1 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: Welcome into the Lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Ink 2 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:09,640 Speaker 1: here with Garrett Downing, and we are going to take 3 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:13,039 Speaker 1: the deep dive into what we expect in the Ravens 4 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 1: playoff opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers Saturday night, eight o'clock 5 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 1: at the Bank. It's going to be awesome that atmosphere, 6 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: it's going to be rocking, like this is going to 7 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:26,760 Speaker 1: be one of the best live games to be at 8 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: for a Ravens fan in a long, long time. The 9 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: first time the Ravens have played the Steelers in the 10 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: playoffs at home. I can't wait to see the kind 11 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 1: of welcome that we give them. 12 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 2: Yeah. 13 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 3: Well, look, I've said many times that I think that 14 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:40,919 Speaker 3: I've been to every stadium in the NFL, and I've 15 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:43,199 Speaker 3: seen all the different You've hit them all, I've hit 16 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:47,520 Speaker 3: them all all right, And so there's no better atmosphere 17 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:49,840 Speaker 3: in my mind than a night game at mGy Bak City. 18 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 2: And that's not just. 19 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: Me drinking the cool well the tone of the company. 20 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 2: Line here, like I've been to all of them. 21 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 3: In my honest take is that there's no better atmosphere 22 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 3: than a night game in Baltimore and you've seen the 23 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 3: other players talk about that, if Derek Henry's talked about that, 24 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 3: and a number of players current and former have discussed 25 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 3: just the. 26 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 1: Avensphere, even players on the other side, like when Derrick 27 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 1: Henry came to Baltimore in twenty nineteen in the playoffs 28 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: save the Titans, and then after that game, remember you 29 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: did that podcast, the Buzzing with the Boys. 30 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, I came on and they talked about just how 31 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 3: like that atmosphere was unlike any other. 32 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:22,959 Speaker 1: Yeah. They were like, that was awesome just to be 33 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 1: on the other side of it and being playing in 34 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 1: that game in that atmosphere. 35 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 2: Yeah. So I expect it to be a similar scene 36 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 2: and I can't wait for it. It's going to be 37 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:31,839 Speaker 2: really cool. 38 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, And you know the Pittsburgh Steelers obviously riding a 39 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 1: four game losing streak. The Ravens are hot, they're riding 40 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 1: a four game winning streak, and so let's start here. Garrett, 41 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: how much do you think momentum matters going into the playoffs? 42 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 3: Well, I want to say a lot, because if it does, 43 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 3: then we're talking about a size them on Saturday. I 44 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 3: hope it's a momentum really matters. My honest feeling on 45 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 3: it though, is that I'm not sure how big of 46 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 3: a factor momentum is. Like I think that it's good 47 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 3: that the Ravens are playing well, and I think that 48 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 3: they're confident, and I think that just the team is 49 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 3: really good. 50 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 2: So I like a good team. I think that matters. 51 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 3: But once you get into a game, and honestly, like 52 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 3: I did ask Lamar Jackson this question a few weeks 53 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,920 Speaker 3: ago and he was like, Yeah, that kind of went 54 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 3: out the window for me last year when we lost 55 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:25,119 Speaker 3: in the AC Championship because we were red hot and 56 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 3: then we lost. 57 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 2: And so. 58 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 3: We could probably there could we probably have it. We 59 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 3: could have doctor Trish come on and do a whole 60 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 3: psychology episode on momentum and the impact of it. I 61 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:40,079 Speaker 3: think that, like it's fun to talk about it. And 62 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 3: again I think that I it's good to be a 63 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 3: good team, but I don't know that like the Steelers 64 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 3: are due because they've lost four straight and the Ravens 65 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 3: are going to cruise to victory because they've won four straight. 66 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 3: I don't think that, like it's that clear cut, and 67 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 3: once you get into a game, I just don't think 68 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 3: that you can necessarily lean on well, last week we 69 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:00,919 Speaker 3: were really good against the Brown and three weeks ago 70 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 3: we were really good against the Steiler. I don't think 71 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 3: that that matters once you get into a game situation. 72 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: I think that momentum provides the foundation with which you 73 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:12,239 Speaker 1: stand upon, right, and then you get into a game 74 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 1: and if let's say, things start going well, then you 75 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: really have this snowball effect, right, and it's like, man, 76 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 1: we were rolling before. I'm already coming into the game 77 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 1: feeling like we're really good and we're playing well, and 78 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: now it's confirmed in this game as well, let's go, 79 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: and you can just take off right, and not having 80 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: good momentum coming into the game, not having that solid foundation, well, 81 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 1: if things start going wrong, then that confirms that kind 82 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: of bias in the back of your head that oh man, 83 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: we are just not good right now, right, And so 84 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 1: I think that foundation is important. But with that said, 85 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: I think that momentum can change in the NFL like that, 86 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 1: And if the Steelers came out and they were hot, 87 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 1: or they got it to early turnover and all that stuff, 88 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 1: they're thinking, we're back, let's go. We know what we 89 00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 1: can do against the Rooms, we know we can beat them. 90 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 1: That's what they're going to be thinking. And for the Ravens, 91 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: you know, I do think if you have positive momentum 92 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: in that strong foundation, maybe if things don't start great, 93 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 1: you're like, okay, it's okay, We're right, you know, like 94 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 1: you can rebound a little bit better because you have that. 95 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:17,039 Speaker 1: So I think it counts for something. But I think 96 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:19,280 Speaker 1: that momentum can change very quickly in the NFL. And 97 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 1: you know, I go back to even to twenty twelve, Right, 98 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 1: did the Ravens have momentum going into the playoffs that year? 99 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:28,720 Speaker 1: Not really. They lost three of their last. 100 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 3: Four, four out of their last five, four out of 101 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 3: the last five, sorry, and and one of those, now 102 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 3: was the one victory was against the Giants, who were 103 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 3: the defending Super Bowl champions, and the Ravens blew them out, 104 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:40,359 Speaker 3: and the Ravens blew them out and that was the 105 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 3: second to last week, and that I think provided some momentum. 