NFL bye weeks have already started to impact weekly matchups. While some teams need an early rest week to reset and figure things out, others might hope for a later bye to make the most of the rest.
Four teams are on a bye this week, so let’s dive into who they are and analyze their unique situations.
NFL Bye Weeks: Eagles, Buccaneers, Browns, and Jets Each Have a Unique Situation on Hand
The Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, and New York Jets are the four teams sitting out this week.
The Eagles enter their bye standing on a 6-2 record. Meanwhile, the Bucs are also 6-2, the Browns are 2-6, and the Jets are 1-7.
The Eagles Aim To Keep Up Some Good Momentum
Philly enters its bye on a 2-game winning streak. They got past the Minnesota Vikings on the road in Week 7, beating Kevin O’Connell’s men 28-22. The closeness of the contest raised some concerns, as they were facing Vikings backup quarterback Carson Wentz. However, hanging 28 points on Minnesota’s defense is still enough to be optimistic about.
They followed up the performance with a revenge game in Week 8. After New York Giants rookie Jaxson Dart upset the Eagles on Thursday Night Football in Week 6, Philly got them back this past Sunday at home, beating them 38-20.
The Eagles have a long rest ahead, as they’re only featured again on Monday Night Football in Week 10 when they visit the Green Bay Packers.
The Bucs Look To Hold the Summit in the NFC South
Under quarterback Baker Mayfield’s leadership, Tampa is on course to make it to the playoffs for the third year in a row. At 6-2, the team has two more wins than the division runners-up, the Carolina Panthers.
The Bucs took a primetime beating in Detroit in Week 7 versus the Lions, but followed it up with a statement victory over the New Orleans Saints last weekend to head into their bye on a high.
The Browns Are Within Reach of the Top of the AFC North
Strangely enough, Cleveland is still in contention for the AFC North at 2-6 despite sitting at the bottom of the division. The 2nd-placed Cincinnati Bengals are only one game ahead at 3-5, while the Pittsburgh Steelers are at 4-3.
However, a lot has to be done for them to turn things around, most notably at quarterback. With their initial 2nd-string rookie shot-caller, Dillon Gabriel, not keeping the team in the win column, they’re staring down the barrel of playing 3rd-string rookie Shedeur Sanders, leaving little hope.
The Jets Have an Underdog Story to Work On
The Jets miraculously won their first game of the season right before their bye week. While it might pair well with some subsequent rest, there’s little reason to believe a proper turnaround is in sight.
The win came in a nail-biter against Bengals veteran backup quarterback Joe Flacco. It might signal light at the end of the tunnel, but there’s still much left to be done.
