It's hard not to overreact to the first two games of an NFL season. But, does a 2-0 start really guarantee playoffs? And are the 0-2 teams truly toast?
I'll break down the historical 0-2 and 2-0 NFL trends after Week 2 to determine the fate of these NFL teams going forward:
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Are 0-2 Teams Screwed?
Okay 0-2 teams, take a seat. It's not completely over, but it certainly isn't good news. In the last six years, only four of the 45 teams that started 0-2 (8.8%) went on to make the playoffs.
If you Bengals or Ravens fans want any consolation, three of the four 0-2 teams that have gone on to the playoffs in recent years have come from the AFC. And, an 0-2 team has made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. Last year it was the Texans and the year before the Bengals.
I wouldn't be shocked if we saw another 0-2 team scratch back into the playoffs this year. Legit contenders like the Ravens, Bengals, Colts, and Rams are all sitting at 0-2. Surely one of those teams turns the season around?
Waking up 0-2 be like: pic.twitter.com/DXy2dWkq6U
— Ravens Nation 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀 (@LIVERavenNation) September 16, 2024
Can The 2-0 Teams Be Stopped?
Starting 2-0 is a great sign for your playoff chances, but it's no guarantee. In the last six years, 35 of the 48 teams that started 2-0 went on to make the postseason (72.9%). Last year, two 2-0 teams failed to make the postseason.
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All 2-0 and 0-2 Teams (Last 5 Years)
| Year | 2-0 | Playoffs? | 0-2 | Playoffs? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Eagles | Y | Bengals | N |
| Ravens | Y | Bears | N | |
| Falcons | N | Texans | Y | |
| Chargers | N | Cardinals | N | |
| Buccaneers | Y | Broncos | N | |
| 49ers | Y | Patriots | N | |
| Cowboys | Y | |||
| Dolphins | Y | |||
| 2022 | Buffalo | Y | Atlanta | N |
| Kansas City | Y | Carolina | N | |
| Miami | Y | Cincinnati | Y | |
| Philadelphia | Y | Las Vegas | N | |
| Tampa Bay | Y | Tennessee | N | |
| NY Giants | Y | |||
| 2021 | Arizona | Y | Atlanta | N |
| Carolina | N | Detroit | N | |
| Denver | N | Indianapolis | N | |
| LA Rams | Y | Jacksonville | N | |
| Las Vegas | Y | Minnesota | N | |
| San Francisco | Y | NY Jets | N | |
| Tampa Bay | Y | NY Giants | N | |
| 2020 | Arizona | N | Atlanta | N |
| Baltimore | Y | Carolina | N | |
| Buffalo | Y | Cincinnati | N | |
| Chicago | Y | Denver | N | |
| Green Bay | Y | Detroit | N | |
| LA Rams | Y | Miami | N | |
| Kansas City | Y | Minnesota | N | |
| Las Vegas | N | NY Jets | N | |
| Pittsburgh | Y | Philadelphia | N | |
| Seattle | Y | Houston | N | |
| Tennessee | Y | NY Giants | N | |
| 2019 | Baltimore | Y | Carolina | N |
| Buffalo | Y | Cincinnati | N | |
| Dallas | N | Denver | N | |
| Green Bay | Y | Jacksonville | N | |
| LA Rams | N | Miami | N | |
| Kansas City | Y | NY Jets | N | |
| New England | Y | Pittsburgh | N | |
| Seattle | Y | NY Giants | N | |
| San Francisco | Y | Washington | N | |
| 2018 | LA Rams | Y | Houston | Y |
| Kansas City | Y | Buffalo | N | |
| Jacksonville | N | Arizona | N | |
| Tampa Bay | N | Detroit | N | |
| Denver | N | Oakland | N | |
| Miami | N | Seattle | Y | |
| Cincinnati | N | NY Giants | N |