106 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:47,719 Speaker 3: The last loss to the Bengals was a rest starter's game, 107 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 3: so that provided some momentum. 108 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 1: But like, if you really look at it, four out 109 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: of five losses is not great, but hey, the Ravens 110 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 1: got going in that Colt's playoff opener and then they 111 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:02,039 Speaker 1: rolled right, they got hot at the start of the playoffs, 112 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 1: And so I don't necessarily think that a four game 113 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 1: winning streak, to your point, automatically means hey, you're just 114 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,480 Speaker 1: gonna keep on rolling, you know. I also believe that 115 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:17,239 Speaker 1: when the Ravens and Steelers get together, you can almost 116 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: throw everything else out because it's it's Ravens Steelers, and 117 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: they know each other so well they it's it's it's 118 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: gonna just be a cage match to the death every 119 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 1: single time. And so I don't in this rivalry, I 120 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: especially don't think that what happened before it plays a 121 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: big part. 122 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 3: So when you talk about kind of the flow of 123 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 3: a game, and I go back to when the Ravens 124 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 3: play the Steelers the first time this year in Pittsburgh, 125 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 3: and early in that game, second player of the game, 126 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 3: Derek Henry fumbled, and the narrative going into that game 127 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 3: was the Steelers have won a bunch of these lately, 128 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 3: and they seem to have your number and all this stuff, right, 129 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:56,719 Speaker 3: and so when that happens early, that kind of speaks 130 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:58,599 Speaker 3: to I think what you're talking about, which is like, oh, oh, 131 00:05:58,720 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 3: here we go, it's gonna be a dog. 132 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 2: Yeah. 133 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,040 Speaker 3: Then and then Tucker missed a couple of field goals, 134 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 3: and then it's like, man, this game is weird. Now 135 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 3: we got a weird Raven Steelers game. It's going to 136 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 3: be close in the fourth quarter, of course it is. 137 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 3: And so then I think that it's natural to start 138 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:16,280 Speaker 3: thinking in those terms. One thing that I have been 139 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 3: impressed with Lamar Jackson this week is that to me, 140 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 3: he is taking the tone that in playoff games, it's 141 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 3: a twelve round heavyweight fight. They're gonna land some punches 142 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 3: and we're gonna land some punches and you need to 143 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:30,840 Speaker 3: with stand them, and it's not going to necessarily be 144 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 3: the smooth ride all the way to the finish. And 145 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 3: that's something that he's learned in his playoff experience. And 146 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:37,919 Speaker 3: I think that when you talk about the lessons of 147 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 3: past playoff failures and disappointments, that to me seems like 148 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 3: the lesson that stood out to it. In his mind, 149 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 3: it's going to be back and forth, just like in 150 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 3: a basketball game. They're gonna have some runs. They're gonna 151 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 3: have a twelve point run, and how are you gonna 152 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 3: with stand it? And I think that the Ravens are 153 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,359 Speaker 3: more equipped to handle that. I think schematically they're better 154 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 3: and they can. They don't have to control the clock 155 00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 3: and run the ball as effectively to win games. Can 156 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 3: win it in a variety of different ways, and so 157 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,600 Speaker 3: I think that that is part of the reason that 158 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 3: you can be more confident with standing those punches. But 159 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 3: I do really believe that those experiences have served the 160 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 3: Ravens well from a mindset standpoint to know that, Look, 161 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 3: if they make a play, it's okay. Yeah, I think, no, 162 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 3: no worries, We're all good. 163 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: They have to be comfortable, even if the Steelers make 164 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 1: it ugly and make it a typical Steelers game, the 165 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: Ravens have to be You want to avoid that, obviously, 166 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 1: that's the ideal, Right, you want to play on your terms, 167 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: and that means we're gonna it's gonna be a race, 168 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 1: like we're gonna boat race this, and we're gonna score 169 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 1: a lot of points and all that stuff, and like 170 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: can you keep up? You know, that's what the Ravens 171 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: in this offense would like to do. They'd like to 172 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: blow them out. Right. The Ravens have had the best 173 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: defense since Week eleven, and they have the best offense 174 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: in the League, Like you look at it on paper 175 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 1: and like, can the Ravens win this big time? Yeah, 176 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 1: they can, It's likely no, because never answer when you 177 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:58,559 Speaker 1: play the Steelers, it's always close. And so I think 178 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: the Ravens and Lamar Jackson especially are like, you know what, 179 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 1: if we get in that kind of fight, that's okay, 180 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: that's okay. We should expect that. We should expect that 181 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: they're not everything's gonna be perfect, that they're gonna land 182 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: some punches, and that's that's okay. We're not gonna We're 183 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 1: not gonna freak out when that starts to happen, because 184 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 1: I do think that to a degree. You look back 185 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: at some of the Ravens games in playoff games in 186 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: that they've lost in recent years, and it seemed like 187 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 1: they kind of got off track early, you know, when 188 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: they didn't have success and when the other team kind 189 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: of punched them early and not every time, you know, 190 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 1: I mean, you go back to the when the Ravens 191 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,199 Speaker 1: won in Tennessee, they jumped out to a ten to 192 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: nothing lead, the Ravens roared back and won that game 193 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: in the second half, right and even last year against 194 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 1: the Texans in Division Round, it was a tend ten 195 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 1: to ten game at halftime. The Ravens really stepped on 196 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:51,199 Speaker 1: their throats in the second half and just pulled away 197 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:53,559 Speaker 1: in that game. But you also look at some of 198 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 1: the losses. The twenty nineteen lost to the Titans, and 199 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: the Ravens came out and they had some turn early 200 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:01,679 Speaker 1: interception I think