NFL Playoffs 2020: Odds Eagles, Texans, Vikings Make Postseason After 0-2 Starts

Eleven NFL teams are off to an 0-2 start in the 2020 season, severely hurting their chances of making the playoffs.

Only 12% of teams that began the year 0-2 since 1990 have made the postseason, according to USA Today. Doing so will be easier this season because of an added wild-card spot in each conference, but winless teams still face an uphill battle after Week 2.

Two reigning division champions and another playoff team from a year ago are searching for their first win in Week 3. What are the odds that they will get back to the postseason?

Philadelphia Eagles +138

The Philadelphia Eagles are considered to be the most likely 0-2 playoff team. The defending NFC East champions have +138 playoff odds, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, despite one of the ugliest starts in the league.

Philadelphia is tied with the New York Jets for the worst point differential in the NFL. The Washington Football Team and Los Angeles Rams, both of whom missed last year’s playoffs, have outscored the Eagles by 28 points. Carson Wentz is playing his worst football since he was a rookie with four interceptions and a 64.4 passer rating.

Playing in a poor division could keep Philadelphia in the hunt as they struggle. The Dallas Cowboys are lucky to be 1-1. Washington is 1-1 and probably not ready to compete yet. The winless New York Giants aren’t expected to contend.

Houston Texans +240

Houston’s +240 odds to make the playoffs at FanDuel suggest that the Texans' run of dominance in the division will come to an end. The Texans have won the AFC South in four of the last five years, but they’ve been hampered by an extremely difficult strength of schedule.

The NFL’s two Super Bowl favorites have beaten Houston comfortably to start the season. The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Texans 34-20 in a game that was more one-sided than the score indicates. The Baltimore Ravens led Houston by two scores for the entirety of the second half in the Texans’ 33-16 loss in Week 2.

It doesn’t get much easier for the Texans as they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3. Another loss could allow the 2-0 Tennessee Titans to create some distance atop the AFC South. The Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars are both 1-1.

Minnesota Vikings +245

The odds suggest that Minnesota is the least likely 0-2 team to make its way back to the playoffs. Nothing has gone well for the Vikings, following their trip to the 2020 NFC divisional round.

Minnesota couldn’t stop Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in a 43-34 Week 1 loss. The Vikings went nearly 55 minutes without a touchdown when they were defeated 28-11 in Indianapolis. Minnesota ranks 28th in total defense and Kirk Cousins’ four interceptions are only two fewer than the six picks he threw a season ago.

Green Bay still looks like the best team in the NFC North with a 2-0 record and a plus-30 point differential. The Chicago Bears are also undefeated. The Detroit Lions are at the bottom of the division with the Vikings at 0-2.