OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The NFL Playoffs.
That particular time of yr when strain mounts and the margin for error shrinks.
“It’s not like we are able to go on the market, lose a game, after which put together for an additional game. It’s win or go residence, so we’re already [built up],” says Lamar Jackson, Ravens quarterback.
“This is three [or] 4 weeks for the remainder of our lives. Why not give it every part you need to be one of the best that we are able to? I feel simply the main target and the power and the camaraderie of this group is shopping for in, they usually’re all in,” says Mark Andrews, Ravens tight finish.
“It’s not a lot that it is the alternative to advance or the draw back of not advancing; it’s extra the truth that you are taking part in one of one of the best groups within the National Football League. So, you’re feeling that manner in these varieties [of] video games, like, each possession is actually going to make the distinction, and also you need to take advantage of of each play [and] each possession,” says John Harbaugh, Ravens head coach.
The Ravens and Bills have had great seasons. Both are tied atop the league in level differential at +157. Protecting the ball on Sunday is vital.
“Coach [John Harbaugh] is overemphasizing that on us. Making positive that ball safety—this and that—and that performs a component with me, not simply fumbling, however retaining the ball out of the defender’s palms as properly. Put the ball the place solely my receiver can catch the ball and make strikes, in order that’s just about been an all-around emphasis for us,” says Jackson.
The temperature is predicted to be within the teenagers round kickoff this Sunday in Buffalo. That’s a problem the Ravens aren’t solely making ready for however embracing.
“We have it as chilly as we are able to in right here proper now, and it’ll be colder in right here tomorrow after I get all of the water shut off in right here so the pipes do not freeze, so we will be colder. So, we’ll have it chilly. [I’d] like to be exterior, however we simply cannot. The fields are too laborious, they usually’re too frozen. We’ll get the work in. We’ve had rather a lot of work within the chilly. We have had rather a lot of work within the wind. And the weather are a component of it, and the opposite factor’s going to be the footing on their subject. We’re occupied with that, too. We need to ensure we’ve good footing on that subject. It’s a turf subject, and it will be laborious and sort of frozen. We’re making an attempt to consider all of that, however actually what we’re occupied with is simply executing our performs on the highest degree we probably can,” says Harbaugh.
“It’s wartime. It’s time to go to struggle. It’s accepting something and every part,” says Andrews.
“I’m making an attempt to win, so it actually doesn’t matter. I can’t go right into a game and be like, ‘It’s too chilly; I can’t make issues occur,” says Jackson.
“I’ve all the time wished to play in like three ft of snow, to the place all they’ll do is run the ball. It gained’t be that snowy, however [it’s] actually no totally different. I do know they’re used to the chilly, but it surely will get chilly sufficient in Baltimore, so I don’t suppose will probably be a lot totally different,” says Marlon Humphrey, Ravens defensive again.
Kickoff is that this Sunday at 6:30 ET.
