OWINGS MILLS, Md. — In the realm of sports, a schedule featuring three games over 11 days might signal a quiet period. However, in football, this kind of stretch is becoming more frequent in the NFL.
Kyle Hamilton, safety for the Baltimore Ravens, shared his perspective on the matter, comparing it to basketball where teams often face back-to-back matches. “There’s a little merit in our so-called complaints, but they are playing 82 games,” he remarked, noting that baseball players compete in 162 games, while football teams play only 17 — and are even lobbying for an additional game. He expressed that although the situation is tough for involved teams, it ultimately tests their preparedness as the season progresses.
The Ravens are one of five teams set to navigate this demanding stretch, along with the Chiefs, Steelers, and Texans, all of whom will be playing back-to-back games on Sunday, the following Saturday, and then again on Christmas Wednesday. Furthermore, the Chicago Bears will also contend with a similar schedule, having a game on Monday night, followed by matches on Sunday and then a Thursday game on December 26.
Historically, prior to this season, a total of 21 teams in the Super Bowl era have experienced playing three games within 11 days, according to Sportradar data. Looking ahead to 2024, there are nine similar scheduling scenarios lined up. In addition to the aforementioned teams, the Jets, Seahawks, Saints, and Cowboys have already faced their own three-game, 11-day challenges, with the Jets and Cowboys achieving a 2-1 record, contrasted by the Seahawks and Saints, who finished at 0-3.
Lamar Jackson, the quarterback for the Ravens, emphasized the importance of winning the first game and then resting to recover. He highlighted the need to be as close to 100 percent as possible for the upcoming games, simply focusing on preparing for football.
On paper, the first game of this challenging stretch appears to be the easiest for the Ravens as they head to New York to face the Giants. Currently, they are favored by 16 points according to sports betting lines, but past performance reveals that they have lost to teams at the bottom of the standings this season, such as the Raiders and Browns, which serves as a cautionary reminder.
After their encounter with New York, the Ravens will return home for a crucial matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which is likely to be pivotal in their quest for the AFC North title. Following that, they will face the Houston Texans, who currently lead the AFC South, on Christmas Day.
Coach John Harbaugh stressed the importance of staying focused, declaring, “All hands on deck. We’re focused toward playing our best game so far on Sunday.” He stated that the Ravens have formulated a strategic plan for this three-game segment, commencing on Sunday.
Notably, the Ravens played on Christmas the previous year, but with that matchup falling on a Monday, it didn’t significantly disrupt their schedule. A factor favoring Baltimore this season is that they enjoyed a bye week last week, right before this demanding stretch began, although they were among the last teams to secure a week off. Hamilton pointed out that the Ravens had to start their season earlier than most, having participated in the NFL’s opening game.
“We reported to camp earlier than everybody else for that Thursday night game… We had the longest continuous stretch of anyone else,” Hamilton explained. He remains optimistic, looking ahead to the season’s end and the potential to reflect on their accomplishments, hoping they can come out victorious in their upcoming three games.
