John Harbaugh: Ravens Press Conference 12/16/24

SPEAKER_2 (0:03)

Welcome into the Ravens Press Pass Podcast. The Ravens improved to 9 and 5 on Sunday after a 35 to 14 victory over the New York Giants. The Ravens are now on a short week with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming to town for an AFC North Showdown Saturday at 430 As the Ravens prepare for that game, today we had a chance to hear from head coach John Harbaugh.

John Harbaugh (0:26)

Okay, I appreciate everybody being here.

Happy with the win which we needed to keep pace. And now we're heading into the challenge this Saturday against Pittsburgh. Very important game for a lot of reasons and we're going to need to be at our very best. They're an excellent football team. We're ready for the challenge. What questions you guys have?

SPEAKER_3 (0:55)

John, we just saw the statement that was released about Deontay Johnson about mutually agreeing to not participate in team activities this week. After this week, do you foresee him practicing with the team again?

John Harbaugh (1:07)

What I foresee, really, to be honest with you, and all I'm really thinking about right now, is Pittsburgh. I'm getting our team ready for Pittsburgh. So he won't be here this week, and next week will take care of itself.

SPEAKER_4 (1:24)

But I guess just one quick follow up on that. Why did you guys decide to handle it that way and not simply release them?

John Harbaugh (1:34)

I'm really interested in Pittsburgh Steelers, to be honest with you. I know you guys want to hear the story. There's a lot of moving parts.

There are reasons for doing things that are front office type reasons, you know. Do I want to sit here and get into all the different calculations that Eric makes? I really don't. I want to think about Pittsburgh and our team getting ready for Pittsburgh and the guys who are going to be here playing against Pittsburgh. That's my focus, 100%.

SPEAKER_5 (2:06)

John, what are the challenges? You talked about how big of a game this is, obviously going up against the Steelers, but playing on a short week, both of you guys are playing on a short week, just what are the challenges for those off the field challenges at this time of the year, and also just how big of a game this is in the grand scheme?

John Harbaugh (2:23)

Well, I mean, it's a challenge for both teams. You know, we're both playing on the same deal. We both played Sunday, and we're playing each other on Saturday, so that's just it, just the schedule. It's a little shorter game planning type of an operation than you would have, but we play each other enough where I don't think that's a problem for either team. And guys got to do a great job taking care of themselves, getting ready for the game that's going to be in terms of their bodies, and then making sure they get the game plan right. We want to get our football right. That's what we want to do. We want to prepare to the best of our abilities so we can go out there and play our best and be on point in that game. Just like we do every week really. I mean, it's really not any different than any other week. So we're ready to do that and we're excited for it. And I can't wait for the guys to come walking in tomorrow morning.

SPEAKER_6 (3:12)

How much of that last encounters heated you with it all because of the fact that it was such a winnable game?

John Harbaugh (3:19)

You know, I've watched that game a number of times on last, actually last week, I watched it. We got ahead with the bye week and everything. Watch it again this morning. And so much to learn from that game. So much to learn from all the games, really. But every game is the same time, every game is different. Even though they seem like they're the same, the scores are about the same, it seems like. I'm talking about over 17 years and even beyond that. But every game is different, you know. And try to learn from it and try to do where we're at, where they're at. What we need to do to try to win this game, play our best football, that's what we're focused on.

SPEAKER_3 (3:52)

John, I know a lot of the players said that you didn't even, when you play in the Giants, didn't even address their record. That was not even brought up. Will you bring up kind of the magnitude, because this is such a big game, will you bring up the magnification from this game?