2020 is the third-straight year that the Cincinnati Bengals have had their bye week in Week 9 of the regular season. If they had a Week 9 bye in 2017, this would’ve been their fifth-straight bye week right in the middle of the season.
Having a week off at the exact midseason point is not only ideal for rest purposes, it’s also great for the evaluation process. Last year, the Bengals used their Week 9 bye to prepare backup quarterback Ryan Finley to play the remainder of the season after Andy Dalton disappointed during the first half of the year.