So Was Week 5 Make or Break This Year?

In September I wondered whether your record after 5 weeks could predict if you would make the playoffs. Here are the results from this year.

Week 5 Record - Made Playoffs?

Titans 5-0 - Yes

Panthers 4-1 - Yes
Steelers 4-1 - Yes
Giants 4-1 - Yes
Cowboys 4-1 - No
Broncos 4-1 - No
Bills 4-1 - No
Redskins 4-1 - No

Cardinals 3-2 - Yes
Patriots 3-2 - Yes
Colts 3-2 - Yes
Bucs 3-2 - No
Falcons 3-2 - No
Jets 3-2 - No
Bears 3-2 - No

Eagles 2-3 - Yes
Ravens 2-3 - Yes
Chargers 2-3 - Yes
Dolphins 2-3 - Yes
Vikings 2-3 - Yes
Saints 2-3 - No
49ers 2-3 - No
Browns 2-3 - No
Jaguars 2-3 - No
Packers 2-3 No

Seahawks 1-4 - No
Texans 1-4 - No
Chiefs 1-4 - No
Rams 1-4 - No
Raiders 1-4 - No

Bengals 0-5 - No
Lions 0-5 - No

Conclusion

Not really. The only thing for sure, if you're 5-0, you're in. If you're 1-4 or worse, you're out. Teams that were 4-1, three made it, four didn't. Same for 3-2. The surprising thing about this year? Five teams were 2-3 and still made it to the playoffs. And two of them are still alive.

So no, week 5 is not make or break. Unless you're 1-4.