Yeah, being "in it" into November may be all it takes to matter. Lose in Sept and then again Oct 6, that's only like 5 weeks of focus on your team (for a helmet, at least). The rest of the season is just a bitch-fest.
Start out 9-0, then drop 2 of your last 3, you'll end up ranked lower than the scenario above, but you'd have supplied your fan base with twice the length of excitement.
Trust me, you want the excitement to last as long as you can make it...ask any woman.