their wide receiving core.

Both those gambles have failed, which is one of the main reasons why both Dave Wansteadt and G.M. Rick Spielman deserve to lose their jobs after the season.

With QB's such as Garcia, Mark Brunell, Kurt Warner... heck, even Kordell Stewart on the market, the Dolphins gave up a second round pick for Feeley, a third stringer in Philly who played ok when Donovan McNabb went down to injury in 2002, but was not worth anywhere near what the Dolphins gave up.

The defense is playing solid, but this is a team without a QB, RB, and a porous offensive line.

Even if Williams would come back, there is no chance of this season being saved, and if owner Wayne Huizenga is smart, he will be sending a watchful eye towards New England and bring in Charlie Weiss as the next head coach of this team.

Buffalo (which is only 0-3) came into the season with many high hopes despite last year's disappointing season.

Mike Mularkey's offensive game plan has not provided the much-anticipated jump to Drew Bledsoe's career.

Bledsoe has been sacked 15 times already this season.

The worst part is that mobile 1st round pick J.P. Losman is out with an injury and thus the Bills have no other alternatives but to keep putting Bledsoe out there to get pummeled behind a horrendous offensive line.

Losman should be back sometime this season and I expect will be the starter by week 17.

The one-two running back punch of Travis Henry and Willis McGahee has so far failed to develop.

Henry has been efficient with his carries 68 carries 240 yards averaging 3.5 yards/carry.

McGahee only has 11 carries for 28 yards on the season.

Defensively, the Bills have only four sacks and are going to be without free agent acquisition Troy Vincent for at least two weeks.

The Bills are good enough to compete, but unless they find a way to protect the QB and get some balance in their offense their defense is going to have a tough time keeping games close.

Do any of these teams have a chance to turn it around and battle for playoff spot?

I don't think so all four teams are lacking in key areas which should lead to them all finishing with double digit losses.

Of the four, I think the Bucs will have the best record.

In addition, I predict San Francisco will be on the clock with the first pick in the 2005 NFL draft.