on their first drive, and Titans went 201 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:03,440 Speaker 1: back down and punched in the end zone, and all 202 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:04,680 Speaker 1: of a sudden it looked like the kind of the 203 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 1: Ravens were out off track, I think is the right 204 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 1: way to put it. Even the Chiefs game last year, 205 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:12,680 Speaker 1: you know, the Chiefs back to back touchdown drives, you 206 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 1: know that kind of got the Ravens and then a 207 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 1: turnover that got him off track. And what they haven't 208 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: done well in the playoffs in recent years is get 209 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:24,439 Speaker 1: off to fast starts, especially in the first half. In 210 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 1: all of their losses, they've scored less than ten points 211 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 1: in the first half. The two victories they scored ten 212 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 1: points in the first half. You hope in this game 213 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:35,679 Speaker 1: it's more than ten points, right, Ten points is that's 214 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: the hope for the floor, right, And so I do 215 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:42,840 Speaker 1: think that they want to there's a lot of a 216 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 1: high priority on getting off to a fast start, but 217 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:48,319 Speaker 1: like you're saying with Lamar Jackson, even if you don't 218 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 1: if things don't go according to script early in this game, 219 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:54,719 Speaker 1: you gotta hang in there and know it's okay. It's 220 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: a long game. And that's what Lamar Jackson said. The 221 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 1: lesson he's taken away from the playoffs is it's a 222 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: long game and you've got to be comfortable with that. 223 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 1: You got to know. You got to go in knowing 224 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:05,320 Speaker 1: that that's what it's gonna be. 225 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 3: This whole conversation kind of reminds me of a story 226 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 3: that I just recently had this conversation with Cliff Brown. 227 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 2: You mean Cliff un Cliff, Cliff Brown. 228 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 3: Yes, I had this conversation with Cliff and it really 229 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 3: kind of opened my eyes in terms of the right 230 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 3: mindset to have going into the playoffs. So let's go 231 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 3: ahead and play this story from Cliff, because I think 232 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:27,559 Speaker 3: Ravens fans will really enjoy this. 233 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,080 Speaker 4: So back in the late eighties, I'm covering the the 234 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 4: Troy Pistons for the Troy Free Press. They lost a 235 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 4: heartbreaking seven game series to the Boston Celtics. Should have 236 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 4: won in game five. Isaiah Thomas throws the ball, Lavy 237 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 4: Bird intercepts, and of the game they lose by a 238 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 4: point and lose a series of seven games. They got 239 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 4: to wait the whole year, stay to there. Next year, 240 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:53,199 Speaker 4: play the Celtics again. Isaiah Thomas tells me, if we're 241 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:56,960 Speaker 4: going to beat the Celtics, we have to imagine that 242 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 4: the worst thing that could ever happen to us will happen, 243 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 4: and then after that happens, we will beat them. Anyway. 244 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 4: He said, that's the mentality a champion has to have. 245 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 4: You don't run from the boogeyman. You asked to play 246 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 4: the boogeyman, and you beat the boogeyman. And sure enough, 247 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,559 Speaker 4: the next year they beat Larry Bird and the Celtics 248 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:23,319 Speaker 4: conquered the Celtics. Mystique went on and beat the Lakers 249 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 4: in the finals and won a championship. That's how you 250 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:27,600 Speaker 4: think if you're a champion. 251 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 3: I think that there's some truth to that thinking as 252 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 3: it relates to the postseason overall and specifically this game 253 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 3: against this team. And then in terms of starting fast, 254 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 3: I agree with that, like it would be nice just 255 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,200 Speaker 3: to avoid the bad scenario. Like we can say that 256 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,439 Speaker 3: Isaiah Thomas story for another day. But like I do 257 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 3: think that, circling back to the question at the outset 258 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 3: of momentum and all that, if the Ravens jump out 259 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 3: to a fourteen point lead in this game, just as 260 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 3: an example. 261 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: I think they're going to be tough to stop. 262 00:11:57,520 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 2: I just don't think that. 263 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 3: Like with the way that the Ravens are instructed offensively, 264 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 3: their ability to control the clock and run the ball 265 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 3: with Lamar and Derrek Henry. 266 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: Their pass rush the second most sex in the league, 267 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,079 Speaker 1: the Steelers offensive tackles have been giving up a lot 268 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 1: of pressure. 269 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 3: I just don't think that. And also the trajectory of 270 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 3: the two teams over the course of last month. I 271 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 3: think that if the Ravens get out and they're rolling early, 272 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:20,960 Speaker 3: I don't see them giving up that two score lead 273 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:24,800 Speaker 3: right now. It's easier said than done, so you always 274 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 3: want to start fast, but I do think it could 275 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 3: carry a little bit even more significance. And then you 276 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 3: also you avoid some of the scenarios where the Steelers 277 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:32,439 Speaker 3: are so good, which is a close game and you 278 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 3: and you got to throw in the fourth quarter, and 279 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:36,840 Speaker 3: then TJ. Wattets rolling and those types of things where 280 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:41,400 Speaker 3: he seems to really make his impact. So I'm all, 281 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 3: I'll sign up for the fast start, Like, I'm on 282 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:44,440 Speaker 3: board with that. 283 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, I totally agree. And just to finish up the 284 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:51,840 Speaker 1: conversation about Lamar, do you sense that he's in a 285 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: different space than he was last year going into the playoffs? 286 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: What do you see from Lamar as it compares to 287 00:12:58,000 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 1: his previous playoff experiences. 288 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 3: Well, last year, I remember, like we were doing a 289 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 3: podcast going into the divisional round, we probably were saying, Man, 290 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 3: Lamar's in a much different headspace now than he was 291 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 3: in twenty nineteen, and. 292 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 2: That was definitely true. I thought, I think, yes, I think. 