Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from Warren Sharp's rest disparity analysis of the 2024 NFL Schedule. Click here to read the full article.
The Chargers and Colts are the only teams in the NFL to play zero games against an opponent on a short week.
In the 25 years since 2000, this is the first time for that to occur in the NFL schedule.
And it occurs twice this year.
Pre Order The Best Analytical 2024 Football Preview
Don't miss out on Warren Sharp's 500+ page preview of the 2024 NFL season.
The preview is unlike anything you have ever seen, featuring stunning visualizations built with the reader in mind.
This preview shares insights into players, coaches, teams, and philosophies with one goal in mind: to prepare you for the 2024 NFL season by delivering the smartest information in the fastest, most direct way possible.
Pre order the 2024 Football Preview now!
But not only are the Chargers given the short end of the stick, but they must play six teams who have over a week to prepare for the game:
- 6 games vs teams on extra rest
- 0 games vs teams on short rest
This is the only time for something this imbalanced to occur since 2000.
Meanwhile, a team like the Patriots this year plays the following:
- 0 games vs teams on extra rest
- 3 games vs teams on short rest
So the Patriots are +3 to the good while the Chargers are -6 to the bad.
That can't possibly be balanced scheduling.
Those six games where Chargers opponents have more than standard rest:
- Week 7 at Arizona on MNF
- Week 8 vs. New Orleans (Saints are off a Thursday game)
- Week 11 vs. Cincinnati (Bengals are off a Thursday game)
- Week 12 vs. Ravens on MNF
- Week 13 at Atlanta (Falcons are off a bye)
- Week 14 at Kansas City (Chiefs are off a Friday game)
Keep in mind, the Chargers have a Week 5 bye.
And that bye is the only week the Chargers have more rest than their opponent all season.
So every one of these opponent extra rest games occurs after their own bye.
From Week 8 on, the Chargers are at a -17-day rest deficit throughout the remainder of the season as compared to their opponent.
That is the largest rest deficit in the NFL from Week 8 on when rest matters most.
