With Lacy's concussion talk has come up whether or not he would be rested until after the bye which comes in week 4 (The earliest bye week possible in the NFL) There has also been talk of whether or not the bye week seems early or late. I went back to 1990 (when the NFL started the bye week) and complied this list of the Packers and their bye weeks.

Prior to this year the Packers have had the first bye week only one other time. They have had the latest bye week (10)
two times. Breakdowns are as follows bye week in () number season after

(3) 1 in 1993 there were 2 bye weeks the only year I think week 3 was included
(4)2, (5)2, (6)4, (7)6, (8)7, (9)1, (10)2

If you consider weeks 4, 5 early and weeks 9, 10 late and 6,7,8 middle the Packers have had 4 early (discounting the week 3) 3 late and 17 middle. I'm not sure how this compare to the rest of the league but I'm guessing it is fairly close.

Here is a list of all the bye weeks

2013 - 4, 2012 - 10, 2011 - 8, 2010 - 10, 2009 - 5
2008 - 8, 2007 - 7, 2006 - 6, 2005 - 6, 2004 - 9
2003 - 8, 2002 - 8, 2001 - 7, 2000 - 8, 1999 - 4
1998 - 6, 1997 - 8, 1996 - 8, 1995 - 5, 1994 - 7
1993 - 3&7, 1992 - 6, 1991 - 7, 1990 - 7

The debate on whether early or late is better depends on injury I guess. If your team is banged up at the end of the year (and which one isn't) the late bye week is a chance to get healthy for the stretch run and the playoffs. If you have some key injuries early (Lacy and Burnett for example) the early bye week might be better for you. It also depends on the schedule. If you have a stretch against some really tough opponents a bye in there could help break things up, or it could give you extra time to prepare for a particularly tough opponent. I think the prevailing preference is to have a later bye simply because the season is only 3 or 4 games old when the first two weeks come around and you just started playing. It may interrupt a rhythm that teams are just starting to get into and everyone should be relatively fresh. Later on you will likely have more players that are banged up and everyone simply could use the rest. I'm also guessing that for every time a fan says "the bye couldn't have come at a better time" they will also say "the bye couldn't have come at a worse time"

If anyone knows of a link to any site that gives more in depth analysis of bye weeks and maybe the weeks after teams have them that would be cool to see.

Nice work. I kind of felt they were getting byes in the middle or late middle of the season more often than not. All things being equal I would rather have the bye toward the end of the season so they can get ready for the playoffs. But as you said it is nice to have when you have some tough games in the next few weeks.

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The whole first post could be summarized by saying "it depends".

This season, it certainly seems to come at a good time for the Packers. Of course, we don't know how it would seem to have a bye later on.

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The only time I would want an early bye is if there was a real key injury early and the bye allowed a key player from missing a game. Other than that later is better. Give'em a rest before the season end push for the playoffs, if going all the way, week 8/9 would be the midseason.

I don't see the bye being in a good spot for us this year. WE might be a little bruised after facing the Bengals, and it may give Burnett another free week to help completely heal and possibly Casey. But we face Detroit at home after, and with how well we know them the coaches really don't need an extra week to prepare. If I had my pick based on our schedule I would like it to ahve been after the first Bears Game. Use the extra week to prepare for the Eagles.

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I don't mind the early BYE as there will be another late one in week 18.

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best answer.

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Not sure I am a fan of this bye.

Later. As late as possible.

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Well if there is one nice thing about having a late Thursday game is you do get a couple of extra days off before the next game. So it's like a quasi-bye at the end of the season.

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