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How Important Is It To Not Start 0-2?

Why week two was a 'must win' scenario for the Vikings

It's tough to call a season a lost one or hopeless if your team starts out 0-2. I mean, there's still 14 games left to be played, and anything can happen.

Yes, that part is true, but if you're a team that wants to go to the playoffs, you better not start 0-2. Why?

Since 1990, NFL teams that started -- 2-0 made playoffs 63% of time 1-1 made playoffs 41% of time 0-2 made playoffs 12% of time

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 21, 2015

So yeah, the Vikings needed to beat Detroit Sunday if they wanted a realistic shot at being in the playoff hunt at the end of the year.