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NFL week 3 opens Thursday night with the Atlanta Falcons hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs, like many teams this week, are in an 0-2 hole and looking for their first win.
History shows that 0-2 teams advance to the playoffs more often than people might think. Since the current playoff format was instituted in 1990, 23 teams started 0-2 and still qualified for the postseason.
Last season, the Carolina Panthers started the season 0-2 and went on to win the NFC South after finishing 12-4, becoming the first team since the 2003 Philadelphia Eagles to earn a first-round bye after an 0-2 start.
The 1993 Dallas Cowboys started 0-2 before winning Super Bowl XXVIII. The 0-2 New England Patriots of 1996 played in Super Bowl XXXI, and in 2001, the 0-2 Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI. The 2007 New York Giants started 0-2 before winning Super Bowl XLII.
Needless to say, every team is still alive for a playoff-run. Here is the TV schedule and odds (via OddsShark) for Week 3.
|
Thursday, Sept. 18 |
Time (ET) |
TV |
Odds |
|
Tampa Bay at Atlanta |
8:25 PM |
CBS/NFL |
ATL (-4.5) |
|
Sunday, Sept. 21 |
TIME (ET) |
TV |
Odds |
|
San Diego at Buffalo |
1:00 PM |
CBS |
Pick 'Em |
|
Dallas at St. Louis |
1:00 PM |
FOX |
DAL (-1.5) |
|
Washington at Philadelphia |
1:00 PM |
FOX |
PHI (-6.5) |
|
Houston at NY Giants |
1:00 PM |
CBS |
HOU (-2.5) |
|
Minnesota at New Orleans |
1:00 PM |
FOX |
NO (-9.5) |
|
Tennessee at Cincinnati |
1:00 PM |
CBS |
CIN (-7) |
|
Baltimore at Cleveland |
1:00 PM |
CBS |
Pick 'Em |
|
Green Bay at Detroit |
1:00 PM |
FOX |
DET (-2) |
|
Indianapolis at Jacksonville |
1:00 PM |
CBS |
IND (-7) |
|
Oakland at New England |
1:00 PM |
CBS |
NE (-14.5) |
|
San Francisco at Arizona |
4:05 PM |
FOX |
SF (-2) |
|
Denver at Seattle |
4:25 PM |
CBS |
SEA (-3.5) |
|
Kansas City at Miami |
4:25 PM |
CBS |
MIA (-3.5) |
|
Pittsburgh at Carolina |
8:30 PM |
NBC |
CAR (-3.5) |
|
Monday, Sept. 22 |
TIME (ET) |
TV |
Odds |
|
Chicago at NY Jets |
8:30 PM |
ESPN |
Pick 'Em |
Thursday's game between the Falcons and Buccaneers can be viewed online via the NFL Mobile app.
Every Sunday game can be streamed online via NFL Sunday Ticket, except for the Panthers vs. Steelers matchup, which can be viewed online via the NBC Sports Live Extra app.
Monday's game between the Jets ans Bears can be viewed via the Watch ESPN app.