MARATHON NOT SPRINT
History shows that 0-2 teams advance to the playoffs more often than people might think. Since the current playoff format was instituted in 1990, 22 teams started 0-2 and still qualified for the postseason.
The 1993 Dallas Cowboys started 0-2 before winning Super Bowl XXVIII.
The 0-2 New England Patriots of 1996 played in Super Bowl XXXI, and in 2001, the 0-2 Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI.
Most recently, the 2007 New York Giants started 0-2 before winning Super Bowl XLII.
The 0-2 teams since 1990 to qualify for the playoffs:
| YEAR | TEAM | WINLESS START | ADVANCED TO: |
| 1990 | Houston Oilers | 0-2 | Wild Card Playoffs |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0-2 | Wild Card Playoffs | |
| New Orleans Saints | 0-2 | Wild Card Playoffs | |
| 1991 | Atlanta Falcons | 0-2 | Wild Card Playoffs |
| 1992 | San Diego Chargers | 0-4 | Divisional Playoffs |
| 1993 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 0-2 | Wild Card Playoffs |
| Dallas Cowboys | 0-2 | Won Super Bowl XXVIII | |
| 1994 | New England Patriots | 0-2 | Wild Card Playoffs |
| 1995 | Detroit Lions | 0-3 | Wild Card Playoffs |
| 1996 | New England Patriots | 0-2 | Lost Super Bowl XXXI |
| 1998 | Arizona Cardinals | 0-2 | Divisional Playoffs |
| Buffalo Bills | 0-3 | Wild Card Playoffs | |
| New York Jets | 0-2 | Championship Game | |
| 2001 | New England Patriots | 0-2 | Won Super Bowl XXXVI |
| 2002 | Atlanta Falcons | 0-2 | Divisional Playoffs |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 0-2 | Divisional Playoffs | |
| 2003 | Philadelphia Eagles | 0-2 | Championship Game |
| 2006 | Kansas City Chiefs | 0-2 | Wild Card Playoffs |
| 2007 | New York Giants | 0-2 | Won Super Bowl XLII |
| 2008 | Miami Dolphins | 0-2 | Wild Card Playoffs |
| Minnesota Vikings | 0-2 | Wild Card Playoffs | |
| San Diego Chargers | 0-2 | Divisional Playoffs |
**********
As you know, Jerod is participating in the 2010 P&G-sponsored Blogger Fantasy Football League, which is part of the Take It To The House program. In addition to competing for a trip to the Super Bowl, one of the perks Jerod received for participating was getting to spend a day at the NFL headquarters in New York. And that led to getting on the NFL’s media email list.
The NFL circulates interesting statistical and injury-related tidbits on a daily basis. Since we know that your appetite for NFL info is as insatiable as ours, we post them here for your enjoyment.
To get this info ever quicker, follow http://twitter.com/nflfootballinfo.
