Don't Panic: Even 0-2 Teams Make Playoffs Tuesday, September 15, 2009

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.