Dee Friedman
Week four in the NFL brings the first byes of the season. For fantasy football players this means scrambling around looking for one-week replacements. Gamblers know that the effect bye weeks have vary from team to team. However, there is no doubt that well coached teams benefit from time off. The Steelers looked lost on Thursday night in week two against Baltimore. Given extra time to prepare for Carolina they cleaned the Panthers clock in Charlotte with just a few extra days of prep. A whole week can help physically, mentally, and allow teams time to put in new plays along with an extra opportunity to game-plan for future opponents. Lets take a look at which NFL teams have byes this week and what to expect in week five.
Week four in the NFL brings the first byes of the season. For fantasy football players this means scrambling around looking for one-week replacements. Gamblers know that the effect bye weeks have vary from team to team. However, there is no doubt that well coached teams benefit from time off. The Steelers looked lost on Thursday night in week two against Baltimore. Given extra time to prepare for Carolina they cleaned the Panthers clock in Charlotte with just a few extra days of prep. A whole week can help physically, mentally, and allow teams time to put in new plays along with an extra opportunity to game-plan for future opponents. Lets take a look at which NFL teams have byes this week and what to expect in week five.
Arizona
With a 3-0 mark after beating San Francisco at home 23-14 last week, the Cardinals are confident headed to their bye week. Their win over San Diego in week one has been flattered by the Chargers performance the last two weeks, and a road victory over the Giants looks somewhat better after New York showed life in week three. In week five the Cards travel to Denver before a home date against Washington and a short trip to Oakland. The Cardinals won three straight and six of seven after a week nine bye last year. When Bruce Arians was the acting coach in Indianapolis two years ago the Colts beat Green Bay after a bye starting a five wins over six weeks run.
Cincinnati
Sure AJ Green could use a bit of time to get fully healthy, but if anybody would have preferred to keep playing it is the 3-0 Bengals. Cincinnati beat division rival Baltimore on the road in week one, and then cruised to victory over Atlanta and Tennessee at home. They’ll exit the bye with a national TV game against New England as part of four straight challenging games. The Bengals are 4-6-1 following a bye under Marvin Lewis. Last year Cincinnati beat San Diego on the road 17-10 following a week 12 bye and that began a four win in five week stretch to finish the regular season. In 2012 the Bengals fell to Denver after a week eight bye but then put together four straight victories. Cincinnati went 7-2 after their week off two years ago.
Cleveland
Many thought that the same old Browns would play poorly during the first three weeks of the year and Johnny Manziel would get an opportunity to start at quarterback following the bye. While Cleveland is just 1-2, they lost tight games to division rivals Pittsburgh and Baltimore and beat New Orleans in week two. Brian Hoyer has played well and there is no doubt he is the starter under center. Following the bye the Browns have a schedule that is conducive to success. During the next five weeks they travel to Tennessee and Jacksonville while hosting Pittsburgh, Oakland, and Tampa Bay. The Browns are 4-7 after a bye during the last 11 seasons and have not won following a bye since 2010. Last year the Bengals beat them 41-20 after the Browns week 10 bye and Cleveland concluded the year 0-7.
Denver
The Broncos played three straight one possession games prior to this years bye with wins over Indianapolis and Kansas City at home and an overtime loss at Seattle. After the bye they play five straight opponents that won at least eight games last year and four who either made the playoffs or won 10 games. Including playoff byes, Denver is 4-1 after a week off under John Fox with a 3-0 mark in the regular season. Last season the Broncos won at San Diego 28-20 after their bye and put together four wins in five weeks following the rest. In 2012 Denver started 3-3 but were 10-0 after the bye.
Seattle
The defending champs are 2-1 entering their bye week with home victories over Green Bay 36-16 and Denver 26-20 in overtime, and a road loss at San Diego 30-21. Their next seven games are out of the division including back-to-back contests against the NFC East’s Redskins and Cowboys on the immediate horizon. Including playoff byes, the Seahawks are 3-2 after a week off under Pete Carroll. They are 2-2 in the regular season after a week off. Last year Seattle crushed New Orleans 34-7 after a week 12 bye. In 2012 they lost at Miami 24-21 after a week off. Since 2007 the Seahawks are 3-5 after byes.
St. Louis
Jeff Fisher’s Rams enter their week off having lost two home games and won their only road contest. Minnesota beat them on opening day 34-6, they won at Tampa Bay 19-17 in week two, and last week St. Louis blew a 21-0 lead falling to Dallas 34-31. Fisher is 1-0-1 after a bye with the Rams crushing Chicago 42-21 at home last year, and playing San Francisco to a 24-24 draw in the Bay Area in 2012. They’ve outscored their opponents 35-7 in the first quarter during those two solid efforts following byes.
