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The NFL would like you to know that since the 12-team playoff system was instituted in 1990, 23 teams have overcome losing records after four weeks to reach the postseason. Meaning even winless teams still have a shot. Meaning you should pay attention because you never know. Or because it’s the NFL and it’s big and important and there are no meaningless games or teams with lost seasons after four games — even if some cynics out there might think the NFL is talking about mathematical possibilities than onfield realities.
Salimatu Dumbuya (left), Lori Hess (center) and Dayna Tappan are mentioned if you scroll down -- and even if you don't scroll down.
Anyway, the league’s department of information has supplied information to brighten up even the most dubious of fans who follow the New Orleans Saints (0-4) and Cleveland Browns (0-4), the NFL’s only winless teams this season.
As if that’s not enough to get you excited (and for some of us, it is not), the league also would like you to know 19 of its 32 teams are in first place or within a game of first place.
“We’re a quarter of the way through the season and we’re right where we need to be in terms of our record,” Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan said of the Falcons’ 4-0 record. “We feel like we can get a lot better and that’s what we’re going to set out to do. We’re going to keep trying to improve and hopefully play better.”
The NFL also would like you to know that since 1990 there have been 94 teams (35.6 percent of the 264 playoff clubs) have advanced to the postseason after starting 2-2 or worse. Last season featured four such teams: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Denver and Pittsburgh.
And even more, the NFL would like you to know that in five of the lst 11 seasons, a team that started 2-2 or worse reached the Super Bowl. Three of those teams — 2001 Patriots (1-3), 2003 Patriots (2-2) and 2007 Giants (2-2) — even won the Super Bowl.
Something says there also have been teams that started off well and did not reach the postseason, much less win the Super Bowl.
A photograph of hard-working Lori Hess (left) and Salimatu Dumbuya works here -- even if it's not particularly NFL-related.
Since 1990, teams that started 1-3 or worse and made the playoffs:
1990: New Orleans (1-3), Philadelphia (1-3).
1991: New York Jets (1-3).
1992: San Diego (0-4).
1993: Green Bay (1-3), Houston (1-3).
1995: Detroit (1-3), Philadelphia (1-3).
1996: Dallas (1-3), Jacksonville (1-3).
1997: New York Giants (1-3).
1998: Buffalo (1-3).
2000: New Orleans (1-3).
2001: New England (1-3).
2002: Atlanta (1-3), Tennessee (1-3), New York Jets (1-3), Pittsburgh (1-3).
2004: Green Bay (1-3).
2005: Chicago (1-3).
2007: San Diego (1-3).
2008: Minnesota (1-3).
2011: Denver (1-3).
* With 70 touchdowns in Week 5, 2012 will feature the most touchdowns through the first five weeks of any NFL season (396 in 2011).
* With 11 quarterbacks having 300-yard passing games in Week 5, 2012 will feature the most 300-yard passing games through the first five weeks (50 in 2011).
Being between Dayna Tappan (left) and Salimatu Dumbuya is someone's idea of work.
Holistic health coach Lori Hess will be giving a free teleclass to fitness, figure and bikini athletes interested in learning how to decode their sugar cravings and not cheat on their diet plan when preparing for their upcoming shows. OK, so some of us became a bit confused when the word “holistic” was typed. Something says the session might be beneficial.
The teleclass will be Saturday (Oct. 13) from 1-2 p.m. CST. Interested athletes may register by contacting lori@divaexhealthcoach.com for the call-in phone number and access code.
Let the record show Lori is a bikini competitor and entrepreneur (whatever that means — possibly businesswoman). And she has been gracious enough to be a guest on “Sports & Torts” with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris on talkzone.com.
Lori also took time at the Midwest Championships — promoted by Stacy Stengel — on Sept. 22 at Harper College in Palatine, Ill., to chat with your humble correspondent.
And, yes, this is what some of us get to call work on a good day — and spending time with Lori and friends indeed made for a good day (or evening, as he case may have been).
Here is the video from that session, which also included bikini competitors Salimatu Dumbuya and Dayna Tappan:
Hey, a little random NFL-related video never hurt anyone, did it? Try this on for size:
And a little college marching band, Gangnam style, from Ohio University — Chicago Bulls broadcaster Chuck Swirsky’s alma mater:
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