NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

NFL Week 11: Which Teams are On Bye?

By Stephen Forsha

Nov 3, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws a touchdown pass to Atlanta Falcons tight end Levine Toilolo (not pictured) during the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws a touchdown pass to Atlanta Falcons tight end Levine Toilolo (not pictured) during the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Looking at which four teams will get to rest on their bye in NFL Week 11

There aren’t many teams left in the NFL who haven’t had their bye week following the first 10 weeks of games. After two-and-a-half months of football, four teams will finally get a needed break in NFL Week 11, though.

NFL QB Power Rankings: Kirk Cousins Cracks Top 5

With perhaps the most explosive offense in the entire NFL, the Atlanta Falcons are one of the four teams taking a well deserved week off after 10 tough games played. The Falcons enter the bye with a 6-4 overall record and in first place in the NFC South. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints trail them in second place with 4-5 overall records.

This season the Falcons have two losses at home and a pair on the road as well. In Week 10, Atlanta lost on the road to the Philadelphia Eagles, 24-15. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Falcons as they had previously defeated the Green Bay Packers and the Buccaneers.

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has been impressive this season, being the lone quarterback in the league after 10 weeks with over 3,000 yards passing (3,247). A big reason for those numbers is Atlanta wide receiver Julio Jones. He has a league best 1,105 receiving yards and is tied for ninth in the NFL with five receiving touchdowns.

Also on bye this week are the reigning Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, the San Diego Chargers and the New York Jets.

More from NFL Spin Zone

The Broncos have been a bit questionable at times this season, but are still in a battle for the top spot in the AFC West with six games remaining on their schedule. Denver is 7-3 overall, while the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders each are 7-2. Denver is coming off an improbable 25-23 victory over the Saints that was won with a heads up special teams play. That win keeps them in the hunt for the AFC West with the Raiders and Chiefs.

San Diego is last place in the AFC West at 4-6. They have been terrible on the road this season with a 1-4 mark, and are coming off a 31-24 loss to the Miami Dolphins this past Sunday. Chargers running back Melvin Gordon is having an excellent sophomore season by already outplaying his subpar rookie year. Gordon has totaled 217 carries for 838 yards and nine touchdowns in 10 games. Last season in 14 games, Gordon totaled just 641 yards on 184 carries with no touchdowns.

Then there are the Jets and the mess they’ve become this season. The Jets are not even close to being the team that was one win away from making the playoffs last season. One noticeable reason for that, besides an injury to wide receiver Eric Decker, is the quarterback play of Ryan Fitzpatrick has been not even close to how he played last season.

Fitzpatrick was benched for Week 10, losing his starting job to second-year player Bryce Petty. Petty was 19-of-32 for 163 yards with one touchdown and one interception in his first NFL start. He completed nearly 60 percent of his passes and the Jets lost that game to the Los Angeles Rams by a 9-6 score.

Next: 5 Coaches on the Hot Seat in Week 11

The Jets need a bye week to try to regroup and finish out this season the best they can. They should use the final seven weeks as an open tryout for the rest of their roster, because playing in the AFC East with a 3-7 overall record won’t be qualifying them for the playoffs anytime soon.

Home/NFL