NFL 2021: Five Key Statistics for Week 2

When it comes to the game of football, there are lots of numbers to consider. Some of them are of the historical variety and some have to do with what we may see this season. In any case, here are some statistics that may or may not open some eyes as the National Football League is off and running in 2021.

16

It would make for the obvious to say it’s the number of 1-0 teams and 0-1 teams after one week of play in 2021. But it’s actually the number of consecutive losses by the Jaguars dating back to Week 2 of ’20. The team hasn’t won a game since surprising the Colts, 27-20, at Jacksonville on the opening Sunday of last season. All told, 10 of those 16 setbacks have been by double-digits, including last week’s 37-21 setback to the rival Texans at Houston.

0

It’s the number of victories for the four teams in the NFC North, a division that sent both the Packers and the Bears to the playoffs a year ago. Detroit (41), Green Bay (38), Chicago (34), and Minnesota (27) gave up a combined 140 points last Sunday. Meanwhile, zero is also the number of losses for the eight teams in both the AFC West and NFC West. Both divisions are off to 4-0 starts and the NFC West was a perfect 3-0 vs. interconference competition.

10

It will be a clash of winless clubs at MetLife Stadium on Sunday as the New England Patriots and New York Jets renew their AFC East rivalry. The Green and White have been swept by Bill Belichick’s team each of the past five seasons, meaning 10 consecutive losses in this series. It’s even a little worse than that. Dating back to 2011, the Jets are a combined 2-18 vs. the Pats. Both of those wins came at home and each of those victories in overtime.

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63

The Miami Dolphins were the only team in the AFC East to notch a victory in Week 1. Brian Flores’ team won at Foxborough via a 17-16 triumph. The Dolphins also scored the most points in the division last week. When you factor in that score along with the Jets’ 19-14 loss at Carolina and the Bills’ 23-16 setback to Pittsburgh, the entire AFC East mustered only 63 points. Meanwhile, the 49ers and Lions combined for 74 points at Ford Field in Week 1.

11

The new 17-game season will certainly change some historical numbers, as did last season’s change from six to seven playoff teams in each conference. Still, it’s worth noting that 11 times in 55 years during the Super Bowl Era a team has failed to win its first game of the season and still won an NFL championship (the 1967 Packers tied in Week 1). The last team to drop its season opener and still hoist a Lombardi Trophy? The 2020 Buccaneers.