Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes vividly remembers his response seven months in the past when the NFL launched the 2024 schedule and he noticed a grueling December stretch that featured three video games in 11 days.
“Not a great feeling,” Mahomes stated.
When the main target needs to be on the Chiefs looking for the NFL’s first Tremendous Bowl three-peat, Kansas Metropolis and three different AFC playoff contenders — the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers — face one thing almost as unprecedented. Solely as soon as since 1933 has an NFL group performed three video games in 11 days in December: the 2011 Jacksonville Jaguars.
Three video games, 11 days: When every group performed
Dec. 15
Baltimore Ravens at New York Giants
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles
Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans
Dec. 21
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens
Houston Texans at Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Dec. 25
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers (1 p.m. ET, Netflix)
Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans (4:30 p.m. ET, Netflix)
“You by no means wish to play this many video games on this wanting time,” Mahomes stated. “It is simply not nice in your physique. However on the finish of the day, it is your job, your career. It’s a must to come to work and do it.”
A stretch of three video games in 11 days by no means occurred from 2019 to 2023. This season, 4 groups have already accomplished it: the New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys.
However this can be a totally different problem. It comes at a time when gamers have felt the bumps and bruises of 14 video games performed and now swimsuit up for video games that might decide the AFC playoff panorama.
For the reason that begin of this demanding span of video games, the Steelers have misplaced their two-game lead within the AFC North because the Ravens surge, whereas the Chiefs have strengthened their grip on the convention’s No. 1 seed.
“It is loopy,” Ravens tight finish Mark Andrews stated. “However on the finish of the day, everyone that is in that boat is in that boat, so we’re all going by the identical issues. And Coach Monk [offensive coordinator Todd Monken] stated it: ‘When you’re in that kind of place, it means you are a good group, and everyone in that class is enjoying nicely.'”
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin typically will ask his gamers in the event that they’re thriving or surviving. For the final full month of the common season, it is extra about adapting.
With fewer days to get better in between video games, groups will maintain fewer full-speed practices and extra walk-throughs. The Ravens placed on helmets for less than two practices between their Dec. 15 recreation on the New York Giants and Wednesday’s recreation at Houston.
There’s additionally an elevated deal with physique upkeep, which incorporates massages, food plan, cold and hot tubs and cryotherapy.
“We’re nonetheless attempting to get our our bodies again proper, and it is a fast turnaround,” Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud stated. “Getting your psychological again is simply as essential. So, you most likely do much less energetic issues and it is extra psychological than bodily. So, I really feel like that is the best way it can save you your physique. However on the similar time, get these good practices in and people good habits all through the week.”
NO ONE HAS had a extra laborious season than Steelers broad receiver Mike Williams. If Williams fits up for Pittsburgh for the final two video games, he and teammate Preston Smith will be part of Seahawks defensive finish Leonard Williams as the one gamers within the fashionable period to play 18 regular-season video games.
This stretch is the results of an in-season commerce. Williams was traded from the Jets on Nov. 5 earlier than their bye week, and he joined the Steelers after their bye. Williams has performed each week since Sept. 9.
“I can use a few of these relaxation days,” Williams stated.
Williams additionally understands what it takes to play three video games in 11 days higher than anybody — it is the second time he has needed to do it this season. He performed with the Jets after they started the season with that stretch of video games.
Is it totally different managing this stretch early within the season versus December?
High tales of the week from 
Get unique entry to hundreds of premium articles a yr from high writers.• Rating switch portal: Greatest out there »• Which Premier League groups waste $$$? »• How NBA Cup modified minds for MVP » Extra ESPN+ content material »
“No, no, no,” Williams stated. “I imply some present up early, some present up late. All of us acquired a job to do although, so yeah, know your schedule, know your plan and follow it.”
The Steelers have essentially the most troublesome span of video games as they’re the one group to play three opponents with successful data: the Philadelphia Eagles, Ravens and Chiefs. The highway losses on the Eagles and Ravens in a span of six days took a toll on the Steelers’ standing within the AFC North.
If the Steelers lose to the Chiefs on Wednesday and the Ravens win on the Texans, Pittsburgh will fall one recreation behind Baltimore.
“We have now aspirations going, enjoying in February,” Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson stated. “We take a look at day by day as a day to maintain our physique in form, hold our physique going and feeling proper. So being my seventh yr within the league, I type of have a extremely good routine that I fall again on … simply doing my regular factor and going to be able to play.”
WHEN RAVENS PLAYERS entered their group assembly Dec. 9, coach John Harbaugh had a message for them on the display.
“December Soccer Season. Commit Every thing. Save Nothing.”
Baltimore and Houston had a bonus when enjoying December soccer this yr. Earlier than the three-game stretch, the Ravens and Texans had a Week 14 bye.
Not solely did the gamers get additional relaxation — quarterback Lamar Jackson described the week off as a “breath of contemporary air” — however the teaching workers obtained extra time to work forward and do some advance scouting.
“It is good in a way that we’ll see who’s most ready down the stretch, and it is actually difficult for groups — everyone that is concerned,” Ravens security Kyle Hamilton stated. “All of it comes right down to tradition. We may play the following day; we do not actually care. Simply, we will present up and do nicely.”
