Poor starts to fantastic finishes

[Chainsaw]

In 1993 the Cowboys lost their first game 35-16 to a 4-12 Redskin team. Lost their second game, too. They finished 12-4 and won the SB.

In 2001 the Patriots opened with a loss to the Bengals(6-10, 4-12 previous yr), and continued to lose 3 of their first 4. Finish 11-5, win the SB.

2003, Patriots lose their first game 31-0 to the Buffalo Bills(6-10 team), finish 14-2, win SB

Last year, Giants lose first 2 games by a combined score of 80-48. 10-6, SB.

I'm not saying that we're going to win the SB, or even make the playoffs(although it can be done).
The point is this: It's not how you start the season, it's how you finish it.

 

[stingray]

I don't think it's even the finish. It's games 4-12 that makes the difference. That's when you find out about your team.

 

[kiwitexansfan]

Stats, got to love them, I'm sure a few minutes research would show us teams that lost game one big, and then went on to have cover your eyes awful seasons too.

It's not even about how you finish the season, its about how many wins you get full stop, start, finish, middle, a win is a win is a win.

No scrap that, stuff how many wins you get, it is all about making the playoffs, once your there it doesn't matter how many games you won, it means you have a shot at the championship.

 

[jaayteetx]

something in me says the steelers won't be as bad as those teams that lost to the eventual champs, as much as i hate to admit that. still got memories from that 79 afc championship game and i was FIVE!!!!!

 

[Texans_Chick]

In 1993 the Cowboys lost their first game 35-16 to a 4-12 Redskin team. Lost their second game, too. They finished 12-4 and won the SB.

In 2001 the Patriots opened with a loss to the Bengals(6-10, 4-12 previous yr), and continued to lose 3 of their first 4. Finish 11-5, win the SB.

2003, Patriots lose their first game 31-0 to the Buffalo Bills(6-10 team), finish 14-2, win SB

Last year, Giants lose first 2 games by a combined score of 80-48. 10-6, SB.

I'm not saying that we're going to win the SB, or even make the playoffs(although it can be done).
The point is this: It's not how you start the season, it's how you finish it.

Yeah, the other day I saw the NFL program about the biggest turnarounds in NFL history. When I watched the one about the Pats, all I could think of was YA CHEATERS! Not much of an object lesson with them, other than cheat and don't get caught, I guess.

But yeah, that can sometimes happen.

I looked up some stuff about Texans blowouts in the Kubiak era and noticed some non-surprising things that I sorta knew intuitively, but it was obvious when you see in black and white. As posted on the TC Chron blog:

Interestingly and unsurprisingly, most of the least competitive games (+30 points, 2 TD difference) happened on the road and against teams that turned out to be good:

....

So, out of 7 blow out losses, 6 of them occurred on the road against good teams. The Texans were 5-2 the week following those losses.

There's more commentary of what that might mean or doesn't mean.