NFL
49ers vanish from NFL schedule for week 9: here’s the lowdown
After yesterday’s Thursday Night Football between the Jets and the Texans, we’re heading into Week 9 of the National Football League regular season.
As we enter the first weekend of November, there are no international games taking place for the second consecutive week.
Fans can look forward to the resumption of international play next week in Munich, Germany, where the Giants will go against the Panthers at the Allianz Arena.
In addition, two teams are on bye this week: the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Francisco 49ers. This means that both teams will have the weekend off, giving them a chance to rest and regroup before their upcoming games.
Why the bye week?
NFL teams have bye weeks to provide players with rest during the demanding 17-game regular season.
These breaks help players recover from injuries and recharge, while coaches can review film and adjust strategies. Introduced in 1990, bye weeks are now an essential part of the NFL schedule, promoting player health and team strategy.
The NFL uses bye weeks to support a 17-game season over 18 weeks, giving each team a week off. This approach allows flexibility for rescheduling due to unforeseen events like severe weather and helps maintain fan engagement with more exciting matchups each week.