293 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:15,520 Speaker 3: That every year that you go through the experience your 294 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 3: hardened or callous, and you learn from it. And so 295 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 3: I think that that. I think that he is very 296 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:23,120 Speaker 3: much driven by the AFC Championship loss. He's still urged 297 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 3: by that game. He wants to get it done. He 298 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:27,640 Speaker 3: really wanted to get it done last year. But I 299 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:31,840 Speaker 3: think that what to me that stands out about Lamar 300 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 3: this year is that from the very start, he's been 301 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 3: on everybody from a perfectionist standpoint, and like that is 302 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 3: what has stood out to me about Lamar this year 303 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 3: and Isaiah Likely when we talked to him on the 304 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 3: podcast Friend of the Lounge earlier this week, he talked 305 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,960 Speaker 3: about Lamar being like a perfectionist starting in training camp 306 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 3: and like letting everybody know like that being okay is 307 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 3: not just being an average or being okay and letting 308 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 3: certain things slip, like none of that is acceptable. 309 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: I think the difference in Lamar and Lamar has been 310 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 1: a great player throughout his entire career already obviously won 311 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:08,680 Speaker 1: two MVPs already. The difference this year is his elevating 312 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 1: everybody around him. And when you talk about the greatest 313 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:13,559 Speaker 1: of all time, that's what they did. When you talk 314 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 1: about ray Lewis and the impact that he had on 315 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:18,440 Speaker 1: that defense, when you talk about the Peyton Mannings and 316 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: the tom Brady's, they elevated everybody around them. And that's 317 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 1: what Lamar has done. More of this year is you know, 318 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 1: when we sat down with Lamar at the beginning of 319 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: the season and we talked to him about the AFC 320 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 1: Championship loss and the playoff criticisms that he's faced over 321 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 1: his career with the two and four record in the postseason, 322 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 1: you know, Lamar was pretty frank. He's like, Lamar's playing 323 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 1: ball out there. If you watch the playoff games, I'm 324 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: playing ball, yeah, And so I think that that was 325 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: his focus all this year is how do I get 326 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 1: everybody else? How do we all achieve perfection together? And 327 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 1: that's what a great player does and a great leader. 328 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 1: And I think that that's how the Ravens go into 329 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 1: this playoff run is they're stronger, and Lamar also individually 330 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 1: is he is very much willing to also put on 331 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 1: the cape if he needs to and do whatever it 332 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:13,720 Speaker 1: takes to win this game. He was kind of kicking 333 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: himself for not running a little bit more in that 334 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 1: AFC Championship and said told gqu that he was a 335 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: little banged up, a little injured. I think that's a 336 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: difference for him going into this postseason too. He's just 337 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 1: in a healthier place. He lost Wait, he's faster, He's 338 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: a more dynamic runner. Like he's also individually more capable. 339 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: I think of if he needs to taking over a 340 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 1: game individually, yeah, but he doesn't want to. He wants 341 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 1: everybody to around him also to be playing at that 342 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: level so that they're just they can't be stopped. 343 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 3: And I think that it's very clear. Like if I 344 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 3: go back to the locker room celebration after the game 345 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 3: on Saturday, like, it was pretty muted for a divisional round, Like, yeah, 346 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 3: they had the hats and the T shirts and there 347 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 3: was excitement and all that, but I thought it was 348 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 3: a pretty muted celebration, and Lamar was somebody who like 349 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 3: was definitely a leader in that sense of like, yeah, 350 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:03,480 Speaker 3: I'm cool, it's cool that we won this, but we 351 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 3: gotta shift the focus here pretty quickly. 352 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 1: Yeah. I think it's also interesting you look at Lamar's 353 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: reaction to all the records he's broken then stuff this year, 354 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: almost every single one is like cool, yeah right, It's 355 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 1: almost the Derek Henry Purbole reaction. Cool right, right, you 356 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: know exactly. 357 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 3: And I think that that's just how he is, like 358 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 3: locked in laser focus, all that stuffy, and he has been, 359 00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 3: I think really for the last two years. But I 360 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 3: think that you become you get perspective when you go 361 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:33,880 Speaker 3: through things, and I think that if I could, the 362 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 3: two things that stand out to me are one that 363 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 3: he's holding everybody accountable, and then two he's learned about 364 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 3: the highs and lows of a playoff game and having 365 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 3: to withstand like the duration of a big time heavyweight 366 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 3: to fight, and I think that he and the team 367 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 3: as a whole are going to be in better position 368 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 3: because of that. 369 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 1: Then, the biggest news of the week has been the 370 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 1: injury status of wide receivers A Flowers, who suffered a 371 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: knee injury in the Ravens regular season finale against the 372 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 1: Browns on Thursday. Head coach John Harball said Zay is 373 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: ruled out for this game. He will not play to 374 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 1: open the playoffs. We'll see his status for next week. 375 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:16,119 Speaker 1: What assuming there is next week, yep. But you know 376 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 1: that's a tough blow for the Ravens. How do you 377 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:20,360 Speaker 1: think that has a ripple effect on this offense? 378 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 3: It's significant. I'm not going to diminish the impact that 379 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:25,720 Speaker 3: Save Flowers has on this team. He's been a thousand 380 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 3: yard receiver, he was a Pro bowler, he had a 381 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 3: great season, and in a lot of ways, he can 382 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:32,240 Speaker 3: be instant offense and kind of jump start this team 383 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 3: if the offense is slugish at all. However, with that said, 384 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:38,960 Speaker 3: I think the Ravens have the pieces in place and 385 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 3: the scheme in place to offset his loss. And I 386 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:44,439 Speaker 3: think certainly that means there's going to be more on 387 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:48,239 Speaker 3: Rashid Bateman and Rashon Bateman talk with reporters today and 388 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 3: he made the point that it doesn't really in his 389 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 3: mind change his preparation. He just has to go out 390 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 3: there and do what he does, and he feels like 391 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 3: he's ready for that assignment. So I think it's on him. 392 00:17:57,119 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 3: And I look at the tight ends, I think Isaiah 393 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 3: Likely and Mark Andrews, those to me are the one 394 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:05,959 Speaker 3: through three in terms of targets and how it's going 395 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 3: to be distributed. Of course, Tyler Wallace and Nelson Aguilar 396 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,399 Speaker 3: will have a larger role in the offense than they 397 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:15,120 Speaker 3: would otherwise I think. But I still think that if 398 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:19,240 Speaker 3: you're talking about distributing the care distributing the targets, it's 399 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:21,640 Speaker 3: for Shad Bateman, Mark Andrews, and Isaiah Likely. I think 400 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 3: those are your top three receiving threats. 