Baltimore Ravens Press Release Under Armour Performance Center 1 Winning Drive Owings Mills, Md 21117 Ph: 410-701-4000 Baltimoreravens.Com Twitter: @Ravens
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
BALTIMORE RAVENS PRESS RELEASE UNDER ARMOUR PERFORMANCE CENTER 1 WINNING DRIVE OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117 PH: 410-701-4000 BALTIMORERAVENS.COM TWITTER: @RAVENS TWO-TIME WORLD CHAMPIONS: SUPER BOWL XXXV (2000) & SUPER BOWL XLVII (2012) COACH HARBAUGH SAYS BALTIMORE RAVENS AT JOHN HARBAUGH ON WEEKLY IMPROVEMENT PAYING OFF LATE IN THE SEASON: PITTSBURGH STEELERS “It’s a team game, and every game is going to play out differently. Next week is going to be a different game than this week. We have to find (7-5) WEEK 14 – SUNDAY, DEC. 10, 2017 (10-2) a way to win the next game, using all three phases. Pulling together 8:30 P.M. ET – HEINZ FIELD (68,400) and doing your best, really, that’s what it’s all about. Getting a little bit better [each week] at this time of year goes a long way. If you continue JUST THE FACTS to improve in every area, just a little bit, it will pay off for us.” • Ravens-Steelers – it’s still the NFL’s best rivalry, and it heats back up again when Baltimore (7-5) visits Pittsburgh (10-2) for a Sunday INJURY UPDATE Night Football showdown. Kickoff for this primetime battle from Starters on Injured Reserve include Pro Bowl RGKevin Marshal Byrne - Senior Yanda Vice President of Public/Community Relations Heinz Field is set for 8:30 p.m. Winners of three straight (and four of (ankle), LG Alex Lewis (shoulder), DE BrentChad Urban Steele - Vice(foot) President and ofCB Public Tavon Relations v Patrick Gleason - Director of Public Relations - Public Relations Manager v - Publications/Public Relations Specialist their past five), the Ravens aim to avenge a 26-9, Week 4 loss to the Young (knee). The Ravens have used bothTom Valente of their Injured Reserve - Marisol Renner Steelers, who have won seven-consecutive games. Designated for Return allowances, activatingRB Danny Woodhead and • Pittsburgh owns the regular season series lead, 23-20. However, CB Maurice Canady. In the victory over Detroit, standout CB Jimmy Baltimore has won five of the past eight (and six of the past nine Smith tore an Achilles and will miss the remainder of the season. when including playoffs). In that Week 4 tilt earlier this season, after facing a 19-0 deficit, QB Joe Flacco led the Ravens on two scoring NOTE THE QUOTE drives. However, he then threw 2 fourth-quarter INTs that helped solidify Pittsburgh’s win, finishing 31-of-49 for 235 yards and 1 TD. JOE FLACCO ON BUILDING CONFIDENCE BY PLAYING MEANINGFUL DECEMBER GAMES: “It’s late in the season; it’s December. We pride ourselves on playing • Last Sunday, Baltimore produced a season high in points when it good football in December. [The season] hasn’t been ideal to this upended the Detroit Lions, 44-20, at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens’ point, but we have set ourselves up to the point where we are playing offense was stellar, with Flacco completing 23 of 36 passes for 269 meaningful December football, and that’s one of the goals at the end yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs. WR Mike Wallace caught 5 passes for 116 of the day. We’re going to continue to do that, and yes, [the Detroit yards, while rushed for 75 yards and 2 TDs. Baltimore’s RB Alex Collins win], late in the year versus a team that’s also trying to make a push defense was also stout, registering 3 sacks and forcing 3 turnovers, for the playoffs, can definitely do a lot for our confidence.” including a 45-yard “pick-6” from S Eric Weddle. • The Ravens have earned a playoff berth in six of the past nine full seasons. Since John Harbaugh’s arrival in 2008, Baltimore has posted WHAT’S GOING ON? the NFL’s fourth-most total victories (102), won the league’s second- most playoff games (10), advanced to three AFC Championship contests, and in 2012, captured the World Championship in SB XLVII. WEEKLY SCHEDULE Wed. Dec. 6: 12:40 p.m. ....... Coach Harbaugh & Players at Podium 1:55 p.m. ......... Practice / Media Viewing 3:40 p.m. ......... Open Locker Room Thur. Dec. 7: 12:40 p.m. ....... Three Coordinators at Podium 1:55 p.m. ......... Practice / Media Viewing 3:40 p.m. ......... Open Locker Room Fri. Dec. 8: 11:15 a.m. ....... Practice / Media Viewing 12:45 p.m. ....... Coach Harbaugh & Open Locker Room WEDNESDAY CONFERENCE CALLS Ravens: John Harbaugh at 1 p.m. Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger at 11 a.m. & Mike Tomlin at 12:55 p.m. CALLING THE ACTION Television: NBC Sunday Night Football / WBAL Ch. 11 (Baltimore) - Al Michaels (play-by-play) - Cris Collinsworth (analyst) - Michele Tafoya (sideline) - Fred Gaudelli (producer) - Drew Esocoff (director) National Radio: Westwood One - Kevin Kugler (play-by-play) - Jason Taylor (analyst) Local Radio: WBAL (1090 AM) & 98Rock (97.9 FM) - Gerry Sandusky (PBP) - Stan White / Jarret Johnson (analysts) Kevin Byrne - Senior V.P. Public/Community Relations n Chad Steele - V.P. of Public Relations n Patrick Gleason - Director of Public Relations n Tom Valente - Public Relations Manager Marisol Renner - Publications/Public Relations Specialist n Megan Boyle - Public Relations Intern n David Wolf - Public Relations Intern 2017 RAVENS INFORMATION 2017 SCHEDULE & RESULTS (7-5) ATOP THE TURNOVER GAME Date Opponent Result/Time The Ravens have produced the NFL’s No. 1 turnover differential Sun. Sept. 10 at Cincinnati Bengals W 20-0 with a +14 mark. Baltimore has also registered a league-high 29 Sun. Sept. 17 CLEVELAND BROWNS W 24-10 takeaways, including 11 over the past three games (all wins). Sun. Sept. 24 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 7-44 Sun. Oct. 1 PITTSBURGH STEELERS L 9-26 2017 TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL 2017 TURNOVERS FORCED Sun. Oct. 8 at Oakland Raiders W 30-17 1. Baltimore .......+14 1. Baltimore ........ 29 Sun. Oct. 15 CHICAGO BEARS L 24-27 (OT) 2. Jacksonville ......+12 2. Jacksonville ........27 Sun. Oct. 22 at Minnesota Vikings L 16-24 3. LA Chargers. .+11 3. Philadelphia.. 22 Thurs. Oct. 26 MIAMI DOLPHINS W 40-0 Sun. Nov. 5 at Tennessee Titans L 20-23 Sun. Nov. 12 BYE DEFENSE WILL SCORE Sun. Nov. 19 at Green Bay Packers W 23-0 The Ravens have produced 4 defensive touchdown returns Mon. Nov. 27 HOUSTON TEXANS W 23-16 (including S Eric Weddle’s 45-yard pick-6 last Sunday) this season, Sun. Dec. 3 DETROIT LIONS W 44-20 tying Houston for third in the NFL. The 4 D-TDs tie (2011) for the Sun. Dec. 10 at Pittsburgh Steelers 8:30 p.m. (NBC) most by Baltimore over the past nine seasons. Sun. Dec. 17* at Cleveland Browns 1:00 p.m. Sat. Dec. 23 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 4:30 p.m. (NFLN) DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS / 2017 NFL SEASON Sun. Dec. 31* CINCINNATI BENGALS 1:00 p.m. Rk. Team D-TDs INTs FRs *Flexible Scheduling Games Home Games in CAPS All Times Eastern 1. Jacksonville Jaguars 6 2 4 2. Detroit Lions 5 3 2 3. Baltimore Ravens 4 3 1 Houston Texans 4 2 2 SPOTLIGHT: S ERIC WEDDLE Ht: 5-11 Wt: 200 Exp. (NFL/Ravens): 11/2 College: Utah Hometown: Fontana, CA CHART OF THE WEEK Your season-long beard has become a trademark. How NFL’S BEST RECORDS IN NOV., DEC. & JAN. did that become a thing? “It started five years ago. I saw a picture of my dad – he was 20 or 21 – in Mexico (John Harbaugh Era / Since 2008) fishing. He had 20 Dorado at his feet, and he had this big ol’ beard. I’d Rk. Team Record Pct. never really grown a beard before. So, I wondered, 1) Could I grow a 1. New England Patriots 62-19 .765 beard? And 2) If I can, I have to beat my dad. That’s how that started, 2. Pittsburgh Steelers 57-26 .687 and everyone thought it was the next craze; people loved it.” 3. Indianapolis Colts 55-29 .655 4. Baltimore Ravens 54-31 .635 You speak highly of Ravens director of performance Steve Saunders. 5. Carolina Panthers 51-32 .614 Explain why. “Once the season came around, we started our own program. It really helped me. I work out five days a week. Monday is a full-body right after the game, with a run and a lift. Tuesday I do legs. Wednesday I do upper body. Thursday is for explosive movement NUMBERS TO RAVE ABOUT with core. Friday I do arms – that’s our ritual; it’s called ‘Armageddon.’ Saturday is for stretch and warmup for the game. I’ve never felt this 3 healthy, because he is taking me to a new level.” Consecutive games RB Alex Collins has rushed for a TD, posting 4 How has it been with the addition of S Tony Jefferson? “I love his total in those contests. His 705 rushing yards rank 11th in the NFL. personality, ambition, how sincere he is and that he’s not a guy who thinks he’s arrived – he’s very willing to learn. He’s confident and exudes 4 that energy to everyone. When he got here, we instantly clicked. He’s Consecutive games OLB Terrell Suggs has posted at least 1 sack, the little brother I never had. I see so much potential in him.” tallying 6 total QB drops in those contests. Describe the Ravens’ defense: “Relentless, tenacious, physical, hardworking and tough.” 6-2 The Ravens’ record this season when rushing for at least 100 What makes Ravens-Steelers special? “It’s usually two great teams yards. Baltimore is 5-0 when rushing for at least 135 yards.