Unprecedented December Challenge: NFL Teams Face Grueling Schedule

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. Mahomes expressed the physical toll this schedule takes, saying, “You never want to play this many games in this short of time. It’s just not great for your body. But at the end of the day, it’s your job, your profession. You have to come to work and do it.”

In recent years, from 2019 to 2023, no team had to endure this kind of schedule. However, this season, the New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, and Dallas Cowboys have already faced it. But for the Chiefs, Ravens, Texans, and Steelers, this stretch comes at a critical time when playoff positions are on the line.

As the games progressed, the Steelers saw their lead in the AFC North slip away, while the Ravens surged forward. Meanwhile, the Chiefs solidified their hold on the conference’s No. 1 seed. Ravens tight end Mark Andrews commented on the situation, saying, “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.”

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin often challenges his players with the question: are they thriving or merely surviving? This December, it’s all about adapting. With limited recovery time, teams are adjusting their practice routines, focusing more on walk-throughs than full-speed sessions. The Ravens, for instance, only donned helmets for two practices between their Dec. 15 game against the New York Giants and their upcoming game at Houston.

Body maintenance has become a priority, with players engaging in massages, diet adjustments, and cryotherapy. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud emphasized the importance of mental preparation, stating, “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 demanding season than Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams. If he plays the last two games, he will join a select group of players who have played 18 regular-season games in the modern era. 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.

Williams, who has already experienced this grueling schedule with the Jets earlier in the season, remarked, “I can use some of these rest days.” The Steelers face the toughest opponents in this stretch, with games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Ravens, and Chiefs, all teams with winning records.

• If the Steelers lose to the Chiefs and the Ravens win at the Texans, Pittsburgh will fall one game behind Baltimore.
• Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson emphasized the importance of maintaining physical readiness, saying, “We look at every day as a day to keep our body in shape, keep our body going and feeling right.”

Ravens and Texans: A Strategic Advantage

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 strategic advantage with a Week 14 bye, allowing extra rest and preparation time. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson described the week off as a “breath of fresh air.”

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans highlighted the importance of rest and recovery, stating, “It is a heightened sense of focus on rest and recovery as best as we can, while also understanding the game plan and being able to get those mental reps in.”

However, the Texans faced a setback when wide receiver Tank Dell suffered a dislocated knee and torn ACL. To compensate, they claimed veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson off waivers from the Ravens.

Chiefs’ Quest for a Three-Peat

If the Chiefs are to achieve a Super Bowl three-peat, they will have earned it. The team had the earliest bye week of the four teams playing Wednesday, back in Week 6. Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones plans to address this scheduling issue with the NFLPA, advocating for a later bye week for teams facing such a demanding schedule.

Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins expressed concerns about player safety, saying, “I think the league should definitely do something about that, giving teams some kind of mini-bye.”

Both the Chiefs and Ravens have won their first two games in this stretch and could join a select group if they win Wednesday. Only the 1992 Saints and the 2011 Green Bay Packers have won all three games in an 11-day span during the Super Bowl era.

Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey emphasized the importance of preparation, saying, “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.”