With this loss, the Texans chance to make the playoffs is now 35%
The Chiefs chance to make the Super Bowl is 33% pic.twitter.com/yiEs6nmrsL
— PFF (@PFF) September 11, 2020
Winning in Week 1 is significant in the NFL for a variety of reasons.
To illustrate the disparity in trajectory between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans after Thursday night’s 34-20 Kansas City victory, Pro Football Focus posted the chances for both team in two different categories.
For Houston, it was their odds to make the playoffs. Pro Football Focus says they are 35%.
For Kansas City, their chances to make the Super Bowl increased to 33%.
The methodology wasn’t revealed, and no one needs to see Imperial College data to accept the veracity.
In the context of a Bill O’Brien-coached team, Week 1 doesn’t matter relative to playoff chances. Three out of O’Brien’s four playoff seasons started out with Houston dropping the first game.
Much like with a win itself, it is how a team responds throughout the course of the season that determines whether they make make the playoffs or spend early January watching the playoffs from a warmer clime.
Houston has a pretty good idea what went wrong against the Chiefs, but they have to fix it fast as the Baltimore Ravens come to NRG Stadium on Sept. 20. The Texans will have a challenge on their hands if they wish to avoid an 0-2 start.
