Texans-Ravens Divisional Playoff Postgame Press Conferences 1/21

SPEAKER_1 (0:03)

Welcome in to the Ravens Press Pass Podcast. The Ravens took down the Houston Texans 34-10 in the divisional round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens will now host the AFC Championship at the bank, which will be the first time in franchise history that the Ravens have ever hosted an AFC Championship.

This team is now one win away from the Super Bowl. Well, there's all sorts of excitement in Baltimore. And after the win today, the Ravens talked about this victory, what it means to this team. So let's kick things off by hearing from head coach John Harbaugh.

John Harbaugh (0:43)

All right, appreciate everybody being here. I just want to start off with this. This is something that was sent to me before the game. It just is meaningful to me, so I'm going to share it with you because I think it's the right thing to do.

And it's a verse, greatness, power, glory, victory and honor belong to you because everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. The kingdom belongs to you, Lord. You are the head and the ruler over everything. So there's an amazing spirit on this team, and I just want to kind of give honor and glory where it's due.

With that, the first ever AFC Championship game will be played in Baltimore since 1970

When John Sandusky, Jerry Sandusky's dad, was the offensive line coach here. So we're excited about that. And our fans are going to get a chance to cheer just as louder, louder than they did in this game, and they were amazing. Six start penalties. I thought our fans were incredible. Man, it was deafening out there. So credit to our fans, first of all. Coaches and players, I thought, did a great job. Second half adjustments were really strong, and Lamar just played out of his mind along with our defense. Everybody did. So proud of our guys. It's the first step.

The next step is in front of us. We'll find out who we play after tomorrow, and we're looking forward to it.

SPEAKER_3 (1:59)

What was said in the locker room at halftime to get the team re-enacted?

John Harbaugh (2:03)

Yeah, the locker room was good. I think everybody was just kind of a little edgy. You know, we all a little edgy. I mean, I talked to them last night, like, I don't even know how we feel. None of us know how we feel. We feel we're excited for the opportunity, but we're edgy and we're mad.

You know, we got a lot to prove, and I felt that was kind of the feeling in the locker room at the game. And everybody just kind of just took a deep breath and said, all right, you know, it's zero to zero.

Gave up a big punt return and it's our game to go win. We got to go take it.

Ronnie Stanley (2:28)

John, I know that a lot of guys have turned over since 2019, but over the last two weeks, how powerfully did that memory kind of linger for you or Lamar or motivate anybody that contribute to the edginess that was going on?

John Harbaugh (2:41)

Yeah, I mean, I don't know. It's a good question. I just think for those who were here, I mean, it's not something you forget, but it wasn't really in the forefront of our minds. It's just a different team. It's a different opponent.

But it's not something you want to experience again when you've been through it once before. So it was probably part of it.

SPEAKER_5 (2:57)

John, what did you think of the defense dominant day again, only giving up three points?

John Harbaugh (3:01)

The defense was just as good as it could be. And that's a good offense over there. That's a good quarterback. CJ. Stroud deserves a lot of credit. They're very well coached. Their offensive line is really good and tough. It's tough to get to the quarterback. Then he gets out and he starts running around and starts making plays downfield. But I thought our guys chased him, and I thought our plaster downfield, our coverage was just outstanding. We covered as long as we needed to so many times. He still made some really good throws in there. So, got a heck of a running back.

I thought our defense was just as good as it could be.

SPEAKER_6 (3:28)

John, you mentioned the second half adjustments. What did you think you needed to change coming out of the locker room?

John Harbaugh (3:35)

Yeah, we talked a little bit about just pass rush lanes. We talked a little bit about what defenses we were going to be. And then offensively, we talked a little bit about completions, a little bit about a profit game. Let's get the thing going, not try to push the ball downfield quite as much. I think that also helped open up the run game a little bit. So Lamar did a great job. A lot of that was his thinking as well. I mean, he was all over what he thought we needed to do in the second half, collaborative effort for sure. Todd deserves a lot of credit. I thought he called a great game, especially in the second half. And Mike, Mike was, you know, he's on fire.