What Does NFL History Tell Us About New Orleans Saints When They Start 0-3?

Drew Brees has to put New Orleans on his back once again. 

The Saints are 0-3, and history is not on your side. 

From ESPN's Pat Yasinskas:

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According to ESPN Stats & Information, since the NFL went to its current playoff format in 1990, 113 teams have started the season 0-3. Of those 113 teams, only three have recovered to make the playoffs.

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Yikes. 

Those numbers equate to the Saints having a less than three-percent chance to reach the postseason. 

What's even more shocking is how history was in New Orleans' favor on Sunday. 

Since 1990, teams with a 10-point-plus lead entering the fourth quarter have gone on to win over 94 percent of the time (h/t ESPN's Stats and Info blog). The Saints were up, 24-13, when the third quarter ended this week. 

How crazy the NFL can be. 

The same blog post pointed out yet another sobering statistic for Saints fans. With the loss, the Saints became the eighth team in the Super Bowl era to start 0-3 after winning 13 games the previous season. 

They started 0-4 in 2007, and finished the year 7-9. 

Fortunately for New Orleans, that's why they play the games. 

Anything can happen in today's NFL. Sunday's games in Week 3 certainly reminded us of that. 

The Saints have to be nearly perfect for the remainder of the season, but it'd be foolish to count them out less than a month into the season. 

Brees is certainly a signal-caller capable of leading his team to a long winning streak. There's no doubting that. They won nine straight last year. In 2010, the Saints had a nice six-game winning streak in the middle of the season. The Super Bowl-winning year of 2009? New Orleans won the first 13 games of the season. 

The defense must get better, though; that's what's most important. 

Remember, history was stacked against Brees after the devastating shoulder injury he suffered in 2005. He demonstrated some exceptional resiliency, don't you think? 

The Saints quarterback has dealt with history not being on his side in the past, and now the odds are against him yet again. 

Follow @ChrisTrapasso