The 0-2 Teams: We Know the Saints Are Dangerous, But the Titans?
By Jason Lisk
As I talked about last year, the teams that have surged to the playoffs after an 0-2 start generally (though not always) had characteristics that included playing a tough schedule in hindsight early, losing close games unless turnovers made it a blowout, and giving up lots of points.
We don’t know exactly how difficult anyone’s schedule will prove to be yet, but the Saints definitely fit the last two characteristics. Still, I wanted to do something a little different this year so I whipped up a similarity comparison for each of the 0-2 teams using Points For, Points Against, Point Differential, Pass Yard Differential, Rush Yard Differential, Total Yard Differential, and Turnover Margin for the first two losses.
The teams are presented below in order of the weighted expected wins based on most similar teams.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (7.1 Wins)
TENNESSEE TITANS (6.8 Wins)
It’s interesting that the first team is 1998 Arizona. I have said that I think Locker has upside of a Jake Plummer, and that team came back and won a bunch of close games and reached the playoffs despite getting outscored and looking dreadful early.
CLEVELAND BROWNS (6.7 Wins)
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (6.5 WINS)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (6.1 Wins)
OAKLAND RAIDERS (4.2 WINS)
Two different versions of recent Rams teams show up–not a good thing. Carson Palmer’s Bengals show up, though that team was quarterbacked by Jon Kitna in Palmer’s rookie year.
[photo via US Presswire]