Whose NFL Record Is More Shocking, 0–3 Broncos or 0–3 Vikings

With just three weeks into the NFL season, we can safely say that there are a few teams that we can count on this time around. Teams like the San Francisco 49ers, the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Kansas City Chiefs are all strong contenders this year.

On the other end of the spectrum, however, are the teams that we can safely say are in danger of falling out of the playoff picture. The Minnesota Vikings and the Denver Broncos are two of the many teams that have fallen into this category. The Vikings have lost three in a row, while the Broncos have lost four in a row. But between the two of them, which team’s record and performance is more shocking?

Broncos vs Vikings: An analysis

This season, Russell Wilson’s Denver Broncos lost two close games to the Raiders and the Commanders. Fans were hoping for a victory in the following week’s game. Instead, the Denver Broncos lost 70-0 to the Miami Dolphins, making this loss as one of the worst embarrassments in NFL history. Fans had criticized Nathaniel Hackett last year for the team’s poor performance, but this time, the blame falls on the new coach, Sean Payton. Furthermore, despite Russell Wilson setting the league’s highest rushing record, he falls short in terms of coordination and leadership.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Kirk Cousins-led Minnesota Vikings have a lot of talent on their roster, but they’ve lost all three of their games by 3 to 6 points. The Vikings won the NFC North last year, but now they’re 0-3, and the biggest issue probably seems to be their defense. The Vikings are great on offense, but they need to work on their running game. They’re averaging 66.3 rushing yards per game, which is the second-lowest in the league.

Read more: “Hard on Myself”: Following An Embarrassing Start To The Season Captain Kirk Cousins Sets The Standard For The Minnesota Vikings

So, which record is more surprising? Well, it comes down to which team is playing its worst game of the season. The Denver Broncos have been on the wrong end of bad performances for years, and the Vikings haven’t been on the right either. And now both of them have been playing their worst games this season with 0-3 records, and so it’s unlikely that they’ll beat the odds and get into the playoffs.

Why is it difficult for them to appear in the playoffs?

According to NFL history, only 6 teams have recovered from 0-3 starts and made the playoffs. The last team to do so was the Houston Texans, in 2018. So, it’s only natural that fan bases with 0-3 records should look ahead to next season. Even if any team is at 0-2, their chances of making the playoffs aren’t great. Since 1990, only 31 of 270 teams have made the playoffs after starting 0-3.

The Cincinnati Bengals are a case in this point. After starting 0-2 last season, the team went on to win 12 games in a row to make it to the AFC Championship Game. In addition to the amazing story of the Cincinnati Bengals, there are a few other teams that have overcome adversity to earn some of the best playoff berths in history. The 1993 Cowboys, 2001 Patriots, and 2007 Giants are the only three teams to win a Super Bowl after starting the season 0-2.

Therefore, the situation looks bleak for the Broncos and Vikings, and fans whose teams have suffered back-to-back losses find themselves in the unenviable category of the worst-performing teams. Besides the Vikings and Broncos, other teams like the Panthers, Bears, Cardinals, and Texans are also in a similar pit.

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