In the high-stakes, physically demanding world of the NFL, rest and recovery are precious commodities. So when the 2024 schedule was released, revealing a daunting stretch where four top AFC contenders would have to play three games in just 11 days, it sent shockwaves through locker rooms.
“Not a good feeling,” Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes recalled of his reaction upon learning of the punishing slate.
An Unprecedented Challenge for Playoff Hopefuls
The Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers – all jockeying for positioning in a tight AFC playoff race – found themselves staring down a scheduling anomaly not seen in the NFL since 2011. Three games in under two weeks, all coming in the crucial final month of the regular season.
For teams accustomed to meticulous preparation, detailed game-planning, and precious time to rest battered bodies, it presented an unprecedented set of obstacles. How do you cram three game weeks’ worth of work into 11 days while still keeping players fresh? The teams got creative.
Ravens Emphasize Mental Preparation
The Ravens, riding a late-season surge, leaned into the mental side of preparation. Full-speed practices were slashed in favor of walk-throughs. Time normally spent hitting the practice field was devoted to film study and drilling assignments. Players focused on the cerebral aspects to compensate for fewer physical reps.
“We take care of our guys and make sure their bodies are taken care of to recover because you are so soon removed from a game, and it takes a while to recover,” noted Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans.
A ‘Heightened Sense of Focus’ in Houston
In Houston, there was a “heightened sense of focus” on recovery. Meetings were condensed. Days off were maximized with massage therapy, ice baths, and every tool available to refreshed fatigued muscles. Helmets came off in practice. Every possible minute was devoted to getting the body right.
Chiefs Rue Early Bye Limiting Rest
For the Chiefs, already challenged from having the season’s earliest bye back in Week 6, it meant dialing everything back. Mahomes described practices as glorified walk-throughs. Workouts ended early. Treatment sessions stretched longer. It was all about preservation and coming out the other side intact.
Short Weeks Nothing New for Steelers
The Steelers, no strangers to short weeks from frequently playing on Thursdays, focused on the details. Practices were crisper and more focused than ever. Vets stepped up to lead. The 11-day crucible was treated as a proving ground – a way to demonstrate the mettle of the proud franchise.
Across all four teams, the extreme compression of the late-season schedule tested adaptability. There was no one-size-fits-all approach. Each coaching staff had to read the pulse of their roster and calibrate accordingly. More than game plans, it was about survival and escaping to the other side.
“You never want to play this many games in this short of time,” Mahomes said. “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.”
Will NFL Take a Closer Look?
The gauntlet left players wondering if such compression should be avoided going forward. Chiefs DT Chris Jones plans to raise the issue with the NFLPA. “This is one thing I’m doing this offseason,” he vowed. It’s a conversation more players feel the league needs to have as it chases the balance between fairness and prime time appeal.
In the end, all four teams made it through – the Ravens and Chiefs impressively winning all three contests. They showed that in the war of attrition that is an NFL season, adaptability is as essential as raw talent and preparation. The teams that handle curveballs best are often the ones left standing.
As Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson put it, “We have aspirations going playing in February.” When those are your goals, you find a way – even if it means surviving an unprecedented three games in eleven days.
