Lots Of Frequent Flyer Miles For The Bucs
May 7th, 2022
No team other than the Seahawks will be playing a game farther from the continental United States this season. That’s when the Bucs host them Munich. Because of that game alone, Joe thought the Bucs would fly more miles than 90 percent of the league.
No, the Bucs will be traveling the sixth-most miles of any NFL team during the regular season. (The preseason schedule is unavailable.) This is important because the Bucs are an older roster and travel could contribute to worn-out bodies later in the season and into the playoffs.
The Bucs will fly a total of 23,764 miles this year. Seattle will trek 29,446 miles, but they’re used to the big travel load as Seattle is basically an exurb of Vancouver.
It’s a good thing the Bucs have a late bye this year (weekend of Nov. 20). The last several Super Bowl winners, including the Bucs, enjoyed a late bye.
Thanks to @AdamSchefter of BSPN for twittering out the chart below.
May 7th, 2022 at 9:13 am
Well, at least SeaTac is a decent airport to fly out of for the Seahawks.
May 7th, 2022 at 9:30 am
The Steelers will travel less than some of us will commute to work over the course of the season! That’s amazing
May 7th, 2022 at 10:05 am
Speaking of the Pittsburgh Steelers, do you remember the draft, when a picture of Kenny Pickett’s Girl Friend went Viral ?
Her name is Amy Paternoster, and her picture went viral as her boyfriend kept falling down the Draft Board ?
May 7th, 2022 at 10:43 am
Florida represents 3 of the top 6 traveling teams.
May 7th, 2022 at 10:44 am
Must be visiting a lot of west coast teams.
May 7th, 2022 at 10:58 am
Wow. No excuses for the AFC North this year. Fatigue shouldn’t be a problem for any team. The Bucs better have a few hyperbaric chambers traveling with them this season. That’s a lot of miles for our older players.
May 7th, 2022 at 10:58 am
The disparity on that list is pretty incredible. It’s amazing how little the Steelers will travel compared to The majority of teams. Has to be an advantage of some kind.
May 7th, 2022 at 11:27 am
When I was younger and partook more than I do today, I used to call my shake leftovers my Frequent Higher Miles!
May 7th, 2022 at 11:56 am
This is a tired old excuse from the days when pro teams travelled by bus. Teams are door to door in a few hours in very lux planes and hotels with premium catering at every corner. This is not a business trip of a typewriter salesmen in the 1960s.
May 7th, 2022 at 1:22 pm
Flying might not seem like a big deal. After all, these guys aren’t flying jet blue. The problem comes with injuries. I hated to fly hurt, especially with an ankle or knee. I’d feel good enough before take off, but by landing time it would flare. Trainers always had me walking around the plane, but it didn’t matter.
May 7th, 2022 at 3:45 pm
View 132, I’m sure you have heard of jet lag? I wouldn’t call it “a tired old excuse”; “a tired new excuse” perhaps.
How do those bottom few teams travel so little? Am I reading that correctly? Do the Steelers not leave their time zone?
May 7th, 2022 at 6:42 pm
Look at a map. Those bottom teams are close to each other, and their division foes. Pittsburgh is close to Cleveland, Cincy, and Baltimore. Plus they play NE, Philly, Buffalo, NY and others. I’d be willing to bet Pittsburgh has the least miles travelled most seasons. They’re in that sweet spot.
May 7th, 2022 at 7:10 pm
Traveling west to east is the hardest. Especially those 1pm games. I’m no expert in circadian rhythms. But, it seems that it’s harder to speed the body up, as opposed to slowing in down. I was always a fan of traveling early. Especially, if we had multiple road games, in the same time zone. This would appear to bolster @Colonel As claims
May 7th, 2022 at 8:10 pm
Please tell that’s not a B-737 in the picture. Friends don’t let friends fly 737’s. Isn’t there a DC-3 or an old Constellation that can actually stay a loft? 😂
May 8th, 2022 at 10:38 am
Don’t understand how there’s more fatigue since there’s less practice because of the traveling. Now I’d understand being less prepared and sloppier game play than anything.
May 8th, 2022 at 8:47 pm
Joe the Bucs or any team doesn’t get “lots of frequent flyer miles” as you stated. Charters don’t get those. And don’t see what the big deal is, built in excuse? Because Saints fly more and have more time zone changes.