Early Bye Benefited Teams Last Season

NASHVILLE – It’s too early to inform what it means to be one of many first NFL groups to have an open date within the 17-game schedule as is the case for the Tennessee Titans and three others this week.

In spite of everything, it was solely final season that the league added every week to the common season and pushed again the primary open date till Week 6.

Nevertheless, the primary impression is that it’s a good factor.

Of the 4 groups that have been the primary to get every week off in 2021, just one had a dropping report within the 12 video games after they obtained again to work. All of them had a greater profitable share following the break than previous to it.

Nevertheless, just one made the playoffs. However that group, San Francisco, made a very good run as soon as it reached the postseason.

A rundown of how issues went for the 4 groups that had a Week 6 bye in 2021:

Atlanta

Earlier than the break: 2-3. After the break: 5-5.

After a 1-3 begin, the Falcons gained their final recreation earlier than the bye and their first recreation following it of their first season underneath coach Arthur Smith. They by no means gained consecutive contests once more after that, although, however additionally they by no means misplaced greater than two in a row. All of their victories have been towards groups that didn’t make the playoffs. So, they have been just about the identical group all through.

New Orleans

Earlier than the break: 3-2. After the break: 6-6.

The Saints got here out of the bye with wins over Seattle and Tampa Bay – their first win streak of the season. However quarterback Jameis Winston obtained harm, and 5 straight losses adopted. Coaches lastly discovered what to do throughout the additional time afforded by a Thursday night time recreation. New Orleans gained 4 of its final 5 however missed out on a playoff spot due to a tiebreaker.

New York Jets

Earlier than the break: 1-4. After the break: 3-9.

This was not a very good group from begin to end. Nevertheless, the Jets averaged simply 13.4 factors per recreation and scored greater than 20 simply as soon as within the first 5 weeks. They scored 30 or extra in back-to-back weeks starting with their second recreation after the bye and strung collectively three straight with 20 or extra late within the yr.

San Francisco

Earlier than the break: 2-3. After the break: 8-4.

The 49ers misplaced three straight headed into their break, and their level complete decreased with every defeat – from 28 factors to 21 to 10. Issues didn’t look a lot better once they misplaced 30-18 to Indianapolis of their first recreation again. Nevertheless, they by no means misplaced consecutive contests after their bye. They did win seven of their final 9 after which added a pair of playoff wins, which obtained them to the NFC Championship recreation. The season lastly ended with a 20-17 loss to the eventual champions, the Los Angeles Rams.

If kind holds, it will likely be excellent news for the Titans (3-2), who gained three straight and took sole possession of first place within the AFC South main into this week. The others – Houston, Detroit and Las Vegas – are all last-place groups that must be higher.

Nevertheless, that is the third straight yr that Tennessee has an prolonged run of video games, and the primary two produced combined outcomes.

Final yr, the Titans began with 12 straight contests earlier than they lastly obtained a break in Week 13. Two losses led into the break and snapped a six-game win streak.

In 2020, a COVID outbreak pressured them to take their bye in Week 4 after which play 13 straight video games within the final season with a 16-game schedule. The Titans obtained blown out at Inexperienced Bay in Week 16 after which barely survived a severe problem from Houston within the regular-season finale.

Tennessee gained the AFC South each years however misplaced its playoff opener every time.

“That is when it falls,” coach Mike Vrabel stated this week. “We are going to use the time to one of the best of our benefit and attempt to get guys again wholesome, give some guys some relaxation which have performed a whole lot of soccer for us and we are going to see if we are able to discover methods to enhance.

“… We at all times attempt to take heed to what we’re doing nicely and the way we are able to proceed to do it nicely. Additionally, who can proceed to assist us and who ought to play extra, who has earned the best to play extra and possibly who ought to play much less? These are selections that we have now to make.”