Ravens at Chargers Week 12 Postgame Press Conferences

SPEAKER_1 (0:02)

Welcome to the Ravens Press Pass Podcasts. The Ravens improved to 8-4 on the season after a 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. It was a big win for the Ravens in terms of playoff positioning. They took down a red hot Chargers team, and they are knocking on the door behind the Steelers in the AFC North Race. The Ravens are in really good position when it comes to the AFC wildcard picture. After the game, we heard from head coach John Harbaugh, who talked about the win, and also what it meant to go up against his brother in this victory.

John Harbaugh (0:32)

Just a really well-earned victory against a really good football team. I'm really proud of our guys. We had talked and kind of the message that even came up to be strong in the Lord, that was actually the message. And I just think that you have ups and downs in a season, both teams, you know, and kind of live these things close to your heart.

And these are just huge battles, huge battles every week in this league. And going against a team that's this well-coached by all their coaches and by my brother Jim, best coach of the National Football League, when he's done with that team and how hard they play and what they did, hats off to them, because they're going to win a lot more football games this year, and they're going to be a major factor in the playoffs. So this is a big win for our guys. I'm proud of our guys. I'm proud of the way they came out and and and responded. You know, after the first 10 points, we're down 10 to nothing. And our guys step up. I think they had they had two field goals until the last drive on defense. And our offense had five or six scoring drives right in a row there to make a difference. So that's what I appreciate about our guys. They really don't flinch. They keep fighting. They got locked in on some details and they played really winning, good winning football. So proud of them for that. Now we have a quick turnaround. We got to get back about 630 in the morning and get to work on a very good Eagles team. So what questions do you have?

SPEAKER_3 (1:57)

What was kind of leaving your brother after the game? What was kind of said after the game?

John Harbaugh (2:01)

I just told him, you're a great coach and you have a great team, you know, and I love you. And he said, I love you and congratulations. That was good.

SPEAKER_3 (2:08)

Yeah.

SPEAKER_4 (2:11)

Two minute warning there in the second quarter. It looked like hunting was heading out there and then the offense all of a sudden went out. What went into that decision for you and how kind of difficult of a call was that?

John Harbaugh (2:23)

Yeah, I mean, you know, the downside is you give them the ball at the 16 yard line. You know, that's the downside. And but the upside or the thought is that I really thought we'd get it. You know, I thought Mark could get it with the quarterback sneak. And I just thought he and Tyler and our interior offensive line. I mean, Pat McCarrey just coming off the ball the way he did. And Daniel Felleli coming off the ball the way they did. I just thought I thought we could get it and they did. So hats off to them. And led to like a 90 some yard drive and got seven points. That was a big turning point in the game. No, no, no, we just kind of is the right thing to do. It's always a team decision.

SPEAKER_5 (3:06)

John, toward the end of the game, you're on defense, you kind of gave the earmuffs thing, maybe telling you guys not to jump. I wonder if you sort of had to do that in the week leading up to this and just sort of block out the constant inquiries about the brotherhood.

John Harbaugh (3:25)

Well, yeah, I mean, oh, I see you. That's really, see, that's why you're so good, Sam. I mean, that's really, that's clever.

Yeah, absolutely. It was kind of earmuffs in that sense, and I know it was for Jim, too. I mean, because in the end, it's like it's true. It's it's meaningful. It matters. It's just something that it's just an incredible thing. I mean, just it means it does mean a lot. And I'm so proud of him. It's an amazing thing to look back to where we to where we are, you know, from where we came and all the all the different. And we got different paths, you know, we grew up in the same room, you know, and kind of kind of I've always lived our life side by side. But that's not what the game is about. The game really is about the players, and the players are always going to win the game or lose the game or whatever. And that's why strong and courageous is such a big deal because it takes so much to play this game. It's got to be strong and courageous to play football. You really do. And at this level, these guys sacrifice so much and they go out there and they just throw everything on the line. And I have so much respect for players. Jim's the same way. We both try to treat our players with great respect, admiration and love, you know, and because that's how we feel about him.