Life is pretty good right now for the Baltimore Ravens as we enter Week 18. With the No. 1 seed in the AFC secured, along with home-field advantage for the playoffs, the Ravens’ final regular season game against the Pittsburgh Steelers is something of a glorified preseason game.
But despite having nothing to play for and with the likelihood of several starters sitting out, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh says his team isn’t lacking motivation ahead of their clash with the Steelers.
“No matter who you play in this game, in this situation, there would be no lack of motivation,” Harbaugh said. “Our guys love to play, they’re pro football players, they want to go out there and they want to play well and want to win. The fact that it’s a division rival, the Steelers, that certainly doesn’t lessen it, it’s always a very important game for us, it’s a team that we respect very much. Also, understand the type of game that we’re always playing against those guys. So, our guys are looking forward to it.”
With everything locked up playoff-wise, the clash against Pittsburgh is a chance for some of Baltimore’s backups to get some work in before the postseason – one being Pro Bowl quarterback Tyler Huntley.
Lamar Jackson, will not be suiting up at M&T Bank Stadium as to protect him from injury with the playoffs just around the corner and the Ravens in such a commanding position.
But even without him playing, Lamar has full confidence in Huntley and his team to finish the regular season off with a win.
“I believe Snoop [Huntley] can get the job done,” Jackson said. “We got guys who going to go out there and ball out you know, I got all the faith in my team.”
The Ravens are in a similar position to 2019 where they secured the No. 1 seed, but will be hoping the playoffs go in a different direction.
Baltimore was one-and-done as they lost 28-12 to the Tennessee Titans as Mike Vrabel’s team sent them packing. While no doubt that will be front of mind come playoff time, the Ravens have to take care of Pittsburgh first.
With Harbaugh saying his team isn’t lacking motivation, and Jackson having full confidence in his team to get the win, it looks like a good chance to tune up before the real stuff starts in a couple of weeks.
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