Preseason record has zero impact on regular season success

With the Ravens not performing so well in the preseason so far, I was curious about whether there was any relationship between preseason wins and in-season performance.

Here are the year by year results from the preseason, regular season, and playoff performance:

2014 Preseason 4-0, 2014 Regular Season 10-6 Lost Divisional Round

2013 Preseason 2-2, 2013 Regular Season 8-8 Missed Playoffs

2012 Preseason 2-2, 2012 Regular Season 10-6 Won Super Bowl

2011 Preseason 3-1, 2011 Regular Season 12-4 Lost Conference Round

2010 Preseason 3-1, 2010 Regular Season 12-4 Lost Divisional Round

2009 Preseason 4-0, 2009 Regular Season 9-7 Lost Divisional Round

2008  Preseason 1-3, 2008 Regular Season 11-5 Lost Conference Round

2007 Preseason 1-3, 2007 Regular Season 5-11 Missed Playoffs

2006 Preseason 2-2, 2006 Regular Season 13-3 Lost Divisional Round

2005 Preseason 2-2, 2005 Regular Season 6-10 Missed Playoffs

2004 Preseason 3-1, 2004 Regular Season 9-7 Missed Playoffs

2003 Preseason 1-3, 2003 Regular Season 10-6 Lost Wild Card Round

2002 Preseason 2-2, 2002 Regular Season 7-9 Missed Playoffs

2001 Preseason 1-2, 2001 Regular Season 10-6 Lost Divisional Round

2000 Preseason 4-0, 2000 Regular Season 12-4 Won Super Bowl

1999 Preseason 4-0, 1999 Regular Season 8-8 Missed Playoffs

1998  Preseason 4-0, 1998 Regular Season 6-10 Missed Playoffs

1997 Preseason 0-4, 1997 Regular Season 6-9-1 Missed Playoffs

1996 Preseason 3-1, 1996 Regular Season 4-12 Missed Playoffs

4-0: As you can see, of the 5 times we had a 4-0 preseason record, 2 times we missed the playoffs, 2 times we lost in the divisional round, and one time we won the Super Bowl. Playoff %: 60%, 6 playoff wins

3-1: The Ravens have gone 3-1 four times, making the playoffs 2 of those years and losing in divisional round and conference round those years. Playoff %: 50%, 2 playoff wins

2-2: The Ravens have gone 2-2 five times, missing the playoffs 3 of those times. In the 2 times they made the playoffs, they won the Super Bowl and lost in the divisional round. Playoff %: 40%, 4 playoff wins

1-3: The Ravens have gone 1-3 three times, and 1-2 once- in those years they made the playoffs 3 times, and won at least a game 2 of those 3 years. Playoff %: 75%, 3 playoff wins

0-4: The Ravens have only gone 0-4 once, in their second year. Playoff %: 0%

So based on history, is it better to go 1-3 or 2-2? A 2-2 preseason led to our first Lombardi and the 1st of our 1st round byes. But 1-3 has the highest rate of making the playoffs. The verdict is....

WE ALL KNOW IT MEANS NOTHING.

Interesting side not: Since Flacco was drafted the Ravens have gone 19-9 (.679) in the preseason. Pre-Flacco, they were 27-20 (.574). And besides his rookie year, when he wasn't even the assured starter, the team has never gone less than .500 for the preseason.