Tag: bye week

Pete Carroll says ‘always protect the team’ rule applies to bye week

The Seattle Seahawks players will continue their daily testing for COVID-19 throughout the bye week, encouraged to “always protect the team.”

The Seattle Seahawks are entering the bye week with a perfect 5-0 record to start the season for the first time in franchise history. But there is a more important record coach Pete Carroll wants the team to preserve as well – continuing to test negative for COVID-19 throughout the break.

With the coronavirus pandemic still in full swing, players will still be required to test daily, even during the bye week.

“We have to be so, so tuned in,” Carroll said during his Monday morning press conference. “Rule No. 1 is always protect the team, you know. This is what this week is about. Rule No.1 is all about conscience and staying connected to team and players and who you represent and all that.

“Everything is at stake.”

Carroll explained the reason the message is so important is that everyone will be away from their daily routines and there is simply no way to practice or prepare for the gravity of the situation.

Carroll said the players will undergo COVID-19 tests each morning.

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Presumed rescheduling pushes Dolphins’ bye week to Week 6

Presumed rescheduling pushes Dolphins’ bye week to Week 6

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic continues to linger in the background of the 2020 NFL season and now the implications of positive tests have arrived to impact the Miami Dolphins. No, there are no active COVID-19 cases on the Dolphins’ roster or in their organization. No, the Dolphins’ previously scheduled Week 6 opponent, the Denver Broncos, aren’t mired down by the virus either. But the Broncos have not been cleared to play the New England Patriots this weekend as the Patriots grapple with the virus.

The end result? Miami’s Week 6 contest has been rescheduled. And now, courtesy of ESPN’s Adam Schefter, we know what the rumored plan of attack is for the NFL as they look to pivot and readjust their expectations for the schedule. Most prominent to the Dolphins?

A Week 6 bye and a date with the Broncos during Miami’s previously scheduled bye in Week 11.

This is sure to not be the last adjustment the NFL must make in scheduling amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But for the Dolphins, this is a significant change as it removes all possible wiggle room for Miami without having to add additional weeks to the schedule. If another Dolphins opponent, or the Dolphins themselves, see an uptick in cases of the virus, the NFL will be greatly challenged to pivot once again.

If you’re looking for a silver lining for an unexpected bye week, it may build the Dolphins the bridge they need to make that much anticipated change at quarterback. But first we’ll need to see how today goes in San Francisco against the 49ers. The Dolphins and 49ers kickoff at 4:05 PM EST.

Early-season stumbles are par for the course for Sean Payton’s Saints

The New Orleans Saints have historically struggled in September under Sean Payton, but there’s reasons to expect their usual October bump.

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Another year, another slow start for the New Orleans Saints. After handling their business in the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tom Brady, they dropped losses in each of the following weeks to the Las Vegas Raiders and the Green Bay Packers by a combined margin of 71-54. New Orleans also lead the NFL with 24 fouls for 331 penalty yards, further evidence of their sloppiness out of the gate.

Unfortunately, that’s been the norm since Sean Payton was hired to coach the team. Under his management, the Saints are 25-22 during the month of the September, usually the opening games of each season; but their record jumps to 38-13 in October, reflecting the in-season adjustments he and his staff have made year after year.

Put another way, that’s a leap from a September winning percentage of .532 all the way up to .745. Over the course of a full season, that’s the difference between an 8-7-1 regular season record and a 12-4 finish. That’s, uh, significant.

So don’t lose faith yet, even if the Saints are making it easy to doubt their process. There’s plenty of time for Drew Brees to get in better sync with his weapons (especially once Michael Thomas is back in the lineup), and for the pass rush to wake up from whatever’s put Cameron Jordan to sleep — returning third-year defensive end Marcus Davenport should help with that.

The Saints are set to visit the Detroit Lions before returning to New Orleans for another prime-time game with the Los Angeles Chargers, and both teams have 1-2 records.

There’s a world where the Saints go into their Week 6 bye with a 3-2 record, before coming out the other side and going on a tear. But they have a ton of work ahead of them if we’re going to see it.

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Chiefs to play Raiders after bye week for third consecutive season

A favorable schedule pattern for the Kansas City Chiefs against one of their most bitter AFC West rivals.

The Kansas City Chiefs are getting a familiar opponent after they go on a bye week in 2020.

