What is a bye week in the NFL? Why aren’t the Chiefs playing this weekend?

The NFL season is 18 weeks long, however, each team only plays 17 Games. Each franchise is therefore given one “bye week” during part of the season. The free week gives teams and coaches a chance to rest and recover ahead of more Games before the end of the season.

In the opening four weeks and final three weeks of the regular season, all 32 teams are in action, however from Week 5 to Week 14 teams will rotate bye weeks.

NFL bye weeks have featured in every season since 1990. In most instances, a bye week will consist of four teams not playing, however, some weeks have as few as two while others have up to six.

Why aren’t the Chiefs playing this weekend?

The Kansas City Chiefs have their bye week this week and will therefore not play this weekend.

The Chiefs return to action on 20 November when they play the Eagles for what will be a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, in which the Chiefs won 37-34 at State Farm Stadium in Arizona on 12 February.

Schedule for bye weeks in the 2023 season

Week 5 - Browns, Chargers, Seahawks, Buccaneers

Week 6 - Packers, Steelers

Week 7 - Panthers, Bengals, Cowboys, Texans, Jets, Titans

Week 9 - Broncos, Lions, Jaguars, 49ers

Week 10 - Chiefs, Rams, Dolphins, Eagles

Week 11 - Falcons, Colts, Patriots, Saints

Week 13 - Ravens, Bills, Bears, Raiders, Vikings, Giants

Week 14 - Cardinals, Commanders