Rest Edge In Play
October 2nd, 2025
Sleeping in Seattle.
The data nerds, including the really good ones at Sharp Football Analysis, like to talk about “rest edge.”
When your NFL team plays a game and the opponent had more days rest before the game, the opponent owns the “rest edge.” And the data shows it matters. But, per the Sharp Football, gurus it matters most when the edge is 3-plus days.
The Bucs will fly five hours across the country to face the Seahawks on Sunday. Seattle last played on Thursday, September 25. The Seahawks weathered a Cardinals comeback to kick a game-winning field goal in the final seconds and up their record to 3-1.
So Seattle will have a three-day “rest edge” and the Bucs are on the road. Ouch!
A week later, the 49ers head to Tampa for a Sunday game and San Francisco will be bringing a three-day rest edge with them. They’re playing tonight against the Rams.
Thanks to the NFL schedule lords, the Bucs are battling more than usual in their next two games.
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:53 pm
Well, now they know it
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:56 pm
Yes the rest edge is real no doubt. You see it over and over. If history serves me well, the Bucs don’t do well with a 3 hr time difference and traveling from Tampa to Seattle. I believe it is the longest distance between any two cities in the US
October 2nd, 2025 at 10:47 pm
and then the 49ers will too the next week?
October 2nd, 2025 at 11:02 pm
Seems like the NFL schedule lords place the Bucs in games with 3 days less rest than their opponents every year. This year we are in that situation in back to back games, Seahawks and 49ers. If my memory is correct last year when San Francisco came to play in Tampa, they had played Thursday Night Football 10 days earlier. San Francisco beat the Bucs, barely. Was it because of the rest edge? Possibly
Go Bucs !! Beat the Seahawks!!
October 3rd, 2025 at 12:52 am