Unprecedented December Challenge: NFL Teams Face Grueling Schedule
When the NFL released the 2024 schedule, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a visceral reaction. The Chiefs, along with the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, and Pittsburgh Steelers, were set to play three games in 11 days this December. “Not a good feeling,” Mahomes admitted, reflecting the sentiment of many players facing this daunting task.
Historically, this kind of schedule is almost unheard of. Since 1933, only the 2011 Jacksonville Jaguars have faced such a challenge in December. This season, however, the New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, and Dallas Cowboys have already navigated this rigorous schedule.
For the Chiefs, Ravens, Texans, and Steelers, this stretch comes at a critical time when playoff positions are on the line. The Steelers, for instance, have seen their lead in the AFC North evaporate as the Ravens surge, while the Chiefs have solidified their hold on the conference’s No. 1 seed.
Ravens tight end Mark Andrews summed up the situation: “It’s crazy. But at the end of the day, everybody that’s in that boat is in that boat, so we’re all going through the same things.”
Adapting to the Challenge
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin often asks his players if they’re thriving or surviving. This December, it’s all about adapting. With limited recovery time, teams are holding fewer full-speed practices and focusing more on walk-throughs. The Ravens, for example, only donned helmets for two practices between their Dec. 15 game against the New York Giants and their Wednesday game at Houston.
Body maintenance has become a priority, with players focusing on massages, diet, and cryotherapy. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud emphasized the importance of mental preparation: “Getting your mental back is just as important. So, you probably do less active things and it’s more mental than physical.”
Steelers’ Unique Challenge
No one has had a more grueling season than Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams. If he plays the last two games, he and teammate Preston Smith will join Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams as the only players in the modern era to play 18 regular-season games. Williams was traded from the Jets on Nov. 5, before their bye week, and joined the Steelers after their bye, playing every week since Sept. 9.
The Steelers face the toughest schedule, playing three opponents with winning records: the Philadelphia Eagles, Ravens, and Chiefs. If they lose to the Chiefs and the Ravens win at the Texans, Pittsburgh will fall one game behind Baltimore.
Ravens and Texans: A Slight Edge
When Ravens players entered their team meeting on Dec. 9, coach John Harbaugh had a message for them: “December Football Season. Commit Everything. Save Nothing.” The Ravens and Texans had a slight advantage with a Week 14 bye, allowing extra rest and preparation time.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans emphasized the importance of rest and recovery, noting that the team hasn’t practiced in pads since their Week 15 game against the Miami Dolphins. The Texans also have the benefit of two home games in this stretch.
Chiefs’ Quest for a Three-Peat
If the Chiefs are to achieve a Super Bowl three-peat, they will have earned it. The two-time defending champions had the earliest bye of the four teams, in Week 6. Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones plans to address the NFLPA about scheduling concerns, advocating for a later bye week for teams with such demanding schedules.
Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins echoed the sentiment, questioning the league’s commitment to player safety with such a schedule.
As the Chiefs and Ravens aim to join the select group of teams that have won all three games in an 11-day stretch, the challenge remains significant. The only teams to have achieved this in the Super Bowl era are the 1992 Saints and the 2011 Green Bay Packers.
Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey highlighted the importance of recovery and teamwork: “The key to being successful in that is sleep, recovery and leaning on the coaches, leaning on the people that are in-house to help you.”
As the NFL season reaches its climax, these teams are not just playing for wins but for survival in a schedule that tests their limits.
Originally Written by: Jamison Hensley
