A method and a core router for implementing forward delay for bursts are disclosed. The core router configured with an FDL performs proactive delay processing for the burst to be overlapped after predicting that the burst will be overlapped on the link to be protected, thus reducing the probability of burst conflict on the downstream link to be protected. After finding that burst conflict will occur on the output port of the core router at a future moment, the core router sends a burst delay request to the upstream core router, requesting the upstream core router that has an FDL and the delay capability to delay the burst. Therefore, the FDL configured in the network is brought into full play, and the probability of burst conflict is reduced.