The Texans have an edge over the Chiefs, Ravens and Steelers from a journey standpoint. Houston is the one one which has two residence video games on this three-game stretch.
“It’s a heightened sense of deal with relaxation and restoration as finest as we will, whereas additionally understanding the sport plan and with the ability to get these psychological reps in,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans stated.
The Texans have not practiced in pads because the Miami Dolphins recreation in Week 15 and even had a helmet-less apply on the Tuesday main as much as the Chiefs’ matchup. The Texans’ coaches made it clear their practices have been going to deal with psychological reps and nailing the main points of the gamers’ assignments whereas emphasizing restoration.
“We handle our guys and ensure their our bodies are taken care of to get better since you are so quickly faraway from a recreation, and it takes some time to get better, particularly on a brief week,” Ryans stated. “It’s a heightened sense of deal with relaxation and restoration as finest as we will, whereas additionally understanding the sport plan and with the ability to get these psychological reps in.”
The Texans’ receiver core took successful when Tank Dell suffered a dislocated knee and torn ACL in Houston’s 27-19 loss to the Chiefs final week. Dell’s damage occurred throughout a landing catch from Stroud on the Texans’ first possession of the second half when Houston wideout Jared Wayne collided with Dell’s knee.
Better of NFL Nation
• Hundreds of thousands in bonus cash on the road for NFL stars• Texans’ Anderson, Hunter wreaking ‘havoc’• How Ravens, Steelers can win AFC North• Xavier Worthy turning into Mahomes’ WR1• How DeShon Elliott’s absence has hit Steelers
The Texans claimed veteran broad receiver Diontae Johnson off waivers from the Ravens on Monday to attempt to offset the loss. Baltimore waived Johnson on Friday after a drama-filled seven weeks that included a suspension and the group excusing the receiver from group actions final week.
Houston should overcome the feelings of shedding Dell, as he is one of the vital beloved gamers on the group.
“It is life. You have to hold chopping wooden, hold carrying water. The place we’re in, it isn’t lots of instances the place you may sulk in your emotions for very lengthy,” Stroud stated. “You have to simply hold rolling. I feel that is a testomony to only life basically. Everyone has stuff on their plate. Everyone goes by one thing. And simply because we’re on this place, does not imply you get to really feel sorry for your self, or something like that.”
Wednesday video games are uncommon. The final time a recreation was performed on that day of the week occurred in 2021, when a COVID-19 outbreak compelled the Ravens and Steelers to delay their deliberate Thanksgiving recreation till the next Wednesday.
However, with all 4 groups enjoying their earlier video games Saturday, it is the identical three days of relaxation that groups have earlier than Thursday video games.
The Ravens have a historical past of doing nicely throughout brief weeks. Below Harbaugh, Baltimore is 11-5 on Thursday video games, which is the third-best mark over that span.
“The important thing to being profitable in that’s sleep, restoration and leaning on the coaches, leaning on the individuals which might be in-house that can assist you,” Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey stated. “Doing as many issues as you may right here [before] you get residence, as a result of it is turning round actually fast, and the most important factor is that you just simply should be on the identical web page. Our bodies shall be feeling it, however I feel will probably be the identical on each side, however whoever can do the little issues one of the best will come out essentially the most profitable.”
IF THIS IS a part of one other championship run for Chiefs, they’d have earned it. However some gamers aren’t completely happy about enjoying this variety of video games in a brief interval, contemplating they have not had an prolonged break because the center of October.
The 2-time defending Tremendous Bowl champions had the earliest bye — Week 6 — of the 4 groups enjoying Wednesday.
“That is one factor I am doing this offseason is I will the NFLPA particularly with us having three video games in a 11-day span that we’re obligatory to have a late bye week,” Chiefs defensive sort out Chris Jones stated. “With our schedule, it is type of awkward, to say the least. … That is a dialog to have this offseason. If a group has considerably of a schedule like that, they need to get a late-season bye.
“We do not want a Week 6 bye. Give it to us in Week 8, Week 10, one thing like that.”
It will mark the primary time the Chiefs, Ravens and Texans have performed three video games in 11 days. The final time the Steelers handled that kind of stretch occurred in 1939.
“I by no means performed this many video games in a brief period of time,” Chiefs broad receiver DeAndre Hopkins stated. “I feel the league ought to undoubtedly do one thing about that, giving groups some type of mini-bye. They coach or preach participant security. I do not really feel like that is one of the best state of affairs for any group to play three video games on this quantity of days. “
The Chiefs and Ravens have received their first two video games in a brief span of video games and may be part of a choose group in the event that they win Wednesday. The one groups within the Tremendous Bowl period to have received all three video games within the 11-day stretch are the 1992 Saints and the 2011 Inexperienced Bay Packers.
“I simply type of put myself in a basketball perspective,” Hamilton stated. “These guys play again to again, so I assume there’s a bit of benefit behind us quote-unquote complaining about it. However they’re enjoying 82 video games, MLB gamers are enjoying 162 video games, and now we have 17, and we’re attempting to battle them to go to 18 proper now. I feel it is good in a way that we’ll see who’s most ready down the stretch.”
NFL Nation reporters D.J. Bien-Aime, Brooke Pryor and Adam Teicher contributed to this report.
