When the news broke last week, Prince Amukamara felt a surge of energy. Part giddiness, part motivation. Bears-Vikings in Week 11. Flexed. Moved to prime time.
Under the lights. National stage.
"Football Night in America," fully equipped with the Carrie Underwood intro.
In a season already filled with so much progress, this was the latest marking post, more evidence of the Bears' resurgence. This was a sign Amukamara and his teammates had achieved national relevance, proof the rest of the country would like a live look-in on Chicago's surprise party.
"Honestly, I was so excited," Amukamara said. "Just like: 'Oh, man! They're starting to respect us a little bit. We get to play on Sunday night. This is going to be a big game.' "
But then the eighth-year cornerback started doing the math.
OK, a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Nov. 18? Then a Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit on Nov. 22 that will begin before noon Chicago time? Just like that, Amukamara's initial enthusiasm twisted itself into a three-word wake-up call.
"They screwed us," he said.
At the very least, the Bears will be physically challenged like never before, facing a turnaround that will prove taxing in so many ways. Sunday's big-stage game against the Vikings will end around 10:30 p.m. The action in Detroit will begin on Thanksgiving at 11:30 a.m. Chicago time.
That's the math Amukamara was working through _ about 85 hours between the end of one game and the start of the next.
A couple of short days to prepare. A Wednesday flight. Beat-up bodies quickly shoved back onto the field.
Without question, players acknowledge, this is going to be an extreme ask.
"Definitely," receiver Allen Robinson said. "Guys are going to have to be on their recovery the night of that game. There's no time to waste."
Added linebacker Danny Trevathan: "In college, someone told me that you'll never be 100 percent. You just have to make your mind feel 100 percent. Your body will follow."
