Three Week 2 games that could enhance Rams’ playoff chances.

[AvengerRam]

After week 1, fans and commentators often repeat the mantra, "it's only one game."

After week 2, though, a pair of losses should elicit a different reaction. Since 1990, 270 teams have started 0-2. Of them, only 31 (11.5%) have made the playoffs.

In the NFC, there are three teams that made the playoffs in 2022 who started 0-1: Seattle, Minnesota and the New York Giants. Two of the three have a strong likelihood of dropping to 0-2, as the Vikings play tonight at Philadelphia, and Seahawks go to Detroit to play the upstart Lions in their home opener (the Giants, by contrast, will be favored at Arizona).

An 0-2 start for the Vikings and Seahawks could not only be a bad harbinger for them, it also could help pave the way for the Rams to get a playoff spot.

On average, half the teams who make the playoffs in a given year fail to return the next year.

The risers and fallers could start to emerge as early as this week.

 

[ArkyRamsFan]

Wow, those numbers are stark. 88.5% of teams that lose their first two games do not make the playoffs.
This is another reason why the Rams victory last week was crucial. Especially with the Whiners coming to town...

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[tempests]

Teams that start off 0-2 almost always end the season with a losing record. It's not that it's an insurmountable hole, especially in a 17 game season. It's just a reflection that your team isn't very good.

1980 was the only time since the merger that a Rams team started 0-2 and made the playoffs.

 

[PARAM]

The Rams going 2-0 would be a huge boost too!!

 

[PARAM]

Also, the NFC went 4-0 vs the AFC in week 1, so there were ten 1-0 NFC teams.

The Eagles went 2-0; surprise, surprise and Minnesota is 0-2.
The Vikings host the Chargers in week 3. Philly goes to Tampa, who should be 2-0 after beating the Bears this week.

There could be five 0-2 teams after this weekend; Minnesota, Arizona, Seattle, Carolina and Chicago. That would leave just 11 with a better than 11.5% chance at the postseason.

There are two conference games between 1-0 teams; Rams/SF and Green Bay/Atlanta, so 2 more teams join the ranks of the defeated.

After week 3 surely there will be even more 1-0 teams joining those ranks.
Washington (@ Denver, @ Buffalo)
Green Bay (@ Atlanta, v N. Orl)
Atlanta (v Green Bay, @ Detroit)
Tampa (v Chicago, @ Phila)
N. Orleans with 2 road games (@Carolina, @ Green Bay)

Three or more potential undefeated teams after 3 weeks:
(Expected) Philly, Dallas, San Fran
(Unexpected) LA Rams, Green Bay, Detroit

Of those expected/unexpected teams Green Bay and Detroit play in week 4; SF and Dallas play in week 5

You just never know....

 

[snackdaddy]

There are exceptions obviously. But the main reason so many 0-2 teams don't make the playoffs is because they weren't good teams to begin with. There's usually a reason they start 0-2.

 

[PARAM]

There are exceptions obviously. But the main reason so many 0-2 teams don't make the playoffs is because they weren't good teams to begin with. There's usually a reason they start 0-2.

Yeah, like they had a career backup QB who never did anything until year 9 and they rode with him in year 10, like he was really a legit NFL starter.

 

[TexasRam]

After week 1, fans and commentators often repeat the mantra, "it's only one game."

After week 2, though, a pair of losses should elicit a different reaction. Since 1990, 270 teams have started 0-2. Of them, only 31 (11.5%) have made the playoffs.

In the NFC, there are three teams that made the playoffs in 2022 who started 0-1: Seattle, Minnesota and the New York Giants. Two of the three have a strong likelihood of dropping to 0-2, as the Vikings play tonight at Philadelphia, and Seahawks go to Detroit to play the upstart Lions in their home opener (the Giants, by contrast, will be favored at Arizona).

An 0-2 start for the Vikings and Seahawks could not only be a bad harbinger for them, it also could help pave the way for the Rams to get a playoff spot.

On average, half the teams who make the playoffs in a given year fail to return the next year.

The risers and fallers could start to emerge as early as this week.

View: https://media3.giphy.com/media/1034EEGrn91SrS/200w.webp?cid=ecf05e47w6u40nh07ov07x47wom28ab9cpxaj8hv3kxtc6k7&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=200w.webp&ct=g

 

[TexasRam]

Also, the NFC went 4-0 vs the AFC in week 1, so there were ten 1-0 NFC teams.

The Eagles went 2-0; surprise, surprise and Minnesota is 0-2.
The Vikings host the Chargers in week 3. Philly goes to Tampa, who should be 2-0 after beating the Bears this week.

There could be five 0-2 teams after this weekend; Minnesota, Arizona, Seattle, Carolina and Chicago. That would leave just 11 with a better than 11.5% chance at the postseason.

There are two conference games between 1-0 teams; Rams/SF and Green Bay/Atlanta, so 2 more teams join the ranks of the defeated.

After week 3 surely there will be even more 1-0 teams joining those ranks.
Washington (@ Denver, @ Buffalo)
Green Bay (@ Atlanta, v N. Orl)
Atlanta (v Green Bay, @ Detroit)
Tampa (v Chicago, @ Phila)
N. Orleans with 2 road games (@Carolina, @ Green Bay)

Three or more potential undefeated teams after 3 weeks:
(Expected) Philly, Dallas, San Fran
(Unexpected) LA Rams, Green Bay, Detroit

Of those expected/unexpected teams Green Bay and Detroit play in week 4; SF and Dallas play in week 5

You just never know....

View: https://media4.giphy.com/media/u8uTT3ad4fIkC0rIv3/200w.webp?cid=ecf05e47k3lwjsujr79z9jhkmentj4xcg33df8ijv5jh7kv8&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=200w.webp&ct=g

 

[fanotodd]

Lots of possibilities, many favorable, so I would like to revisit this after today’s games.

Should the Rams go 2-0, they’re making the playoffs barring something catastrophic.

1-1 brings in this whole discussion of odds and which teams do what.