NFL groups are trying to win each week, however even the perfect groups can wrestle at instances. A shedding streak doesn’t imply a crew will miss the playoffs, however a shedding streak to open the season will be robust to beat.
Barring any surprising ties, 16 groups completed Week 1 with an 0-1 report. A often talked about stat through the years has been the variety of groups that begin 0-2 that ultimately make the playoffs. It’s a small quantity, however the context of it has modified since 2020 and 2021. In 2020, the NFL expanded to a 14-team playoff area and in 2021, the NFL expanded to a 17-game schedule. An 0-2 begin nonetheless takes some work to beat, however an 0-2 begin within the 17-game schedule and with an additional playoff berth in every convention is barely simpler than beforehand.
Over the previous three seasons for the reason that enlargement to a 17-game schedule, 21 groups have opened the season 0-2. Solely two have ultimately made the playoffs. In 2023, 9 groups began the season 0-2 and the Houston Texans had been the one crew to make the playoffs. They completed 10-7 and received the AFC South. The 12 months prior, 5 groups began 0-2 and solely the Cincinnati Bengals made the playoffs. They completed 12-4 and received the AFC North. In 2021, seven groups began the season 0-2 and none of them made the playoffs.
In 2020, when the league expanded to a 14-team playoff area, 11 groups began with an 0-2 report and none of these groups made the playoffs.
Previous to 2020, the NFL adopted a 12-team playoff format in 1990. Between 1990 and 2019, 12% of groups that began 0-2 reached the playoffs.