The Chiefs will play their AFC West foe, the Raiders, after the bye week for the third consecutive season. In 2018, they played the Raiders in Oakland after a Week 12 bye, coming away with a 40-33 win. In 2019, they had the Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium also after a Week 12 bye, defeating them 40-9.

In the last 10 seasons, Kansas City has played eight AFC West opponents following the bye week. That’s good for the most division opponents after a bye week of any team during that span. The most common opponent following the Chiefs’ bye week has been the Raiders with six games played in the past 10 seasons (including 2020).

So what was the Chiefs’ record against the Raiders during that span? Four wins and one loss, with the lone loss coming during the Chiefs’ 2-14 season in 2012, which was before Andy Reid’s arrival with Kansas City. Reid, of course, makes all the difference in the world here. After the 2019 NFL season, Reid coached teams have an 18-3 record after the bye week.

The bye week and Reid’s record of success aren’t the only reasons that Kansas City has found such success against the Raiders in recent years, but they certainly won’t hurt the Chiefs.

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2020 Seahawks schedule: Week 6 bye makes for difficult final stretch

The Seattle Seahawks will head into the playoffs having played 11 games in 11 weeks thanks to their early Week 6 bye.

The NFL released the schedule for the upcoming 2020 campaign, and the Seattle Seahawks have four primetime games on the docket, as well as a handful of early games out east, and a regular-season finale against the 49ers in San Francisco.

They also have their bye in Week 6, one of the earliest bye weeks the NFL offers.

They’ll host the Vikings on Sunday night in Week 5, on October 11, and then won’t play again until Sunday, October 25 on the road against the Cardinals, a road trip that has caused Seattle trouble in recent years.

Seattle is 7-3 after their bye week in the Pete Carroll-era, but the last time they lost was in 2015…..against the Cardinals.

Assuming no changes to the schedule occur because of COVID-19, the Seahawks will play 11 games in 11 weeks, starting October 25 and going through January 3, when they take on the 49ers in San Francisco to close out the regular season.

The bye week is designed to give teams a much-needed break during a hectic regular season, and while there will always be teams that draw the short end of the stick, it’s no fun to go into the playoffs having played 11 football games in 11 weeks – and it will no doubt test the resolve of the players and coaches as they look to advance to the Super Bowl this season.

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2020 Cowboys schedule: Dallas has 5 primetime games

The Dallas Cowboys schedule is now out.

The Dallas Cowboys have known the 13 teams they will face for the 2020 season for some time, now they know the order. The NFL released the full 17-week, 16-game schedule for all 32 teams. Normally the schedule release means fans near and far will start to make their plans on which games they will attend, but not so much in 2020.

Now all eyes will focus on deciphering how the league scheduled around the real possibility not every game will be played and that some stadiums will not be ready, or allowed to open. The official schedule is now out and Dallas has an interesting mix of opponents.  The schedule features a maximum of five primetime games, as America’s Team always brings in maximum ratings for whatever network carries their games.

Three games will be on Sunday Night football, one on Monday night football and their new tradition of playing the Thursday after Thanksgiving will have all eyes oin them.

Dallas opens up with the Los Angeles Rams on September 13 at 7:20 p.m. CT.  The Sunday Night football matchup will potentially be the christening of the Rams new SoFi Stadium.

Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones was instrumental in getting the Rams back to L.A. and getting the new stadium. Dallas christened their return to California in the preseason back in 2016 and now they will be the first team to write on the visitor’s locker room walls in the new digs. Provided of course California lets the game happen in their state and the construction is finished.

The Cowboys face off against the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers at home in Week  15 on SNF. Dallas gets their first shot to dethrone NFC East champion Philadelphia in Week 8, and then they’ll rematch against the Eagles in Week 16.

When it’s all said and done, we’ll track the complete slate for the defending NFC East champion Cowboys.