401 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 1: As I want to talk about this ted ends, but 402 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: let's just first talk about Rashad baman career year. Okay, 403 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 1: let's not like Rashad's taken. You know, it's been a 404 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 1: long path to get to this point for Rashad Beaman, Right, 405 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:39,199 Speaker 1: But I think this dude is ready to show the 406 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 1: world that he's capable of what he's capable of, you know, 407 00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 1: and he already has for much of the season. But 408 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:48,439 Speaker 1: going into his second year, Rashad Bateman was wide receiver 409 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:52,440 Speaker 1: one and it was very clear, and injuries prevented him 410 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 1: from really kind of showing what he could do in 411 00:18:56,040 --> 00:19:00,440 Speaker 1: that role. We've seen this season when when the Ravens 412 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:03,000 Speaker 1: have been looking for a big play, oftentimes they've looked 413 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:05,640 Speaker 1: for shat Bateman's way. He's got nine touchdowns. Yeah, it's 414 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:07,840 Speaker 1: the second most on team him Mark Andrews. So like, 415 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: I have a lot of faith in Rashad Bateman and 416 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:12,639 Speaker 1: what he can do to step up and be that 417 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:13,400 Speaker 1: guy in this game. 418 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 3: What Bateman has done this year, He's come up with 419 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 3: a lot of big catches and key moments and that's 420 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 3: part of the reason he's second on the team with 421 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:22,240 Speaker 3: those nine touchdowns. He's also had a ton of really 422 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:25,120 Speaker 3: big catches on third downs and chain moving type plays. 423 00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:28,480 Speaker 3: He doesn't have the volume that Zay Flowers has. Part 424 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:30,280 Speaker 3: of that is opportunity. Now he's going to get more 425 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:31,919 Speaker 3: of an opportunity, and I think that he'll make the 426 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 3: most of it. So look He's a saft spoken guy 427 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 3: who's not looking to go out there and create any 428 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 3: headlines of making any proclamations about what he's going to 429 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:40,680 Speaker 3: do this week. 430 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:42,200 Speaker 2: He just wants to go about his business, which I 431 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 2: think is the right approach. 432 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:45,679 Speaker 3: And I think that he is going to have a 433 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 3: He's certainly going to be a big factor in the game, 434 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 3: and I think that he's more than capable of allowing 435 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 3: this offense to continue to operate at a really high level. 436 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 3: And after Saturday night, if the Ravens win this game 437 00:19:57,840 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 3: would not surprise me at all. If we're looking at 438 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:01,320 Speaker 3: their shot. Bateman sa outline saying, man, this guy stepped 439 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 3: up in a big moment and he delivered whether Raves 440 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 3: needed him. 441 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 1: But I agree with you. I think it's heavier shift 442 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:10,880 Speaker 1: to twelve personnel. You're using a lot of two tight 443 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:13,119 Speaker 1: ends and letting those guys get after it. I mean 444 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:16,399 Speaker 1: Isaiah likely you know, he calls himself the chess piece, 445 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:19,360 Speaker 1: you know, And and I think that he certainly is 446 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: a slash wide receiver. Basically he can be used in 447 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 1: that way and the Ravens can move all those different 448 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 1: pieces around. We've talked about it all season long. About 449 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 1: how many weapons the Ravens have, and I think that 450 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:32,919 Speaker 1: we're gonna see that in this game primarily. However, I 451 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 1: think we're gonna see a lot of the ground game 452 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 1: and a lot of that guy getting the ball deuce 453 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:42,680 Speaker 1: deuce is. I think this is his time, right, this 454 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 1: is this is why the Ravens brought Derrick Henry to Baltimore. 455 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: These kind of games. January. It's gonna be cold. You're 456 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:54,080 Speaker 1: gonna want to be physical up front the Ravens. It's 457 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 1: been Saturday's game will be the five year anniversary on 458 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 1: the nose of when Derrick Henry came to Baltimore as 459 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,200 Speaker 1: a Tennessee Titan and knock the Ravens out of the 460 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:07,480 Speaker 1: playoffs early when they were the number one seed. And 461 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:10,359 Speaker 1: this will be his first playoff game back in M 462 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 1: and T Banks Stadium. And I think that that night 463 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:14,840 Speaker 1: he had a pretty darn good day. 464 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 2: We can just repeat his performance. 465 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: Sure, run that back. He's gonna turn Minka Fitzpatrick into 466 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:22,199 Speaker 1: his lead blocker. I'll take it. 467 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:24,120 Speaker 2: Sure, I'll take that for a touchdown. 468 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:24,639 Speaker 1: I'll take it. 469 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:25,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know. 470 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:29,639 Speaker 1: And so I think this is Derrick Henry's time to shine. 471 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 1: And then the Ravens are not going to be hesitant 472 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:34,399 Speaker 1: to give him the opportunities. 473 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:36,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, he's ready, There's no doubt about that. So let's 474 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:37,920 Speaker 3: take a quick break and when we come back, we'll 475 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,320 Speaker 3: dive into some more of the strategy related to this 476 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:42,960 Speaker 3: game on both the offensive and defensive side of the football. 477 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:45,160 Speaker 3: If you're listening to the last podcast, we are coming 478 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 3: to you from the Seakiek studio. We also want to 479 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:49,000 Speaker 3: mention our partners, a Draft Kings Sportsbook. They are an 480 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 3: official sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft King Sportsbook. 481 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:56,440 Speaker 3: The Crown is yours. So we already talked about Derek 482 00:21:56,480 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 3: Henry in the ground game, and I'm with you, like 483 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:00,080 Speaker 3: I think the Ravens are going to lean on this 484 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:02,879 Speaker 3: rushing attack. I mean, this game is this game is 485 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:06,640 Speaker 3: ripe for a big day, a big night on the ground. 