Falcons 2017 schedule: The bye week lands an awkward time in Week 5

The Falcons will have just four games before they hit their 2017 bye week. Only one of those games, against the always dangerous Packers, figures to be one of their toughest of the year. That means they’ll have a full three quarters of the season still to go when they get back from their break.

It’s not backbreaking by any stretch of the imagination, but a year ago, the bye came late enough in the year to give the Falcons some needed rest. They also had enough games under their belt to give Dan Quinn the confidence he needed to make the full-time switch to play calling duties, wresting that away from defensive coordinator Richard Smith. The defense improved greatly after that point, and the team went on to clinch a playoff berth, win two playoff games, and make it to the Super Bowl.

This year, they’ll just be able to take a breather early. We’ll have to hope that injury and simple weariness don’t prove to be factors down the stretch.

The good thing, as we’ve said all offseason, is that this team is as good and as deep as it has ever been. I fully anticipate they’ll be able to weather a rough back 3/4ths of the season, and hopefully they’ll head into the bye undefeated.

Are you concerned about the timing of the bye?