The Atlanta Falcons are one of 11 NFL teams who currently sit at 2-1 and are looking to reach the 3-1 mark by the end of this week’s play. New England, Dallas, Baltimore, Carolina, Chicago, San Diego, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Buffalo and Houston are among the group that realizes that their playoff chances improve significantly with a win on Sunday.
Since 2005, 58 teams have started an NFL season with a 3-1 record. 34 of those teams, roughly 59%, of those 3-1 teams made the NFL playoffs. The only season in recent memory that hurts the average was actually the 2013 NFL Season. That year, five teams started the season with a 3-1 record. But only one, Indianapolis, made the playoffs. Detroit, Chicago, Tennessee and Miami were each left out of post season play despite their solid starts.
Here’s how a 3-1 start breaks down by year in terms of making the playoffs:
2012 – 4 of 7
2011 – 6 of 10
2010 – 8 of 9
2009 – 4 of 6
2008 – 2 of 6
2007 – 3 of 4
2006 – 4 of 7
2005 – 2 of 4
As far as the Atlanta Falcons, they have had three 3-1 starts since 2005. The 2010 team started 3-1 on the way to a 13-3 season. But they also had 3-1 starts in 2006 and 2005. In those two years they failed to make the NFL Playoffs.