Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have an extremely busy schedule coming up – and the passer is far from excited about the NFL.
The two-time defending champions begin a three-game-in-11-day stretch this weekend when they take on the Browns on Sunday before hosting the Texans on Dec. 21 and then traveling to the Steelers for Christmas.
And while the Chiefs sit pretty atop the AFC with a 12-1 record, Mahomes seems to fear for his team’s next few weeks.
“It’s not a good feeling,” he told reporters on Wednesday ESPN. “I’m looking forward to playing at Christmas and hopefully getting back to what we did last year (when the Chiefs lost to the Raiders), but you never want to play so many games in such a short space of time.
‘It’s just not good for your body. But ultimately it is your job, your profession. You have to come to work and do it.”
Mahomes added, “All you can do is focus on the game and the practice you had that day. I try to prepare my body for this journey all year round by tailoring my training, adjusting the way you practice and prepare. The coaches take great care of us on the practice field. We practice hard like everyone else, but they know how to dial it back when we need it.”
QB Patrick Mahomes isn’t looking forward to the Chiefs’ upcoming games
The quarterback and his team haven’t had a break since returning from their Week 6 bye
In addition to the Chiefs, the Texans, Steelers and Ravens will also play three games over the next eleven days.
Crucially, the Ravens and Texans have straight byes in Week 14, while the Steelers had their break in Week 9.
The Chiefs haven’t had any rest since returning from their Week 6 bye — a fact that defensive star Chris Jones was keen to point out.
“This is one thing I’m doing this offseason, I’m going to the NFLPA, especially since we have three games in (an 11-day) period, we’re required to have a late bye week,” he said .
‘With our schedule it’s quite difficult to say the least. … That’s a conversation for this offseason. If a team has a schedule like that, they should get an end-of-season bye. We don’t need a week (6) bye… Give it to us in week 8, week 10, something like that.”
Mahomes and Co. have a week and a half to recover after their Christmas Day match before taking on the Broncos in Week 18 on January 5.
And if Kansas City manages to complete a first-round playoff bye before Week 18 — as they currently hold a two-game AFC lead over the Bills — Mahomes and the team’s other starters could emerge from the final regular season match will be held.
The quarterback would then not play in the divisional round until January 18 or 19.