The Minnesota Vikings started off the 2023 season going 0-3 and their prospects don’t look great. According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, teams that start the season 0-3 in the Super Bowl era have made the playoffs a paltry 2.4% of the time.
That number spans 14, 16 and 17 game seasons. It’s significantly easier theoretically to make the playoffs after starting 0-3 because there are 14 games left instead of 11 or 13. It’s still incredibly difficult. Just ask the 2018 Houston Texans, who were the last team to make the playoffs with an 0-3 start.
The good part for the Vikings right now is how things are shaping up for their long-term prospects. They have six games against divisional opponents, which are now significantly more important. They are also only two games back of the division lead behind both the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.
The fact that the Vikings only have a point differential of -13 and have lost each game by one score or less shows some hope. Pair that with their astounding nine turnovers not being sustainable and the season can turn around. Will it? The players will determine that over the next few months.
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