486 00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:09,399 Speaker 1: Well, Dereck Henry had it in the last meeting against 487 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:15,359 Speaker 1: the Steelers. Now it certainly bears mentioning that this Pittsburgh 488 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:17,440 Speaker 1: defense isn't a healthier place than it was the last 489 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:21,160 Speaker 1: time your team's met. And so in that game, Deshaun Elliott, 490 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:24,120 Speaker 1: they're starting safety for Mo raven was sidelined for that game. 491 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 1: They didn't have Larry Ogunjobi in that game. They didn't 492 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 1: have one of their starting quarterbacks, Dante Jackson. They lost 493 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:32,200 Speaker 1: their other starting quarterback, Joey Porter Junior, during the game, 494 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 1: so they were pretty banged up defensively going into that one. 495 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:40,200 Speaker 1: All those guys are probably expected to play. Dante Jackson 496 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 1: has been a full participant in practice early in the week, 497 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:46,200 Speaker 1: so it looks like they're all going to back. TJ. 498 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:48,600 Speaker 1: Watt was dealing with the ankle injury from the week 499 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:51,399 Speaker 1: prior the last time these teams met. He's you know, 500 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:53,960 Speaker 1: not even on the injury report now. So this is 501 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:57,800 Speaker 1: a better it should be a better Steelers defense coming 502 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:00,159 Speaker 1: into empty Bank Stadium, but you know, the Bengals put 503 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 1: up a lot of points on them in the regular 504 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:02,679 Speaker 1: season finale. 505 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, and make us have a good offense too. But 506 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 2: I think it's. 507 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 3: The thing that's interesting is like I do think that 508 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:13,920 Speaker 3: trying to establish the running game is like we all 509 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 3: have talked about that, and I think that the Ravens 510 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:19,240 Speaker 3: will definitely look to do that. But let's not like 511 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,160 Speaker 3: overlook the Steelers rush defense here. They're the sixth Beth 512 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 3: Rush sixth best running defense in the NFL this season, 513 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:30,399 Speaker 3: So like, it's not easy to just ground and pound 514 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 3: against these guys. That's what they do so well, and 515 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:34,960 Speaker 3: so that's part of the dynamic here that the Ravens 516 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 3: are going to have to sort through. 517 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 2: Is the run game working. What does that run game 518 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:39,119 Speaker 2: look like like? 519 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:41,120 Speaker 3: It's it's tough to run against them, especially when Cam 520 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:43,320 Speaker 3: Hayward is in the middle clogging things up. He makes 521 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:45,480 Speaker 3: life hard, and so that's part of the challenge for 522 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 3: this team. 523 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:48,639 Speaker 1: When you look at these two defenses, the Ravens and 524 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,399 Speaker 1: the Steelers defense is they're similar in a lot of ways. 525 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:54,720 Speaker 1: When you're looking at the number specifically, you know, total defense, 526 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:57,600 Speaker 1: the Ravens are tenth, Steelers or twelfth. Pass defense is 527 00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 1: the weakness thirty first for the Ravens still obviously it's 528 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 1: been a whole lot better, but they were starting way 529 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 1: in the cellar and for the Steelers twenty fifth. Both 530 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:09,640 Speaker 1: good run defenses. The Ravens tops in the league by 531 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:13,640 Speaker 1: a wide margin eighty point one yards per game, Steelers sixth. 532 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:16,720 Speaker 1: The difference here is third down defense, the Steelers second 533 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:19,920 Speaker 1: best in the league, the Ravens eighteenth. So third down 534 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:22,600 Speaker 1: is going to matter a lot. How do the Ravens 535 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:27,080 Speaker 1: perform on third down against this Steelers defense? 536 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:29,320 Speaker 3: Well, the Ravens offense is the third best third down 537 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:31,800 Speaker 3: offense in football, So you have good verse good on 538 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 3: third down there, and so you want to get yourself 539 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:35,920 Speaker 3: in third and short situations, which if you're running the 540 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:38,679 Speaker 3: ball with Derek Hendry on the ground, you're generally speaking 541 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:41,160 Speaker 3: going to be in third and short situations because he's 542 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:42,359 Speaker 3: picking up four yards of carry. 543 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:44,399 Speaker 1: Yep. The Ravens had a lot of success on inside 544 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:46,879 Speaker 1: runs against the Steelers this past time. You mentioned Cam Haynward, 545 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:48,520 Speaker 1: who's a great player. They did it. Ravens did a 546 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:51,399 Speaker 1: good job blocking against him in their last meeting. The 547 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:53,600 Speaker 1: Ravens have also done a good job against CJ. Watt. 548 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 1: He has one sack in the two regular season games. 549 00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:58,920 Speaker 1: That one sack was really a coverage sack. Roger Rosengarten 550 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:00,760 Speaker 1: and the rookie right tack go for the Ravens has 551 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:02,480 Speaker 1: done a really good job. And of course that scheme, 552 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 1: you know, anytime you're building going against the Steelers defense, 553 00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:08,720 Speaker 1: you're scheming t J. Watt. Yeah, and so ken the 554 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 1: Ravens continue that. That's obviously that's the matchup of the 555 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:15,880 Speaker 1: game for me is again TJ. Watt versus Roger rose Garden. 556 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:17,439 Speaker 3: Yeah, there's gonna be a lot of the rookie shoulders. 557 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 3: And he's impressed me all season long. He just continues 558 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:21,680 Speaker 3: to get better and he's been up to the challenge 559 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:25,240 Speaker 3: against t J. Watt in both these games. But it's 560 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:27,920 Speaker 3: play of football now, and so as a rookie second 561 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 3: round pick thrust into this atmosphere like, that's a tall 562 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:32,000 Speaker 3: order and he has to be up to the challenge. 563 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:32,679 Speaker 2: I think he will be. 564 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:34,399 Speaker 3: But there's going to be a lot on his shoulder. 565 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:36,880 Speaker 3: So that's it's gonna be a big assignment front. 566 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:39,439 Speaker 1: We let's talk about what the Ravens defense needs to 567 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:42,639 Speaker 1: do against the Steelers. The Steelers offense has been struggling 568 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:46,000 Speaker 1: in recent weeks, you know, And I thought it was 569 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 1: interesting that Zach Worr said he expects two quarterbacks the 570 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 1: Steelers in this game that you know, the way maybe 571 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:57,400 Speaker 1: Russell is playing recently, justin fields is back healthy for them. 572 00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:00,080 Speaker 1: He was also out in the previous matchup between the 573 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:04,120 Speaker 1: two teams. You know, all chips you throw the put 574 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:05,560 Speaker 1: the chips in the middle of the table in this game, 575 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:07,960 Speaker 1: you don't hold anything back. So if Russell Wilson is 576 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:10,880 Speaker 1: not looking great in early in this game, or you 577 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 1: just want to throw the Ravens some curveballs, it would 578 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:16,360 Speaker 1: not be surprising at all to see some Justin Fields. 579 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:19,480 Speaker 3: I think that that is an underrated big aspect of 580 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 3: this game in my mind, to be honest. 