Why NFL Week 3 is critical to playoff hopes

Aug 23, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; The NFL Logo on the goalpost padding during warmups prior to the game between the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Seattle won 17-10. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

With nearly four months left of the NFL season, it’s hard to imagine Week 3 is critical to a team’s chances of making it to the postseason, but based on the playoff participants in 2013, that may not be the case. NFL.com did a study of all of the playoff teams from last season, and based on their research, a team’s record after Week 3 is over can go a long way in determining whether or not they make it to the playoffs:

"In 2012, two of the 12 teams that reached the playoffs started 3-0: the Houston Texans and the Atlanta Falcons.Five of the 12 teams that reached the playoffs started the season 2-1: the San Francisco 49ers, the Baltimore Ravens, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks.Five of the 12 teams that reached the playoffs started the season 1-2: the New England Patriots, the Indianapolis Colts, the Denver Broncos, the Washington Redskins and the Green Bay Packers.Zero of the 12 teams that reached the playoffs started the season 0-3."

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