Joe Murray: The Patriots Can’t Start The Season 0-2
The New England Patriots 25-20 loss on Sunday to the Eagles has the team sitting at 0-1. Mac Jones has started the last 3 season openers with a loss and will take on the Miami Dolphins this Sunday night at Gillette Stadium. It may be too early to call Sunday a must-win, but teams that start 0-2 make the playoffs 10% of the time. The landscape of the AFC East is changing with the injury to Aaron Rodgers and the turnovers by Josh Allen. The Patriots have struggled against divisional opponents and are 1-3 against Miami with Jones under center. The team won the season finale with the combo of Teddy Bridgewater and Skyler Thompson replacing the injured Tua Tagovailoa.
Since 2007, 127 teams have started the season 0-2. Only 14 have rallied to make the playoffs. 11 teams were 0-2 in 2020 and seven in 2021, none made the playoffs even with the playoffs expanding. In 2022, six teams started 0-2. The Bengals and Titans went on to make the playoffs.
There have been only four teams that have reached the Super Bowl after starting the season 0-2. Three of those four teams won it.
The 1993 Cowboys began the season 0-2 but went on to go 12-4 and win the Super Bowl.
Jimmy Johnson, Head Coach for the Dallas Cowboys looks on from the sideline during the National Football Conference Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers on 17th January 1993 at the 3Com Park Stadium in San Francisco, California, United States. The Cowboys won the game 30 – 20. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Allsport/Getty Images)
The 2001 Patriots started 0-2 when Tom Brady took over for an injured Drew Bledsoe, finished 11-5 and won the Super Bowl.
21 Oct 2001: Troy Brown of the New England Patriots heads downfield against the Indianapolis Colts during the game at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Ron Hoskins/Allsport
The 2007 Giants began the year 0-2, finished 10-6 and ruined the Patriots undefeated season to win the Super Bowl.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 29: Tom Brady #12 and the New England Patriots drops back to pass against the New York Giants on December 29, 2007 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The 1996 Patriots started the year 0-2 and made it to the Super Bowl after going 11-5 in the regular season, but lost to the Packers.
20 Sep 1996: Quarterback Drew Bledsoe of the New England Patriots sets to throw a pass during the Patriots 27-9 win over the Indianapolis Colts at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport
Teams that start the year with a 0-2 record finish the year with an average of 5.4 wins, 10.1 losses
The Dolphins started the season with a win over the Chargers 36-34. Tagovailoa threw for 466 yards and 3 touchdowns. Tyreke Hill had 11 catches for 200 yards, including the go-ahead touchdown late in the 4th quarter. One area the Patriots need to improve on is the running game. Rhamondre Stevenson went for 29 yards on 12 carries. Zeke Elliot had 29 yards on the ground. Miami gave up 134 yards to Austin Ekler, rushing for 119 yards while Joshua Kelly added 91. The addition of Cole Strange and Michael Enwenu would be a boost to a Patriots running game that struggled in week 1
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 10: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins passes in the pocket during a 36-34 Dolphins win over the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on September 10, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Dolphins will play consecutive games on the road and enter as a 2-point favorite. The Patriots defense held Miami to 21 and 20 points in last seasons matchups. A win on Sunday for the Patriots on Sunday night football would make things interesting in the AFC East. if not, it will be another hole for the Patriots to dig out while facing a 90% chance of not making the playoffs.