581 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 2: I think that you go back to. 582 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:24,760 Speaker 3: The first time these two teams played, the Steelers use 583 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 3: Justin Fields in some key situations, including the last two 584 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:31,040 Speaker 3: plays of the game to Iceen, and they used him 585 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:34,440 Speaker 3: in running situations and basically ran quarterback runs with him. 586 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 3: But you can that's not all we can do, of course, 587 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:39,919 Speaker 3: but he's so dangerous in that aspect, and so I 588 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:42,040 Speaker 3: absolutely think that Justin Fields is going to get snaps 589 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:42,480 Speaker 3: in this game. 590 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:42,879 Speaker 1: Yep. 591 00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:45,560 Speaker 3: I think he was a difficult wrinkle for the offense 592 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:49,159 Speaker 3: for the defense to stop last time, and that is 593 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:51,359 Speaker 3: something that could give the defense problems because it's a 594 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 3: change up. 595 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:54,840 Speaker 1: It sounds like they're the Ravens are definitely preparing them right. 596 00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:57,720 Speaker 1: However they are. I think they're surprise they're more ready 597 00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:00,000 Speaker 1: for it than they were in that first matchup in Pittsburgh. 598 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:00,440 Speaker 1: I believe it. 599 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:02,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I think that the Steelers, like you look 600 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 3: at Russell Wilson's not played great in the last month, 601 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:06,840 Speaker 3: so so it could be like I don't think they're 602 00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:08,639 Speaker 3: going to bench him after the first series or anything, 603 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 3: but I think that some spot situations and some I 604 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:13,440 Speaker 3: think he's really tough to stop, of course in short 605 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:15,480 Speaker 3: yard situations where you can get an extra blocker and 606 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:17,280 Speaker 3: you can use him as a running as a runner, 607 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:21,879 Speaker 3: so they need to be able to stop justin fields 608 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:23,880 Speaker 3: and what the offense looks like if he comes into 609 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:25,720 Speaker 3: the game, because that that's going to be an important part, 610 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:27,399 Speaker 3: and I think there's I think the Steelers are going 611 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:29,680 Speaker 3: to look to use that in some key situations. And 612 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:32,560 Speaker 3: that is an area that gives me a little bit 613 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:34,960 Speaker 3: of concern, just because it's it's hard to plan for 614 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:38,200 Speaker 3: two quarterbacks and two systems and in the different approaches 615 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 3: that they can use with the different players. So that 616 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 3: is something that has me a little bit worried. 617 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:44,600 Speaker 1: I'm not worried about it, but I think it'll be 618 00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:49,120 Speaker 1: an elementend of the game. Yes, I the Steelers obviously 619 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:52,639 Speaker 1: build their offense around running the ball, being physical upfront 620 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:55,280 Speaker 1: and running the ball the Ravens run the defense, though, 621 00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:58,360 Speaker 1: if you're looking at one part of this team where 622 00:27:58,359 --> 00:27:59,879 Speaker 1: you're like, I'm going to play at my flag, and 623 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,879 Speaker 1: I feel pretty darn confident in that that run defense 624 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:04,440 Speaker 1: has been good all year long. 625 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:06,159 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's the best in the league'll only giving up 626 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:07,000 Speaker 2: eighty rs on the ground. 627 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, So if the Ravens can shut down Najie Harris 628 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:13,480 Speaker 1: and Jalen war and really make it tough for the 629 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 1: Steelers to run the ball, I think it's gonna be 630 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:16,600 Speaker 1: a long day for Pittsburgh. 631 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:17,040 Speaker 2: I agree. 632 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:20,520 Speaker 3: I don't see the Steelers converting many third and elevens, 633 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:23,240 Speaker 3: you know, like those are hard plays. 634 00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:26,480 Speaker 1: They're gonna get. We talked about the you know, the 635 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:29,360 Speaker 1: Isaiah Thomas story, like there's gonna be a moon ball 636 00:28:29,359 --> 00:28:32,160 Speaker 1: in there somewhere. Russell throws two nice of a moon ball, 637 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:36,400 Speaker 1: not to get one. Yeah, so they'll get one of those. 638 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:39,240 Speaker 1: They'll get one of those by then, gonna get a 639 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:39,760 Speaker 1: lot of them. 640 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:40,240 Speaker 2: Yeah. 641 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:43,000 Speaker 3: Well, an interesting matchup there if you're converting on third 642 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 3: and long type situations is you look at the outside 643 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:49,280 Speaker 3: corners and you could see George Pickens, who's a dynamic 644 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:51,440 Speaker 3: wide receiver, did not have a good game last week 645 00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:53,800 Speaker 3: and against the Bengals in the regular season finale. But 646 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:56,680 Speaker 3: super talented player who could hurt the Ravens. 647 00:28:56,720 --> 00:28:58,680 Speaker 1: They know that for certainly their top wide receiver. 648 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 3: Yeah. I mean, he's a big play three who can 649 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:01,800 Speaker 3: hurtch you in a variety of ways, and the Ravens 650 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 3: have seen that. So the matchup of him against Brandon 651 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:08,480 Speaker 3: Stevens or Nate Wiggins on the other side, I think 652 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:12,480 Speaker 3: is going to be an important one. And Zach Warr's 653 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:14,960 Speaker 3: press confidence of Brandon Stevens. I know that he's He's 654 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:16,640 Speaker 3: had up and down moments and there's been times this 655 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 3: year where he just haves some being able to turn 656 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 3: his head and give this head around and break up 657 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:21,720 Speaker 3: passes like he's there, he's close. 658 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:24,520 Speaker 1: That's the case for you. Talk to any fan of 659 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:26,960 Speaker 1: any team around the league, and I guarantee you they'll 660 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:29,360 Speaker 1: be like, why don't our corners turn their heads? Yeah, 661 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:31,600 Speaker 1: that's the case for like every corner in the league. 662 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:34,960 Speaker 1: It's a tough position. I'm gonna just come to Brandon 663 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:36,880 Speaker 1: Stevens defense a little bit. I think Brandon Stevens is 664 00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 1: a good player and he has the right mind. I 665 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:41,840 Speaker 1: love that to U his mindset. Now, it's about making plays. 