The Kansas City Chiefs embarked on a journey to Frankfurt, Germany, on Thursday, November 2, in preparation for their upcoming clash with the Miami Dolphins on November 5.
Despite the limited time they’ve allowed themselves to adjust to the new time zone, Chiefs’ All-Pro tight end, Travis Kelce, had a powerful message for the Dolphins, who arrived in Germany on Monday: do not underestimate the defending Super Bowl champions.
Addressing the media during his first press conference in Germany on November 3, Kelce emphasized, “There has been a lot of talk about us coming out here later and not having the time to acclimate. I’ll be the one to say that we’ve got a team that’s ready to roll anytime, anywhere. Whether it’s in the parking lot, on some nice grass, or in a mud field. We don’t care. It’s all mental for us, and we’re ready to rock and roll.”
Chiefs’ Strategic Approach to Late Travel
Questions have arisen about whether the Chiefs can adapt swiftly enough to a time zone that is six hours ahead of Kansas City to ensure they are mentally and physically prepared for Sunday’s game.
However, Bobby Stroupe, the trainer of Patrick Mahomes, shared insights from three studies that suggest the defending Super Bowl champions made the correct decision by traveling late in the week.
Stroupe posted on social media that traveling seven days prior to a game is the ideal option, but it’s often not feasible for the NFL due to the typical seven-day gap between games.
Traveling three to five days before a game presents its own challenges. Traveling two days prior to the game can work well, as long as players maintain their schedules in line with US time, according to Stroupe.
Stroupe’s findings align with the experiences of Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid, who remarked, “The travel is the challenge. The only reason we came over today or yesterday was that I’d done that before a couple of different times. The guys seem to respond to it.”
Kelce’s Confidence in Chiefs’ Current Roster
Before the October 31 trade deadline, the Chiefs opted not to add another player to their young, inexperienced, and overall underperforming receiver group.
However, Travis Kelce expressed his confidence in the team’s current roster, believing that they have all the necessary pieces for success moving forward.
“I stand by this team; it has every piece it needs to be great,” Kelce affirmed. “I know we’ve got a team that can put points up. I know we’ve got the coaches to put us in positions to succeed. That’s where we’re moving going forward. It just takes guys locking in and being ready for those big-time moments when we need it most.”
Game Details and Projections
The Chiefs will face the Dolphins on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Central time, and fans can catch the action on NFL Network or NFL Plus. According to Quarter4 projections, the Chiefs hold a 47% chance of victory in Week 9, with an over/under point total set at 50.