Does the placement of the bye week really matter?

[Richard Noggin]

1 hour ago, SoCal Deek said:

I still believe there should be one bye week for the ENTIRE league mid season. It’s done in all other major sports. 

 

The fact that this does NOT exist is just pure greed. Like the broadcast contracts would be SO much worse with ONE week to fill with something other than NFL games. The NFL is on a trajectory that can only ADD days/weeks to the content schedule. It cannot SUBTRACT at this point.  

[Thurman#1]

I absolutely do believe it matters. But it's not something that can ruin a season or anything. It's just an advantage or disadvantage. IMO nearer the end of the season is generally better, allowing a rest nearer the playoffs. 

[Richard Noggin]

1 minute ago, Thurman#1 said:

I absolutely do believe it matters. But it's not something that can ruin a season or anything. It's just an advantage or disadvantage. IMO nearer the end of the season is generally better, allowing a rest nearer the playoffs. 

 

Don't think anyone could reasonably disagree with this perspective. Only thing is that each NFL season is so variable and who really knows what's beneficial or not until after things play out. 

[TAinLack.]

The bye week although helpful for rest and healing can also cause a bit flatness in play when returning.  I've seen it with our own Bills.

Edited 11 hours ago by TAinLack.

[CSBill]

I think later is better for emotional and mental rest as much as physical. It's a long season and a break right before the stretch run is a good thing. But, it is what it is, so make the best of it.

23 minutes ago, TAinLack. said:

The bye week although helpful for rest and healing can also cause a bit flatness in play when returning.  I've seen it with our own Bills.

 

Aren't the Bills undefeated (8-0) coming out of the bye week under McDermott? Flat, maybe? 8-0, yes.

[DC Grid]

13 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

You won't know how much it matters until it happens. If you have a lot of injuries, a bye let will help a bunch.

That’s 100% the traditional logic and I generally agree with it.  But you also have to wonder if an earlier bye might also prevent some of the midseason injuries guys get from grinding.  

[Matt_In_NH]

It really depends on when injuries are piling up....that can happen early in a season but it is more likely that the bye would be more beneficial later in the year.  How big of an issue is it, I think in general it gets overblown.  Sometimes once you get rolling it could be fine to just keep plugging.  Bottom line is it is random, not something you can control so you just have to deal with it whenever it happens to get scheduled each yar.

[kitchen sink]

I think everything related to the scheduled is overrated as a material factor in a team winning the Super Bowl.

 

Unfortunately, the population is a very small in the data analysis world with a population of only 34 winners spread over 34 years. 

 

Remember that the current bye week system only started in 1990.

 

This makes any true analysis of little value. 

 

All the discussion does fill a lull period in the NFLs calendar year. 🤑

 

 

[PromoTheRobot]

11 minutes ago, DC Grid said:

That’s 100% the traditional logic and I generally agree with it.  But you also have to wonder if an earlier bye might also prevent some of the midseason injuries guys get from grinding.  

Listening to Sal on 'GR he answered a question about this. He pointed out while week 7 is early in the season, it's the middle for the players because their season started with training camp in August.

 

The Bills also have a late Thursday night game at Houston. While the short 4-day week before the game sucks, they do get an 11-day "mini-bye* after.

Edited 10 hours ago by PromoTheRobot

[stlbills13]

If we run the division and clinch by week 15 or whatever again, it doesn't matter 

[Augie]

10 hours ago, SoCal Deek said:

I still believe there should be one bye week for the ENTIRE league mid season. It’s done in all other major sports. 

 

A week with no advertising revenue? I won’t hold my breath on that one. This is the NFL. 

[billsfan89]

Hard to say, I know when the Bills as a result of some international scheduling were given the choice to pick their bye week (I don't remember the exact detail I think this was a benefit given because they played the Jags in the Jags second week in London in 2023) I think McBeane took a bye week later in the season. I think given that there's only one bye for the playoffs teams probably prefer a bye later in the season. But also you could get his with a rash of nagging injuries early and could use a bye in week 6-8 so it is always a bit relative. 

 

I think the key thing is to have your playoff seeding locked up by week 18 so that you can have that last week of the regular season as a defacto bye week on top of your mid-season or later season bye. I think it made a big difference for the Bills in 2024 vs. 2023. In 2023 they had to chase down Miami and every week was a playoff game and I think the Bills were a bit more exhausted than KC in the Divisional round as even though KC was the 3 seed they locked everything up and rested their starters week 18 so while they didn't have the one seed bye they had pesudo bye. I think it made a big difference for the Bills in 2024 to not play starters in week 18. 

 

So there's a lot of ways to look at the schedule.

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

17 hours ago, Billsfed1 said:

Been listening to a few pods on the schedule and one of the recurring points I’ve heard is “wish the bye week was a little bit later”.

 

The Eagles had their bye week last year in week 5 and won the Super Bowl.  They also (like the Bills) had to play 3 games prior to the Super Bowl and they even won under those conditions.

 

I’m not entirely convinced it matters.  The Lions had a bye by winning the NFC last year and they were out in the Divisional round so I think while it may be nice to have it mid-season or perhaps a touch later…not completely necessary in my book.

 

What do you think?

It depends a lot on the injury situation as well as other factors. Great to have one when you have key starters that are nicked up especially going into the post-season. The Bills bye week last year was perfect timing for that reason alone.

 

 

Also, a bye week can be just as important for coaches as it is players especially coming off several brutal losses Gives them time to regroup and make some changes schematically. 

I am a firm believer that the NFL should implement 2 bye’s especially as the schedule increases. A soon to be 18 game regular season plus adding in the 1-4 more in the postseason and ONE bye is asking a ton. Especially in a brutal sport like pro football. If they care so much about players healthy then that will go a long way in helping w/ that issue.

[JP51]

I would say it depends... if it coincides with your short term injuries its a huge bonus.... if it doesnt I dont think it matters much unless it is really early in the season... and even then if it is corresponding with short term injuries it still works... bottom line is maybe but not really... 

[SoCal Deek]

14 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

 

The fact that this does NOT exist is just pure greed. Like the broadcast contracts would be SO much worse with ONE week to fill with something other than NFL games. The NFL is on a trajectory that can only ADD days/weeks to the content schedule. It cannot SUBTRACT at this point.  

So, greed is confined to the NFL? I actually think it's due to an utter lack of creativity by the Commissioner. He is, and has always been, horrible.

[PromoTheRobot]

5 hours ago, Augie said:

 

A week with no advertising revenue? I won’t hold my breath on that one. This is the NFL. 

Get ready for the 18-game regular season with at least two byes and every team playing one international game. The season may end up a month longer.

Edited 4 hours ago by PromoTheRobot

[machine gun kelly]

Considering Ogunjobi (not sure on spelling and don’t feel like looking it up), and Hoycht are suspended weeks 1-6, so having an extra bye week to get them ready is not a bad idea. 
 

My mom always told me to make lemonade out of lemons so there’s always an upside.  You just maybe have to look for it.  We can do it.  This may be the year.