666 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:43,920 Speaker 1: Ain't about mindset at the end of the day. But 667 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:46,480 Speaker 1: like he's you look at a lot of the advanced 668 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 1: analytics and and Brandon Stevens is right there. You even 669 00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:52,080 Speaker 1: look at the NASO advanced analytics. There's a lot of 670 00:29:52,120 --> 00:29:55,040 Speaker 1: corners in this league, really good quarters like pat certain 671 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:58,280 Speaker 1: Cooper Deen, the rookie in Philadelphia everybody's talking about, you know, 672 00:29:58,560 --> 00:30:01,800 Speaker 1: in the defensive Rookie of the Year Converce, Like really 673 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:04,800 Speaker 1: good Pro Bowl corners who are giving up completions at 674 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:08,960 Speaker 1: a higher rate than Brandon Stevens a higher rate. Yeah, Okay, 675 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:12,000 Speaker 1: there's a lot of good corners that are giving up 676 00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:16,280 Speaker 1: more yards per completion than Brandon Stevens. I mean we're 677 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:20,400 Speaker 1: talking what's his name from the Jets, Sauce Gardner, like 678 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 1: at the top of the list, you know, and uh, 679 00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:29,000 Speaker 1: and so is Brandon. Like the difference is Brandon Stevens 680 00:30:29,040 --> 00:30:32,720 Speaker 1: gets targeted a lot, so fans see just a lot 681 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:35,040 Speaker 1: of passes get completed against him. But you got to 682 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:36,920 Speaker 1: look at the rate in which they're getting completed. Now, 683 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:38,760 Speaker 1: would Brandon Stevens like a better rate? Would he like 684 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:40,400 Speaker 1: to get his hands on more of those walls. Yeah, 685 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:42,680 Speaker 1: that's what he's working towards. But like, I think it's 686 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:46,120 Speaker 1: I think that the the the noise that I'm hearing 687 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:49,440 Speaker 1: out out there about Brandon Stevens is overblown. Could he 688 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:51,520 Speaker 1: play better, Yeah, of course, but a lot of corners can. 689 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:54,040 Speaker 1: It's a hard job. It's a really tough job, Blake. 690 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:57,400 Speaker 1: And and is he gonna get targeted? Like it seems 691 00:30:57,400 --> 00:30:59,000 Speaker 1: like opponents keep going at him. And I don't know 692 00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 1: why exactly they got him more than other guys, but 693 00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:04,080 Speaker 1: they are. Like he was the most targeted corner in 694 00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:06,320 Speaker 1: the league last year according to Pro Football Focus. He's 695 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:08,640 Speaker 1: the fifth highest this year. So he's got a lot 696 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:11,400 Speaker 1: on his plate. It's tough when you're getting targeted that often. 697 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:15,000 Speaker 1: And hey, he he I'm sure he probably says, yeah, 698 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:16,840 Speaker 1: they're gonna come at me, and I'm okay with that. Yeah, 699 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:18,000 Speaker 1: Like that's the mindset he takes. 700 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:20,720 Speaker 3: He definitely has that mindset. I like Brandon Stevens, Well, 701 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:24,240 Speaker 3: I'm with you. I agree with basically everything you said 702 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:25,920 Speaker 3: there and I but the one thing I think that's 703 00:31:25,960 --> 00:31:28,720 Speaker 3: for sure is he's going to get tested because Evan 704 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:30,880 Speaker 3: shows us that they're going to go his direction. So 705 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:32,960 Speaker 3: there's going to be one of those Russell Wilson moon 706 00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:36,720 Speaker 3: balls to George Pickens in his direction and you got 707 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:39,480 Speaker 3: to make the play and not necessarily an interception, but 708 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:42,120 Speaker 3: break it up and don't know Pi's like, those are 709 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 3: the things that you need to avoid incompletion whatever however 710 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:47,000 Speaker 3: it goes like, that's gonna happen. We're gonna have that 711 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:49,800 Speaker 3: a few times in this game. And so he knows that, 712 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:52,080 Speaker 3: and he's gonna be ready for it, and that those 713 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:55,880 Speaker 3: those deep ball plays there in that direction, like those 714 00:31:55,920 --> 00:31:59,800 Speaker 3: are things that can be game changing type place, either 715 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:01,959 Speaker 3: p I S or a long play if you give 716 00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:02,160 Speaker 3: it up. 717 00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:03,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, the Steelers are going to take their shots. 718 00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:04,880 Speaker 3: They're going to take the shots. And I think it's 719 00:32:04,880 --> 00:32:07,560 Speaker 3: probably going to be that Pick and Stevens matchup, and 720 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:10,720 Speaker 3: I like Stevens, but that's gonna be an important matchup 721 00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:11,160 Speaker 3: in this game. 722 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:13,280 Speaker 1: Sitting back in the press box, it's like you just 723 00:32:13,320 --> 00:32:15,680 Speaker 1: see it and you see Russ drop back and throw it, 724 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:18,880 Speaker 1: and literally every time here we go, all right, yeah, 725 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:22,560 Speaker 1: this when getting completed or not, and like to a 726 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:25,600 Speaker 1: decent degree, those will decide the game. Who wins those 727 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:28,720 Speaker 1: That's what they're saying in the cornerbacks room, we win 728 00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:30,760 Speaker 1: those moon ball shots, we win the game. 729 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:32,600 Speaker 2: Yep, yep, It's going to be important. 730 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:35,440 Speaker 1: So I brought it up briefly, but I do think 731 00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:38,240 Speaker 1: the Ravens really have an advantage from a pass rush standpoint. 732 00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:42,720 Speaker 1: You know, you the Steelers tackles, I think are have 733 00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:46,440 Speaker 1: been vulnerable in recent weeks. Their right guard is starting 734 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:48,840 Speaker 1: right guards playing with a broken hand. Yeah, says he's 735 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:51,040 Speaker 1: gonna play with with a broken hand. That can't feel good. 736 00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:53,560 Speaker 1: And so I do think that the Ravens have a 737 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:55,840 Speaker 1: chance up front to really kind of take control of 738 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:59,560 Speaker 1: this game in the trenches defensively and get after the 739 00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:02,040 Speaker 1: Steelers little bit. I mean, we sit here and talk 740 00:33:02,080 --> 00:33:03,880 Speaker 1: about t J. Watt and the threat he is, which 741 00:33:04,280 --> 00:33:07,040 Speaker 1: he is. I guess he's got more sex than him. 742 00:33:07,680 --> 00:33:10,479 Speaker 1: Kylave Annoy got one more sack? Can Kyle Vannoy keep 743 00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:13,000 Speaker 1: it up with Dafayoway obviously join the double digitsack club. 744 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:16,600 Speaker 1: You know, the Ravens have pass rush pass rushers, and 745 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:18,600 Speaker 1: if they can get after the Steelers up front, I 746 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:20,040 Speaker 1: think that's going to go a long way again. 747 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:22,200 Speaker 3: Kickoff for Saturday's game is eight o'clock at M and 748 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:24,080 Speaker 3: T Bank Stadium. It's going to be electric in there. 749 00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:26,080 Speaker 3: Terrell Suggs is coming back as a legend of the game. 750 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:28,080 Speaker 3: Loudy Nada is going to be there as a captain 751 00:33:28,120 --> 00:33:29,080 Speaker 3: of the game. I'm not sure if he's going to 752 00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:31,920 Speaker 3: break anyone's nose, but Steelers, so you can't relate Kenza. 753 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:32,440 Speaker 1: Ben's there. 754 00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:33,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, Ben comes back. 755 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:35,880 Speaker 3: You might have to go over there and remind him 756 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:38,320 Speaker 3: of that. But it's going to be great all time. 757 00:33:38,360 --> 00:33:41,560 Speaker 3: Low our good buddies, they're performing at halftime of this game, 758 00:33:41,560 --> 00:33:42,920 Speaker 3: which will be fun to see them. They're going to 759 00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:45,200 Speaker 3: put on a great show. And Lindsay Sterling, who we 760 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:47,440 Speaker 3: also use in our trailer video to kick off the season, 761 00:33:47,920 --> 00:33:49,920 Speaker 3: is going to do a performance during the game. And 762 00:33:49,920 --> 00:33:51,800 Speaker 3: then we've got the wrist bands, so there's gonna be 763 00:33:51,800 --> 00:33:53,600 Speaker 3: a light showing game and during the game. 764 00:33:53,520 --> 00:33:54,600 Speaker 1: Intro is going to be lit. 765 00:33:54,680 --> 00:33:56,680 Speaker 3: There's a lot of stuff that's happening for this game, 766 00:33:56,800 --> 00:33:58,520 Speaker 3: and make sure you're there, make sure you're in the 767 00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:01,560 Speaker 3: house early and low to give the Ravens that great 768 00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:04,400 Speaker 3: home field advantage. Thank you so much for listening, and 769 00:34:04,440 --> 00:34:05,960 Speaker 3: we will talk with you again soon.