Complete 2020 Regular Season Schedule

Week Opponent Date/Time (CT) Network
1 @ Los Angeles Rams Sun Sept 13, 7:20 p.m. CT NBC
2 vs Atlanta Falcons Sun Sept 20, noon CT FOX
3 @ Seattle Seahawks Sunday Sept 27, 3:25 p.m. CT FOX
4 vs Cleveland Browns Sunday Oct 4, Noon CT FOX
5 vs New York Giants Sunday, Oct 11, 3:25 p.m. CT CBS
6 vs Arizona Cardinals Monday, Oct 19 7:15 pm. CT ESPN
7 @ Washington Redskins Sunday Oct 25 noon CT FOX
8 @ Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Nov 1 720 p.m. CT NBC
9 vs Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Nov 8 325 p.m. CT CBS
10 BYE WEEK
11 @ Minnesota Vikings Sunday Nov 22, 3:25 p.m. CT FOX
12 vs Washington Redskins (Thanksgiving) Thursday, Nov 26, 3:30 p.m. CT FOX
13 @ Baltimore Ravens Thursday, Dec 3 7:20 p.m. CT FOX
14 @ Cincinnati Bengals Sunday Dec 13, Noon CT FOX
15 vs San Francisco 49ers Sunday Dec 20, 7:20 p.m. CT NBC
16 vs Philadelphia Eagles Sunday Dec 27, 3:25 p.m. CT FOX
17 @ New York Giants Sunday Jan 3, Noon CT FOX

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Chiefs’ 2020 regular season schedule revealed

The schedule for the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2020 NFL season has finally arrived!

The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2020 schedule has finally been revealed.

We’ve known their opponents for a while now, and we know that strength of schedule has the Chiefs in the middle of the pack among NFL teams. Now we know the exact order in which they’ll face their opponents as Kansas City seeks to defend their Super Bowl title. Early indications are that this is a favorable schedule for the defending champions.

Take look at the full 2020 schedule for the Chiefs:

Week Opponent Time (CT) | Date
1 vs. Houston Texans 7:20 p.m. Thu, Sept. 10th
2 at Los Angeles Chargers 3:25  p.m. Sun, Sept. 20th
3 at Baltimore Ravens 7:20 p.m. Mon, Sept. 28th
4 vs. New England Patriots 3:25 p.m. Sun, Oct. 4th
5 vs. Las Vegas Raiders 12:00 p.m. Sun, Oct. 11th
6 at Buffalo Bills 7:20 p.m. Sun, Oct 15th
7 at Denver Broncos 3:25 p.m. Sun, Oct 25th
8 vs. New York Jets 12:00 p.m. Sun, Nov. 1st
9 vs. Carolina Panthers 12:00 p.m. Sun, Nov. 8th
10 BYE BYE
11 at Las Vegas Raiders 7:20 p.m. Sun, Nov. 22nd
12 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3:25 p.m. Sun, Nov. 29th
13 vs. Denver Broncos 7:20 p.m. Sun, Dec. 6th
14 at Miami Dolphins 12:00 p.m. Sun, Dec. 13th
15 at New Orleans Saints 3:25 p.m. Sun, Dec. 20th
16 vs. Atlanta Falcons 12:00 p.m. Sun, Dec. 27th
17 vs. Los Angeles Chargers 12:00 p.m. Sun, Jan. 3rd

How do you feel about the Chiefs’ schedule for the 2020 season? Will the Kansas City become back-to-back Super Bowl winners? Be sure to share your reactions with Chiefs Wire on Facebook and Twitter.

2019 NFL playoff scenarios for Week 17: How the AFC and NFC stack up

A look at the 2019 NFL playoff scenarios for the Seattle Seahawks and the rest of the league heading into the final week of the season.

The Seattle Seahawks have clinched a spot in this year’s playoffs and still have the chance to win the division with a victory over the San Francisco 49ers Sunday night.

Here’s a look at how the rest of the teams in the AFC and NFC stack up for the final week of the regular season, per NFL Communications.

AFC

CLINCHED:

Baltimore Ravens – AFC North division and home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs

Houston Texans – AFC South division

Kansas City Chiefs – AFC West division

New England Patriots – AFC East division

Buffalo Bills – playoff berth

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (11-4) vs. L.A. Chargers (5-10)

Kansas City clinches a first-round bye with:

  1. KC win + NE loss

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (12-3) vs. Miami (4-11)

New England clinches a first-round bye with:

  1. NE win or tie OR
  2. KC loss or tie

OAKLAND RAIDERS (7-8) at Denver (6-9)

Oakland clinches a playoff berth with:

  1. OAK win + PIT loss + TEN loss + IND win + OAK clinches strength-of-victory tiebreaker over PIT*

*OAK clinches strength-of-victory tiebreaker over PIT if ONE of the following teams win or tie:

CHI, DET, LAC OR NE

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8-7) at Baltimore (13-2)

Pittsburgh clinches a playoff berth with:

  1. PIT win + TEN loss or tie OR
  2. PIT tie + TEN loss OR
  3. TEN loss + IND win + OAK loss or tie OR
  4. TEN loss + IND win + PIT ties OAK in strength-of-victory tiebreaker*

*PIT ties OAK in strength-of-victory tiebreaker if ALL of the following teams win:

MIN, GB, KC AND MIA

TENNESSEE TITANS (8-7) at Houston (10-5)

Tennessee clinches a playoff berth with:

  1. TEN win OR
  2. TEN tie + PIT loss or tie OR
  3. PIT loss + IND loss or tie

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Chiefs hope to add to Andy Reid’s amazing record of post-bye week success

Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid is one of the most dominant head coaches in the NFL with extra time to prepare for an opponent.

The only thing that looks better on Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid than a Hawaiian shirt is extra time to prepare for an opponent.

In Reid’s 21-year career as an NFL head coach, he’s 17-3 coming out of the bye week during the regular season. Two of those losses have come when he has been the coach of the Chiefs, with the most recent loss coming in 2017 to the New York Giants. They lost that game in frustrating fashion with an overtime field goal.

In 2018, Kansas City faced the Oakland Raiders coming off a Week 12 bye, just as they will in 2019. That season they traveled to the Raiders in Oakland and they won the game 40-33. This time the Raiders will be tasked with facing the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

In 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018, the Chiefs have come away victorious with extra time to prepare for their opponent. In 2019, with the team hoping to return to the AFC championship and then the Super Bowl, they’ll need to continue their dominance following the bye week.

For the Raiders, the upcoming Week 13 game could be the difference between winning the AFC West, being a wild-card team, or even missing the playoffs altogether. You know they’ll be ready to put up their best shot against a hated rival like Kansas City.

Another cool part about Reid’s post-bye record is that it extends to the playoffs. Reid has only had a bye week in the playoffs a total five times in his 21-year NFL career. During each of those five years, he’s gone undefeated coming off of a first-round bye week.

The Chiefs really hurt their chances at a first-round bye week by dropping a winnable game to the Tennesse Titans in Week 10. There’s still a chance that they could get the first-round bye, but in addition to winning down the stretch themselves, they’ll need some teams like the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots to lose some games along the way to the playoffs.

Did Chiefs’ bye week come at the right time?

How have the Kansas City Chiefs performed under Andy Reid following the bye week?

The Kansas City Chiefs won’t be playing today as they have Week 12 off for their bye week. This is actually the second consecutive season in which the Chiefs have had a bye week during Week 12 and face the Oakland Raiders in Week 13. Kansas City won last season’s game 40-33 in Oakland.

This realization got me thinking about whether the Chiefs under Andy Reid do better with an early-season bye week or a late-season bye week. Each season is different in terms of players, schedules, challenges and injuries. However, Reid seems to approach the bye week the same way every season. He gets his players extra rest and spends extra time studying and game-planning for the upcoming opponent.

Here’s a look at when the bye week has occurred in each season since Reid arrived in Kansas City and the team record in games occurring after the bye:

Season Bye Week Record After Bye
2018 Week 12 3-2
2017 Week 10 4-3
2016 Week 5 10-2
2015 Week 9 8-0
2014 Week 6 7-4
2013 Week 10 2-5

Apart from 2013, the Chiefs have had a winning record after the bye in each season. The team has seemingly done their best work under Reid when the bye week occurs in Week 9 or earlier. From 2014-2016 the Chiefs had a 25-6 record after the bye week. During the three seasons when they had a bye week in Week 10 or later, Kansas City had a 9-10 record.

If this trend continues, the Chiefs won’t win out in 2019. However, they could certainly finish the season with a winning record. It’s also entirely possible that the team reverses the trend. This team will certainly face its challenges with getting some more players healthy for the stretch run.

At the very least, it’s nice to know that in general Kansas City has done a great job after the bye week under Reid, with a combined 34-16 record after the over the course of six seasons.