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The Kansas City Chiefs stuck to a rigorous schedule ahead of Super Bowl LIV and they’ve done the same this time around in Super Bowl LV. Just like last season, the majority of the Chiefs’ game plan was installed during the course of the bye week.
“We got a lot of work done last week when it wasn’t quite as chaotic and the demands weren’t quite as heavy,” Chiefs HC Andy Reid explained on Wednesday.
So what has the message been this week at practice with extra time to prepare and all the anticipation and excitement for the big game? According to Chiefs team captain Tyrann Mathieu, the focus has been on ensuring that everyone doesn’t peak too soon.
“Yeah, you know I think a lot of the information is in, all the game plan is in,” Mathieu told reporters. “So right now we’re just trying our best to keep that engine rolling, trying our best not to peak too soon. Like you said we’re still a couple of days away from the big game. You don’t want to have too much energy before the game, you want to kind of build-up to it. I think we’re in the right mindset right now. We’re ready to go. I think we understand the kind of team we’re playing and understand what kind of challenge we got in front of us.”
The goal is to keep the energy high throughout the week, but build it up to its highest point on Sunday. Thankfully, one of the big differences in this season seems to be a beneficial one for the Chiefs and that goal.
Without in-person media commitments in Tampa, the players have stayed home another week. That means their routine is unaltered from what it might be for a road game during the regular season. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes anticipates that will make all the difference in the world for this football team.
“Yeah, I think it does,” Mahomes said. “You kind of get into a routine as a football player of you come to building, go watch film in this room, you go to practice, you go back and watch film with these group of people in that certain area and to have that routine stay the same is definitely something I think will definitely help us go out there and play better than we did last year. It’s definitely a different experience but if you just treat it as any other football game and try to prepare yourself in the best way to play your best football.”
The trick for the team as Mathieu alluded earlier will be that build-up. To put on their Championship Swagger for game time and maintain that energy throughout. If we’ve learned anything about this football team this year, they’re hardly lacking for motivation and energy come game day. The Super Bowl will be no different as they look to repeat as champions.
“Yeah, I think it kind of happens throughout the course of the game,” Mathieu said. “I think the most important thing is you just try to keep your composure while maintaining high energy. I really think that’s always the challenge, but I think any time you step on the field, you just got to put it in your mind that everybody’s out to get you and you got to stand up for yourself and make a play for your team.”
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