History is not on the Denver Broncos’ side after the team lost their first two games under new coach Sean Payton to open the 2023 season.
The Broncos face extremely long odds of having a successful season after starting 0-2. Since the NFL switched to a 14-team playoff format in 2020, 23 teams have started 0-2. Only one of those teams (the 2022 Cincinnati Bengals) went on to make the playoffs.
Buy Broncos TicketsDating back to 1990, 270 teams have started a season 0-2. Of those teams, only 31 went on to reach the playoffs. Denver, however, went on to have a losing season after all of its previous 0-2 starts.
There is some hope, but the Broncos will face a big uphill battle. Three NFL teams have won a Super Bowl after starting 0-2 (the 1993 Dallas Cowboys, 2001 New England Patriots and 2007 New York Giants).
Payton also reached the playoffs with the New Orleans Saints in 2017 after starting the season 0-2. So it’s not impossible, but the math is not on Denver’s side after a disappointing start to the 2023 season.
