Listen, each week, I’m more and more excited to watch the Patriots play.
The way head coach Mike Vrabel has this team rolling — from Drake Maye looking like a legitimate MVP candidate to the defense looking formidable — New England has been excelling in all three phases of the game.
However, I’m concerned about the scheduling. And, no, I’m not talking about opposing fanbases pointing to an “easy” schedule, as if the Patriots hand-picked their opponents.
I’m talking about having a Week 14 bye.
For a sport as physically demanding as football, having your bye week 14 weeks in to the season is borderline criminal. I looked to see which other teams are stuck with that Week 14 break, and the Patriots are joined by the 49ers, Panthers, and Giants.
I get that teams don’t have much control over where their bye falls, but the fact that in Weeks 6, 7, and 11, only two teams (each week) were off tells me the NFL can do a better job of spreading out these midseason byes.
Why does this concern me?
Vrabel has recently been giving veteran players days off during practice week because the schedule has been so unrelenting. The Patriots did get a mini-bye by playing last Thursday night, but it’s not the same. And ever since the NFL added a 17th game, I think there should be real discussions about eliminating Week 14 byes altogether.
Luckily for New England, the team continues to find ways to win, so maybe the late bye actually becomes a good thing as momentum keeps building.
Either way, with rumors circulating that Bengals’ Joe Burrow may play Sunday, the Patriots have another obstacle ahead. Even without Ja’Marr Chase — suspended after spitting on a Ravens player — Cincinnati’s offense is on a different level with Burrow (compared to Joe Flacco). I was looking forward to Christian Gonzalez matching up with Chase, but he’ll still have his hands full with Tee Higgins.
I like New England’s chances, especially since the Bengals’ defense isn’t exactly elite.
If the Patriots can get past Cincinnati and move to 10-2, they’ll have just one more game before the bye. That game is against the Giants on Monday Night Football (Dec. 1), which also means one fewer day of rest, but that’s beside the point.
For now, I’ll keep rooting for the Patriots and praying for no injuries as they inch closer to that much-needed week off.
