The NFL's scheduling of international games has always been a tricky business, and this year's schedule has taken it to a whole new level of complexity. Five teams - the Eagles, Bengals, 49ers, Lions, and Vikings - are facing an unprecedented disadvantage that no team has ever overcome. These teams are scheduled to play an international game, followed by a game against a team coming off a bye, a setup that could potentially impact their performance and chances of success.
The 49ers, for instance, have to travel to Mexico City in Week 11, followed by a game against the Seahawks in Week 12, who will be coming off a bye. This means the 49ers will be dealing with jet lag and travel fatigue, while the Seahawks will be fresh and rested. The same goes for the Vikings, who will face the Falcons in Week 12, after playing in Mexico City in Week 11.
The Eagles, Bengals, and Lions are also facing similar situations. The Eagles will play the Jaguars in London in Week 5, followed by a game against the Panthers in Week 6, who will be coming off a bye. The Bengals will play the Falcons in Spain in Week 9, followed by a game against the Steelers in Week 10, who will be coming off a bye. The Lions will play the Patriots in Germany in Week 10, followed by a game against the Buccaneers in Week 11, who will be coming off a bye.
The impact of this scheduling disadvantage is evident in the past four games where a team coming off an international game faced a team coming off a bye. The team coming off the international game has a 0-4 record against the team coming off a bye, and a 0-3-1 record against the spread. This suggests that the scheduling disadvantage is real and could impact the teams' performance.
The NFL's vice president of broadcast planning, Mike North, argues that the travel has become more routine, and that teams are no longer guaranteed a bye after an international game. However, this doesn't change the fact that the scheduling disadvantage is real, and could impact the teams' performance. The Eagles, Bengals, and Lions will be facing a similar situation this year, and if they all lose the following week after their international game, the NFL will have to reconsider its scheduling strategy.
In conclusion, the NFL's scheduling of international games has taken it to a whole new level of complexity, and the five teams facing an unprecedented disadvantage are a testament to that. The impact of this scheduling disadvantage is real, and could impact the teams' performance. The NFL will have to reconsider its scheduling strategy if it wants to avoid similar situations in the future.
