It’s already must-win time for Minnesota and Dallas.
In the last three years, only one NFL team has reached the playoffs with a record worse than 2-2 after four games. Minnesota and Dallas — dubbed Super Bowl contenders in the preseason — both are 1-2.
Minnesota completed a desperate trade for New England receiver Randy Moss on Wednesday, surrendering a third-round pick for a diva who will be a free agent come season’s end. The Vikings play the New York Jets (3-1) on Monday night in a game that’s sure to generate big TV numbers.
Meanwhile, Dallas, which began the season amidst talk it could become the first host team to reach the Super Bowl, has looked clueless in the opening weeks. Good luck with that.
Coaches may claim there’s a lot left in the season, but the opening month is a solid gauge of which teams are making the playoffs. Since 2007, nine teams that were unbeaten in the opening month made the postseason, though Denver was 4-0 last year and didn’t make the playoffs. Thirteen teams were 3-1, another 13 were 2-2 and just one was 1-3.
This season, the expected top teams have started well, with San Francisco being the big exception. The sexy pick to take the NFC West, the 49ers are 0-4, and coach Mike Singletary’s job might be in jeopardy. Dallas and Minnesota, of course, both look shaky as well.
Kansas City’s 3-0 start is surprising considering the Chiefs won only four games last season. Kansas City’s matchup with Indianapolis on Sunday will authenticate or expose its postseason chances. Then again, Indianapolis is only 2-2 and has lost two AFC South games. A loss to the Chiefs might doom the Colts to the wild-card chase.
The best teams appear to be in the AFC. The New York Jets, New England, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Houston are all 3-1, which could foretell another amazing postseason. New Orleans again may be the NFC’s elite team, and Green Bay looks tough, but it’s hard to get excited over Chicago and Atlanta, which also own 3-1 marks.
The NFC East has been truly disappointing. Washington, Philadelphia and the New York Giants are all 2-2, with each appearing vulnerable. Talk of two or three playoff teams from the division now seems silly. Washington has lost running back Clinton Portis and the offensive line is suspect, but the Redskins still have a chance to make the postseason against this mediocre group.
There are still three months to go, but recent history and this season’s start are already showing the postseason probables.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
