As the Ravens packed their bags for Cincinnati Friday after practice, they made sure to grab plenty of cold weather gear.
Sunday's Ravens-Bengals rematch in Cincinnati is slated to be the coldest in Ravens history.
According to WBAL Chief Meteorologist Tom Tasselmyer, the temperature at kickoff is forecasted to be 7 degrees, with a wind chill of -7.
The current coldest game was the "Mile High Miracle" game in Denver during the 2012 Super Bowl run, which had a temperature of 13 degrees at kickoff.
Head Coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens will take the same approach his old college football coach, Tom Reed, instilled in him – that "every day is a great day for football." Harbaugh acknowledged that extreme cold weather can impact the game.
"I think the elements always are impactful, and hopefully you can use them to your advantage in some way [or] some form or fashion," Harbaugh said. "But the main thing is we have to go play winning football, good, fundamental, winning football. That's what wins, no matter what the elements are."
Quarterback Lamar Jackson was asked what he's learned about playing in cold games. He's had plenty of experience with eight years in the AFC North, but that doesn't mean he likes it.
"Just try to stay warm as much as you [can]," Jackson said. "It's football. [I] can't do [anything] about it. I can't control the weather. I wish I could."
The coldest NFL game that Jackson has played in was last season's playoff loss in Buffalo, which was 19 degrees at kickoff with a wind chill of 13 degrees. It snowed for much of the game. Jackson has never lost a game he's started in Cincinnati.
Fellow Florida native Zay Flowers shrugged off the frigid forecast.
"I've been in some cold games from Boston College to now, so I don't think it really affects me," Flowers said. "I don't think it affects [anybody] here, because we practice outside every day. I think we'll be alright."
The Ravens’ coldest home game in team history was on Dec. 24, 2022, when the Ravens beat the Atlanta Falcons, 17-9. It was 17 degrees with a wind chill of two degrees. Tyler Huntley was the Ravens' starting quarterback.
T.J. Watt Suffered Collapsed Lung During Dry Needling
Star Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt has surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung, his brother J.J. Watt reported Friday.
Watt went to the hospital Thursday after experiencing discomfort on Wednesday. According to his brother, T.J. Watt suffered the injury after getting dry needling treatment at the Steelers' team facility. The Steelers ruled him out for their game against the Miami Dolphins.
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin ruled Watt out for Monday night's game against the Miami Dolphins. It remains to be seen if Watt will miss multiple games, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that it's not expected to be a season-ending issue.
After playing the Dolphins, the Steelers (7-6), who are one game ahead of the Ravens, travel to Detroit and Cleveland before a rematch with the Ravens in Pittsburgh to close out the regular season.
Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard said he also gets dry needling and that it's fairly common around the league, though he had a tough time imagining how it could have such disastrous consequences.
Laken Tomlinson Says His First Week Has Gone Great
The Ravens brought in veteran guard Laken Tomlinson on their practice squad this week and the 11-year pro is catching up quickly.
A 2021 Pro Bowler and 2015 first-round pick, Tomlinson began the season as the Houston Texans' starting guard before being released on Dec. 2.
"It's been going great. I've been getting to know the guys and learning the offense. It's been awesome so far," Tomlinson said. "I appreciate them bringing me in and I'm excited to see what we can do on Sunday.
"I'm learning every day, learning on the fly. All the guys in the room have been super helpful."
