Alohi Gilman has never played in a Ravens-Steelers game, but this week the veteran safety can't escape hearing about the rivalry.
The Ravens have a saying that you're not a Raven until you beat the Steelers. And everybody around the building has been sharing it with Gilman.
"It's averaging about nine [conversations] per day," Gilman said, smiling.
Seemingly more than in most years, Baltimore has a host of players who will get their first taste of Ravens vs. Steelers on Sunday.
Veterans such as Gilman, DeAndre Hopkins, Dre'Mont Jones, Chidobe Awuzie, and John Jenkins have faced Pittsburgh while playing for other teams. But they know the intensity will hit differently when they tangle with the Steelers wearing a Ravens uniform. The defense watched old Ravens-Steelers clips in a meeting this week.
"It's getting ingrained in me," Gilman said. "I've played in some rivalry games in the league and in college, but nothing like this. This is a first for me, and I'm excited."
Facing the Steelers for the first time is also a big deal for rookies such as Malaki Starks, Mike Green, Teddye Buchanan, Emery Jones Jr., Tyler Loop, LaJohntay Wester, and Keondre Jackson.
Starks is a full-blooded Raven now, but when he was growing up, the starting safety was a Steelers fan. That's not something Starks is eager to talk about this week.
"I have not mentioned it at all," Starks said sheepishly.
Starks talked about being a Steelers fan during some of his pre-draft interviews, including when he appeared on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football." However, once the Ravens drafted him, Starks switched his allegiance to Baltimore in a millisecond.
Now, Starks isn't feeling Steelers fans. One of Starks' best friends since high school roots for Pittsburgh, but Starks is ghosting his buddy this week.
"I haven't talked to him this week. Probably won't talk to him," Starks said.
Wester didn't watch a lot of football growing up because the rookie wide receiver/punt returner loved playing the game more than watching it. However, Wester has listened to Ravens veterans talk about past games against the Steelers, and how one big play can make the difference.
Wester has been hoping to take a punt return to the house all season. He wants it to happen Sunday.
"Now that would be special," Wester said with a smile. "Doing it against the Steelers."
Beating the Steelers is always important to Baltimore, but with so much riding on Sunday's game, it feels like a playoff week and rivalry week combined. Both teams are 6-6, and the winner will take control of the AFC North while the loser will be in a hole.
The acquisition of Gilman in a midseason trade has played a major role in Baltimore's defensive turnaround. He has seen the Ravens crawl back from 1-5 to 6-6, and that surge leaves them in control of their playoff fate.
On Sunday, Gilman will become part of the storied rivalry between two franchises that have a long history of facing each other in important games. He wants to leave his mark on the Ravens-Steelers legacy and can't wait to be part of it.
"Great rivalry. Great players on both sides," Gilman said. "The culture, the identity of both sides. It's old school. Grimy. That's how I was raised, scraping, grinding, get out of my face. We don't like you, you don't like us.
"In hindsight, you'd want to be 10-2, 9-3, or undefeated. But going from 1-5 to 6-6, it kind of adds a little cherry on top [of this game]. It means more because we're both fighting. I feel like we've fought from a deep hole. We can't go back."
