How much does Week 1 matter? In the last eight seasons, the eventual Super Bowl winner has been just 4-4 on opening day. (On the other hand, the seven eventual champions before that were 7-0.)
Every year, 0-1 teams go on to make the playoffs, even really bad week 1 teams like the 2003 Patriots. In fact, even 0-2 teams make the playoffs almost every year, such as the 2008 Chargers, 2007 Giants, 2006 Chiefs, the 2003 Eagles, and the 2002 Steelers. All those teams but the Chiefs even went on to win a playoff game.
Houston is a a sleeper bust! The Jets are playoff contenders! Baltimore has a dynamic offense! Cincinnati is helpless on offense! The Broncos are in the playoff hunt! Brett Favre is a game manager! The Bears made a huge mistake acquiring Jay Cutler!
These are all statements that most would have disagreed with a few days ago. One game goes by and we are freaking out.
Week 1, more than any other week, is incredibly misleading. Teams are getting into a rhythm. Teams are making a gameplan without having a solid idea about what their opponent is doing. And, worst of all, with no other games to evaluate, there's a matter of opponent strength and small sample size.
Of the exclamated conclusions above, only one or two will turn out to be true, and even one of the 0-1 teams who lose this coming week will likely be in the playoffs. My money's on the Bears.
Don't Panic: Even 0-2 Teams Make Playoffs Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Posted by J Arthur Ellis at 9:07 AM
Labels: 0-2, bears, perspective, playoffs, predictions, week 1
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3 comments:
I think you meant the 2001 Patriots. The first 4 times the Patriots went to the Super Bowl they started off 0-2, and the 5th time they were 1-1 after two, so your definitely right, and it's a good reminder. After watching the Texans get beat by the Jets and the defense stink, I seriously considered cutting them from my fantasy team. I should wait a few weeks.
In 2002, the Patriots started off 1-0 beating the Steelers 30-14 in the first game at Gillette Stadium. My cousin went to the game and he told me the Patriots kept playing Kordell Stewart's 2001 AFC Championship Post game comment over and over again on the jumbotron: "Sometimes the best team doesn't win."
The Steelers got the last laugh though, as they made the playoffs that year.
Now I'm confused! I should have said the first four times the Patriots went to the Super Bowl they started off 0-1. The first 3 times they were 0-2.
Whoops, meant the 2003 Patriots. Now fixed. Note I mentioned that they went 0-1, not 0-2.
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