If the Cardinals fall to 0-2, the trends will be on a downward trajectory.
The Arizona Cardinals experienced a whirlwind of emotions during their 2023 NFL season opener against Washington. Despite holding a 16-10 lead entering the fourth quarter, the Cardinals were unable to maintain their advantage and ended up losing to the Commanders 20-16.
Yengols.com conducted an analysis using data from Stathead.com to examine the performance of NFL teams that started the season with an 0-2 record. Since the 1970 merger, a total of 406 teams have begun with this record. This analysis coincides with Arizona’s upcoming Week 2 home game against the New York Giants, where the Cardinals are currently listed as 5.5-point underdogs by BetMGM Arizona.
NFL Teams Performance Beginning 0-2
At +50000, the Cardinals currently hold the lowest Super Bowl odds in the NFL, dropping from their previous tie with Houston for the worst odds at the beginning of the season.
Will the Cardinals be able to break their recent playoff losing streak of 0-2?
Should the Cardinals fall to the Giants in Week 2 but still secure a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2021, they would join the ranks of the 40th team to achieve this milestone since the 1970 merger. Historically, only 9.6% of teams that start the season 0-2 go on to make it to the playoffs, making it a risky wager on Arizona sports betting platforms. Of the 39 teams that have achieved this feat, four have made it to the Super Bowl, with three of those four emerging as champions.
Of the teams that began the year with two losses, only 14.0% managed to turn it around and have a winning season. The last time Arizona started 0-2 was in 2018 under head coach Steve Wilks, ending the season with a disappointing record of 3-13 and a point differential of minus-200.
Five years later, Jonathan Gannon, a first-year head coach, is tasked with the challenge of avoiding a poor start for his team as they strive to prevent a 0-2 record. The team is currently listed at +200 on the Arizona sports betting moneyline for Sunday’s game against the Giants.
Author
Peterson Christopher has spent the past seven years reporting on sports and sports betting in Arizona for various publications including ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly, and the Green Valley News. He now holds the position of lead writer at yengols.com.
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