FOXBOROUGH – It's been almost 16 weeks since the Patriots last had a bye week.
Every week since Oct. 4, the Patriots have had a game.
As they stumbled to the regular-season finish line with a 2-4 record, they had just enough to earn a first-round playoff.
A few days off are almost as important as preparation for their next opponent (Cincinnati, Houston or Kansas City).
The bye is a time for reducing the everyday wear-and-tear and focusing on individual areas where improvement is needed.
"It gives you the week to assess your own production throughout the whole year, good bad and try to move forward with how you can help the team win," receiver Danny Amendola said.