The Browns starting 2-0? The Giants opening at 0-2?

If the schedule is an indication, it could happen.

History says two things, though not hard and fast, are likely to happen: Teams that start out 2-0 tend to make the playoffs far more often, and 0-2 teams tend to miss the playoffs with much greater frequency.

Now consider this: The matrix that I have learned to lean on more in recent years when it comes to forecasting teams' records heading into a season is the schedule. A close look at an opponents' winning percentage can reveal a lot.

So let's combine these two things.

Here's a look at all 32 teams' opponents' winning percentages for their first two games:

Some things must be considered with this. First, both the Vikings and Saints will not go 0-2 to start the season; they play each other, after all, in Week One. And as everyone knows, teams can turn around in a hurry in the NFL, so last year's bums could be this year's Cinderella story.

But it at least gives you an idea how teams' schedules stack out for those first two games based on last year's standings.

And it brings up the real possibility of the Giants falling to the Panthers, who beat them in Week 17, and the mighty Colts, along with (gasp!) the Browns perhaps beating both the Bucs in Week One and the Chiefs in Week Two. Think about that for a minute.