Some may lament an early-season bye, which is what the Vikings are facing this week. But there are pros and cons no matter where your bye falls on the schedule. The best course of action, regardless of when a team is on its bye, is to identify the positives and work to use them in an advantageous way.
For the Vikings, a Week 5 bye following a five-game preseason and a 2-2 start to the regular season provides a great opportunity to rest and recharge for a 12-game stretch to close out the season. The first quarter third of that 12-game stretch is comprised with a key slate of games that will set the stage for the rest of the season.