One NFL schedule quirk that has hurt the LA Chargers in recent years is an early bye week. Unfortunately, history shows that the Chargers may need to brace for another early bye week that makes it more difficult to stay healthy down the stretch.
The Chargers have somehow received a Week 5 bye (the earliest a bye week can physically be) in each of the past two seasons. The trend has lasted much longer than two years, though, as the Chargers have not had a bye week in a double-digit week since 2019.
It's clear the NFL has a subconscious desire to give the Chargers an early bye week but that isn't the only concerning history for the Chargers. In addition to the team's trend of early bye weeks, the NFL established the precedent last year for a team playing in Brazil in Week 1 to receive an early bye week.
Just like the Chargers, the Philadelphia Eagles had a Week 5 bye after playing the Green Bay Packers in Brazil. The Chargers could follow a similar path, yet again, in 2025.
History shows the Chargers will have an early bye week on the NFL schedule
Year | Chargers bye week |
|---|---|
2024 | Week 5 |
2023 | Week 5 |
2022 | Week 8 |
2021 | Week 7 |
2020 | Week 6 |
The Packers were lucky enough to receive a Week 10 bye last season so there is hope for the Chargers after all. However, the team's long track record and the precedent set by the Eagles is simply too strong to ignore.
Bye week placement can literally make or break a Super Bowl run. Injuries are inevitable in the NFL and having a well-timed bye when a team is banged up can be the difference between nine and 10 wins.
And as we are reminded every season, every single win matters in the NFL. That one dropped game due to injuries could keep a team out of the dance.
Even if that situation doesn't happen, having a later bye week is a massive advantage. Getting to rest in Week 11 or Week 12 gives teams a needed reset to put the pedal to the metal down the stretch.
While it is certainly possible to go on a deep Super Bowl run with an early bye week (the Eagles did it last season, after all), it is much more difficult. The Eagles had to play 16 straight weekends before making the Super Bowl because the team's bye week was so early.
The end result may have worked out for the Eagles but it was concerning for a stretch. There were legitimate concerns about Jalen Hurts' health. The Eagles may have avoided disaster but it still shows the inherent problem of having an early bye week.
Maybe the NFL will buck the trend with this year's schedule and the Chargers will finally catch a break. But with the NFL already giving the Chargers the short end of the stick, it's hard to expect anything different.