The Baltimore Ravens get ready for a full schedule after their open date.
In the world of sports, the concept of playing multiple games in a short period is not uncommon. However, in the NFL, the prospect of competing in three games over a span of 11 days is not only rare but also a test of endurance, mental toughness, and strategic preparation. While such stretches might be perceived as routine in other sports like basketball or baseball, the NFL’s grueling schedule and the physical demands of football make these rapid turnarounds especially challenging. This situation is becoming increasingly frequent, as more teams find themselves navigating these intense periods as the league continues to evolve.
For the Baltimore Ravens, one of the five NFL teams facing a three-game stretch within 11 days, this scenario is a serious test of resilience. Along with the Ravens, teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Houston Texans are about to enter similar stretches, while the Chicago Bears are already in the midst of a challenging back-to-back-to-back schedule. The Ravens, who will play on Sunday, then again the following Saturday, and then a final game on Wednesday after Christmas, are no strangers to this kind of physical and mental marathon. Their situation is far from unique, but it stands out for its intensity and the level of preparation required.
Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, reflecting on the tough schedule, offered a perspective often heard from athletes in other sports: “I just kind of put myself in a basketball perspective. Those guys play back to back, so I guess there’s a little merit behind us quote-unquote complaining about it, but they are playing 82 games,” Hamilton said. “MLB players are playing 162 games, and we have 17, and we’re trying to fight them to go to 18 right now. I think it’s good in a sense that we’ll see who is most prepared down the stretch, and it’s really challenging for teams — everybody that’s involved.”
The contrast Hamilton draws between the NFL’s 17-game regular season and the 82-game NBA season or the 162-game MLB season underscores the relatively short yet physically demanding nature of the NFL schedule. While other sports leagues may have teams routinely playing multiple games in a span of days, the NFL’s schedule is condensed, and the physical toll is more pronounced. The challenge in football comes not just from the frequency of games, but from the high-impact nature of the sport, where injuries can take a toll and recovery is not always guaranteed, even with the extended breaks between games.
As the NFL continues to discuss the possibility of extending the season by adding an 18th game, players like Hamilton raise concerns about the physical demands placed on them, noting the stark contrast between the NBA or MLB’s endurance-driven schedule and the NFL’s more brutal, collision-heavy gameplay. Nonetheless, Hamilton also pointed to the value of these demanding stretches. “I think it’s good in a sense that we’ll see who is most prepared down the stretch,” he added. “It’s really challenging for teams — everybody that’s involved.”
This season marks a notable shift in the NFL’s scheduling, with nine teams, including the Ravens, now facing a three-game stretch within an 11-day window. In previous years, only 21 teams in the Super Bowl era have had to contend with such a scenario, according to Sportradar. But this year, the frequency of these compressed schedules has risen, signaling a broader trend in the NFL. The Ravens are not alone in facing the challenges of this demanding schedule. The Jets, Seahawks, Saints, and Cowboys have already experienced similar back-to-back-to-back stretches, with each of them having to navigate the exhausting Monday-Sunday-Thursday sequence that the Bears will face later this month.
For the Ravens, the first game of this three-game stretch is against the New York Giants, a matchup where they are heavily favored, with sportsbooks giving them a 16-point advantage. On paper, it might seem like the easiest game of the three, but history has shown that in the NFL, anything can happen. The Ravens have already suffered surprising losses this season, including defeats to teams like the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns, both of which are currently at the bottom of their respective divisions. With such surprises always a possibility in the NFL, Baltimore’s coaching staff and players are taking nothing for granted as they prepare for their upcoming opponents.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson, reflecting on the physical toll of such a demanding schedule, shared his approach to maintaining peak performance: “Try to win the first one, rest, try to get your body back how it should be,” Jackson said. “If it’s not 100 percent, try to get it close as possible — just get ready to play football. That’s all.” Jackson’s focus is squarely on recovery between games, emphasizing the importance of being as physically prepared as possible for the next matchup. While the Ravens may be favorites in the first game of this stretch, the real challenge lies in the two subsequent matchups, starting with a home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. A victory in this crucial AFC North contest will be pivotal to the Ravens’ hopes of securing the division title. Following that, the Ravens will travel to Houston for a tough Christmas Day game against the AFC South-leading Texans.
For head coach John Harbaugh, the approach to these back-to-back-to-back games is clear: “The big picture is, ‘All hands on deck.’ We’re focused toward playing our best game so far on Sunday,” Harbaugh said. “We’re going to need to do that, and that’s what we’re training and preparing to do. We have a plan for the three-game stretch, and that plan starts with Sunday.” Harbaugh’s words reflect the urgency and intensity of the situation. While the Ravens’ plan is to focus on each game one at a time, there is also an understanding that every match in this stretch is critical to the team’s playoff aspirations.
While last year the Ravens played on Christmas Day, the schedule was not as condensed, with their game falling on a Monday. This year, the compact schedule places an added layer of difficulty on the Ravens as they prepare for a Wednesday game just days after their Christmas Day contest. For teams facing this situation, the logistics of travel, recovery, and mental preparation become as critical as physical conditioning. But one factor in the Ravens’ favor this season is that they had their bye week just before embarking on this difficult three-game stretch. This timing provided them with a valuable opportunity to rest and recharge before diving into this punishing segment of their season.
However, while the bye week offered a moment of respite, it also meant that the Ravens were among the last teams to get a break this season. The Ravens were part of the NFL’s opening game against the Kansas City Chiefs, meaning they started their season earlier than most teams. This extended stretch of games without a break, as Hamilton pointed out, could ultimately give the Ravens a mental edge if they can survive this tough period: “We reported to camp earlier than everybody else for that Thursday night game, and I think KC had their bye a little while ago,” Hamilton said. “I guess we had the longest stretch, continuous, of anybody else. It’s just going to be that much better at the end of it all, when we do what we need to do, and we can look back on that and say, ‘We did that, and we came out and won these three games.’”
The Ravens’ preparation for this grueling stretch emphasizes the importance of recovery, focus, and a strong team mentality. With the postseason within reach, the ability to execute in these high-pressure games will define their season. While the games may be packed tightly together, they will test the Ravens’ endurance, resilience, and ability to overcome the physical challenges that come with playing in the NFL.
In conclusion, the trend of increasingly tight scheduling in the NFL is forcing teams like the Ravens to rethink how they approach the season. These condensed stretches are becoming more common, and the challenges they pose cannot be underestimated. For the Ravens, the three-game, 11-day stretch will test their mettle, but with proper preparation, recovery, and focus, they hope to come out stronger on the other side. The outcome of these games could very well determine their path to the playoffs, making this a crucial period in their season.
