This obviously isn’t the beginning Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings had been hoping for. Next going 13-4 terminating season, Minnesota remainder winless later shedding its first 3 video games of the season. The Vikings are one among 4 groups nonetheless looking for their first win. 

Giveover had been the primary factor in Minnesota. The Vikings grew to become the ball over 9 occasions of their first 3 video games. It’s gotten to the purpose the place O’Connell is threatening to bench avid gamers in an try to cure the problem. 

“I think that’s something we’re going to fix one way or the other,” O’Connell stated previous this while, by means of ESPN. “Either guys are going to [fix] it or we’re going to have to put other guys in the game that have ball security.”

Regardless of the yieldings and the 0-3 get started, O’Connell stated that he’s “very, very confident” that his group will flip issues round. Thankfully for the Vikings, Sunday’s opponent will likely be in opposition to some other 0-3 group, the Carolina Panthers. In reality, every of the NFL’s residue winless groups (the Bears and Broncos being the alternative two) will face off in Time 4. One most likely reason why for McDonnell’s optimism is the truth that his offense contains one of the crucial NFL’s easiest avid gamers in wideout Justin Jefferson, whose 458 receiving yards leads the NFL via 3 weeks. 

Is there hope for O’Connell’s group? Six groups since 1979 have made the playoffs later an 0-3 get started. Of the 158 groups that began 0-3 between 1990-2022, 4 controlled to get into the postseason. Just one 0-3 group has received a playoff recreation, and incorrect such group has reached the Tremendous Bowl. 

Because the NFL’s winless groups get ready for Time 4, right here’s a take a look at the six groups that made the playoffs later an 0-3 get started and the most important reason why for his or her turnaround. 

• Ultimate document: 10-5-1 (misplaced to the Expenses the wild card spherical)  

Largest reason why for turnaround: Fresh York’s offense (led through QB Richard Todd) were given issues going, however the Jets’ turnaround used to be in large part fueled through their famed Fresh York Sack Alternate protection, led through 2023 Corridor of Status inductee Joe Klecko and cross rusher Mark Gastineau. The duo blended for 40.5 sacks of the Jets’ 66 sacks because the Jets held 9 in their terminating 10 steady season foes to underneath 20 issues. 

• Ultimate document: 5-4 (misplaced to the Cowboys within the wild card spherical) 

Largest reason why for turnaround: John McKay’s group made the playoffs later successful their terminating 3 video games through a blended six issues. The league’s eighth-ranked passing offense and sixth-ranked cross protection had been important in every of the ones near wins. A avid gamers accident that season decreased the regular-season agenda from 16 video games to 9.

Doug Williams, a generation Tremendous Bowl MVP for Washington, threw for 367 yards and a couple of touchdowns in Tampa’s extra time win over Chicago within the ultimate recreation of the steady season. The Buccaneers’ protection used to be led through after through generation Corridor of Famer Lee Roy Selmon and fellow Professional Bowl linebacker Hugh Inexperienced. 

• Ultimate document: 11-5 (misplaced to the Dolphins within the divisional spherical) 

Largest reason why for turnaround: The ’92 Chargers stock the consideration of being the one group to manufacture the playoffs later creation 0-4. Bobby Ross’ group did so in large part at the energy in their proficient talent avid gamers on offense and the league’s fourth-ranked scoring protection, which used to be led through generation Corridor of Status linebacker Juvenile Seau. 

Seau crammed the stat sheet that yr with 102 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions and a pressured and a recovered fumble. Teammate Leslie O’Neal additionally had a large yr through tallying 17 of the Chargers’ 51 sacks. 

Offensively, the Chargers loved a singular season from working again Ronnie Harman, who made the Professional Bowl later catching 79 passes for 914 yards. Wideout Anthony Miller additionally grew to become in a Professional Bowl marketing campaign later catching 72 passes for 1,060 yards and 7 rankings. 

• Ultimate document: 10-6 (misplaced to the Eagles within the wild card spherical) 

Largest reason why for turnaround: As you’d be expecting, Barry Sanders performed a significant position in Detroit’s turnaround. The generation Corridor of Status working again on a tight schedule for 1,500 yards and 11 touchdowns that season that incorporated a season-high 167 yards in a pivotal midseason win over Brett Favre and the left-overs of the rival Packers. Wideout Herman Moore used to be additionally a vital reason why for the turnaround. An All-Professional that season, Moore stuck a then-NFL document 123 passes for 1,686 yards and 14 touchdowns. 

Each avid gamers had large video games within the Lions’ wild 44-38 Thanksgiving Week win over the Vikings. 

1998 Expenses 

• Ultimate document: 10-6 (misplaced to the Dolphins within the wild card spherical) 

Largest reason why for turnaround: Former Heisman Trophy winner and Canadian Soccer League legend Doug Flutie took Buffalo and the NFL through hurricane later he changed injured starter Rob Johnson. The after 36-year-old Flutie went 7-3 as Buffalo’s starter en path to incomes his first and best Professional Bowl variety. 

Flutie had a accumulation of luck that yr throwing the ball to fellow Professional Bowler Eric Molds, who stuck 67 passes for 1,368 yards and 9 touchdowns. Buffalo misplaced to Miami within the playoffs in spite of Molds catching 9 passes for a whopping 240 yards and a landing. 

• Ultimate document: 11-5 (misplaced to the Colts within the wild card spherical) 

Largest reason why for turnaround: Houston did a significantly better activity taking good care of the ball later their sluggish get started. The Texans had simply 5 yieldings of their ultimate 10 video games of the season and went 8-2 over that span. Conversely, Houston’s protection pressured 26 yieldings over that span that incorporated 4 takeaways in a December win over the Browns. 

On offense, the turnaround used to be led through the Texans’ Professional Bowl trio of quarterback Deshaun Watson, wideout DeAndre Hopkins and working again Lamar Miller. Houston’s protection featured generation Corridor of Status defensive finish J.J. Watt, who tallied 16 sacks and a league-high seven pressured fumbles en path to completing 2nd for NFL Comeback Participant of the Day.