By Ryan Dunleavy | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Here lies the Giants' playoffs hopes: They started 0-2.

Apropos engraving for a tombstone, don't you think?

The Giants' playoff hopes might not be dead yet, but it's time to start making the proper arrangements.

With a chance to capitalize after losses by the Eagles and Redskins and to knock a rival into last place in the NFC East Division, the Giants instead delivered a lifeless offensive performance and in a 20-15 loss to the Cowboys.

Don't Edit

Mike Lawrie | Getty Images

And so now the Giants will hear all the stats about 0-2 starts that have become too familiar around East Rutherford.

After losing to the Jaguars and before hitting the road to face the then-winless Cowboys, coach Pat Shurmur was asked about the alarming statistics associated with an 0-2 start.

"We don’t worry about that," Shurmur said. "That’s fun for everybody to talk about outside the building."

A correction to note a few days later: It's not "fun" for anybody. And it probably is time to worry.

Here are the relevant numbers and history:

Don't Edit

4th time in 5 years

This is the fourth time in the last five years under three different head coaches that the Giants started 0-2. The lone exception was a 2-0 start in 2016.

Not coincidentally, the only time the Giants made the playoffs during that span was in 2016.

2013: 0-2 became 0-6 and then 7-9

2014: 0-2 became 1-2 and then 6-10

2015: 0-2 became 1-2 and then 6-10

2017: 0-2 became 0-5 and then 3-13

Don't Edit

Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media

2007 Giants

You will hear plenty of spin now about the 2007 Giants, who started 0-2 with losses at Dallas and home to Green Bay but rallied to win six straight, finish 10-6 and win the Super Bowl against the then-undefeated Patriots.

It's a nice story that shows the fighting spirit of one of the NFL's great underdog teams.

But, if 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017 have taught us anything, comebacks like 2007 are the exception to the rule.

Don't Edit

2017 Saints

The last team to do what the Giants will try to accomplish was the Saints, who lost to the Vikings and Patriots before putting together eight consecutive wins. The hot streak allowed the Saints to win the NFL's toughest division, outlasting the Falcons and Panthers.

As it turned out, those first two losses were to two of the best teams in the NFL. In the Giants' case, the Jaguars might be one of those teams in 2018 but it's unlikely for the Cowboys.

The Saints won a playoff game before losing to the Vikings a second time in the NFC Divisional Round playoffs.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

There is a huge difference between going 1-1 and 0-2 as far as making the playoffs is concerned. pic.twitter.com/GPNDKB9YwH — SNF on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 17, 2018

11 percent

Since the NFL changed to four four-team divisions in each conference in 2002, only 11 percent of teams that reached the playoffs started 0-2, according to NBC. By comparison, 41 percent started 1-1, which is good news for the rest of the NFC East.

The other 48 percent of playoff teams started 2-0, of course.

Don't Edit

Politi's 5 observations: Eli Manning's offense is a mess

Don't Edit

10.9 percent

Only 10.9 percent of the 91 teams that started 0-2 from 2007-17 rebounded to make the playoffs, according to OddsShark. They are the 2017 Saints, 2016 Dolphins, 2015 Texans, 2015 Seahawks, 2014 Colts, 2013 Panthers, 2008 Chargers, 2008 Vikings, 2008 Dolphins and 2007 Giants.

Don't Edit

2.9 percent

It's not crazy to call Giants-Texans in Week 3 a must-win for both teams.

Since 1980, only five of 173 teams that have started 0-3 rebounded to make the playoffs. That's 2.9 percent.

The Chargers learned just how difficult it is last season, when they started 0-4 but finished 9-7, paying the price for their slow start in the AFC playoff tiebreakers.

Don't Edit

Studs and duds of Giants losing to Cowboys

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Michael Ainsworth | AP

What they are saying about time running out...

"I think it's just a matter of time (for) when it's going to get going," wide receiver Odell Beckham said. "You hate getting in a hole 0-2, but that's our situation. We've got to fight and work to get out of there."

"0-2 is frustrating," safety Landon Collins said. "I have no sense of urgency right now. Right now, we have to go back to the drawing board and fix everything we need to fix."

Don't Edit

"We're 0-2. We've just got to get back to work and ready to play Houston," Shurmur said. "There is no other way out of this."

"The Super Bowl is not played after the second game of the season," left tackle Nate Solder said. "There are no excuses. You own your losses. You talk stock of what you did wrong and you improve it."

Don't Edit

We will figure this out...no worries...we are to good of team and family...#WEAREONE — LANDON COLLINS (@TheHumble_21) September 17, 2018

Other numbers to know: 29 and 12

For all the hype around Odell Beckham, Saquon Barkley, Evan Engram and Sterling Shepard, the Giants offense ranks No. 29 in the NFL in yards per game after two weeks.

Not exactly the kind of replicated successful protection that Shurmur experienced with a similar but less star-powered collection of talent with the Vikings as offensive coordinator in 2017.

The Giants defense has held up its end of the bargain, allowing 20 points for the second straight game.

Don't Edit

But the Giants failed to score 20 points for the 12th time in the last 14 games.

Forget the focus on the streak of not reaching 30 points for 34 straight regular-season games.

In a league dominated by offense, the 20-point failures are more alarming in some regards.

Don't Edit

See the catch some are saying was better than Odell Beckham's 1-hander

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

WATCH: Odell Beckham goes hard in practice for Giants

Ryan Dunleavy can be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy.