HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening statement: "It's good to see everybody. We appreciate you being here for sure. We had a really good practice. We also had a really important visitor – Joni Holifield was here, and she runs HeartSmiles, which is a local foundation that works with underprivileged youth in Baltimore, like mentoring and other things. They are doing amazing things that change lives. She's also dealing with her own personal challenges that she is overcoming and fighting against like a true hero. She was at practice today. She's our "Inspire Change Changemaker" for the Baltimore Ravens. She won the award, and maybe you'll get a chance to see her. She was out there with the players after practice. She's just full of love and joy. HeartSmiles – that's something to support out there if it's something that you want to maybe get involved with for Baltimore and for inner city kids. OK – what questions do you have?"
You mentioned with New England Patriots QB Drake Maye that a big thing is the explosive plays that he has downfield. What do you think is the key to try to eliminate those? (Jamison Hensley) "Well, you just [have to] play good defense. Really, you have to do fundamental things well. Especially, [Drake Maye] will throw the ball downfield. They'll do it with designed play-action passes sometimes; sometimes drop-back passes that are designed. But, as often as not, they'll just throw a nine-route out there against the press – you have to defend that. And then the extended plays where he'll step up into the pocket – up and out of the pocket sometimes – and makes some throws, but he'll also run. So, that's kind of where he's creating those plays."
Talking about defense, with ILB Trenton Simpson, how have you seen him grow over his time here that gives you that context of his ability to step up into a bigger role? (Alex Glaze) "'Trent' [Trenton Simpson] has played a lot of football here. He has been playing all year. He's been playing well. I think if you watch the snaps that he's been taking on defense in the last month, month and a half – whatever it's been – he's been good. He's played well. So, he'll step into that role [with] however we organize that with the different personnel groups that we put on the field. I have all the confidence in the world that he's going to play well based on what I've seen him do, what I've seen him do in practice and in games for the last five, six [or] seven weeks."
Is ILB Roquan Smith OK? We didn't see him out there at practice? Is it a rest thing? (Luke Jones) "Yes, it's kind of a rest thing. The guys are dealing with different things from the game. Ronnie [Stanley] – those guys were held back today. I expect those guys out there tomorrow. We'll see, but we should have those guys tomorrow. Lamar [Jackson] had an illness. He was kept home with a 'flu' [like] deal. The [doctor] kept him home today away from the guys. So, that was what happened with that."
S ALOHI GILMAN
On what it's like to be recognized as the AFC Defensive Player of the Week: "It was cool. It's definitely an honor. I'm not really one of those guys that gets too high or gets too low, I'm kind of an even-keeled guy. So, [I am] honored, but the only thing on my mind is the Patriots."
On how important is it for the team to carry over performances like last Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals: "Yes, 100 percent. I think anytime you can stack performances, it builds trust. It builds that ability to stay confident in these situations. So, our defense is [heading] in the right direction. [We] talk about December football [and] being at our best. [We need to] keep stacking wins, keep stacking good performances, and everything will take care of itself."
On what jumps out at him about New England Patriots QB Drake Maye: "I think with [Drake] Maye, he's just really calm. You can tell he's gotten really comfortable back there [because he] makes good decisions. He isn't in a hurry to make splash plays when he doesn't need to – he just makes the right reads. I think that's the biggest thing that you can see. He's playing really well, and [I have] a lot of respect for him."
On the way the Ravens use him and what that has unlocked for the defense and him as an individual: "That's a good question. I think, for me, I was a sixth-round [draft] pick of the Chargers six years ago, and you kind of always go through a narrative – coming into the league – [that you're] kind of 'only a special teams player, or [you're] not this or not that. But for me, I've always found a way to be versatile, meaning I can play deep or play in the box [or] covering people. And for me, I think [the Ravens have] allowed me to be here and just be the best version of me. So, [they're] putting me in the closest positions to control the backend and just help make as many plays as I can. Shoutout to the Ravens. I'm really appreciative of them for just having faith and trust in me and not having to restart again. They just allowed me to come in and just be me, and that's helped me a lot and the team."
On if he's looked back at the Chargers and the details of his trade and what the Ravens gave up to get him: "Not really, honestly, just because it wasn't really my focus. I think coming here, I was just trying to embrace the moment. I keep in touch with some of those guys [from the Chargers], though. I root for them for sure. I spent a lot of years there. I have a lot of great relationships with them, but my focus has just been here, really, and on how I can be the best guy here."
On being able to limit deep throws against the Patriots: "It's definitely a priority. Anytime a team like that, who can be that explosive, it's something that we have to keep an eye out for. That's in any game, but specifically with them. They've been able to execute on those at a higher level than other teams. So, for us, [it about] just being tied in altogether on those looks and take away some of those things. And I think if we can do that, we'll be in a good spot."
On if the team feels any different knowing the magnitude of the upcoming stretch of games: "I think the sense of urgency is different, obviously. It's kind of a 'do or die trying' kind of situation. So for us, we're just trying to be all in as if this is the last game of the season type of thing. So, I think everyone has that sense of urgency, and when your back's against the wall, that's kind of when you play your best ball, I think. And that's how I've kind of grew up playing with my back against the wall. I'm kind of used to those situations anyway. So, [we have] kind of the underdog mentality, at least for me, that's how I've been raised and who I am, so I love it."
On if this upcoming game vs. Patriots QB Drake Maye feels like a playoff-caliber matchup: "Yes, I think [Drake Maye] is playing on a high level, on an elite level. He's definitely taken his game to another level this year compared to last year, and I think, overall, just as a team, they have a great team that complements each other. They know their role, they play really hard, [and] they're smart, so they're going to play all four quarters. So, it's going to be a good challenge for us. But it's always fun when you play against the best guys. That's kind of what you want. It's like going against Joe Burrow and the Bengals, it's like 'Yes, let's go, let's do it.' So that's my mentality, and I'm excited for it."
On if their past losses at home this season motivates them in their final regular season home game: "Yes, I think we kind of have mentioned how we have to play better at home. And it's not a big jump, it's just little things here and there. That's not a question of our character, culture or identity. It's just a matter of executing on a high level, on a more consistent basis. So that's kind of been our focus, and we want to leave [our] home [fans] and this Baltimore Ravens community [and] go out with a bang. If this is going to be our last one, let's go all in. So, [we have the] same mentality, 'do or die trying,' and this is it. Hopefully the Ravens community can hop along with us on that, and it'll be fun."
C TYLER LINDERBUAM
On what he's seen from the Patriots defensive line: "Overall, the defense as a whole is a really, really hard-nosed group that plays the game the right way. [They are] tough, physical, everything you're looking for in a defense to play for. Obviously, the D-line aspect, guys play the game the right way. I think it's going to be one of the better D-lines – kind of that front seven – that we go against all year."
On RB Derrick Henry and what makes him so hard to bring down: "I think [Derrick Henry's] size and speed certainly helps, and I think [once] he gets into that secondary, I don't know how many DBs in this league want to tackle him. His physical presence, how he plays the game, how hard he runs, it makes it hard all the time, but certainly in these kind of weather-season games. It makes it even more challenging."
On the team's struggles to win at home: "Obviously, someone is coming into our house. We have to win games. We have to put on a show for our crowd and end up getting wins like how we're supposed to."
On if he thinks there is a reason why the Ravens have struggled to win at home: "No, but that stuff is in the past. All we can do now is just focus on the Patriots this week and finish off the year with the win at home."
On if he thinks the offense is turning a corner: "Yes, that's our goal. At the end of the day, each week, practice has gone well execution-wise, and [it] just has to translate to game days and give us our best chance to win all four quarters. We have to play our best football. Talent, certainly, is not an issue. We have all the playmakers in the world. It comes down to just execution, doing our jobs and then consistently playing at a high level for four quarters. That's what we need to do, and that's what we need to get back to doing."
On if he's seen T Ronnie Stanley as fired up as he was after the scuffle during the Bengals game: "Yes, I certainly have seen [Ronnie Stanley] that fired up, but on a gameday? No. He had a nice little play, threw the guy down. It was a clean play, no flag. Obviously, you don't want the 15-yard penalty after the fact, but Ronnie plays the game the right way. He plays hard."
On if he has thought about an upcoming contract extension: "I'll let my agent handle that. My focus is on football."
OLB TAVIUS ROBINSON
On how it felt to get back on the field and play against the Bengals: "It felt so good to be back out there with the guys, honestly, and just being out there, making plays with them and seeing them make plays. I kind of said it last week; when I was hurt, I would die to just play a field goal block snap at that point. So, it was just great to be back out there."
On his first game with OLB Dre'Mont Jones: "[Dre'Mont Jones] is a guy who just brings energy. He's physical. We play kind of similar in that way, so it was kind of cool to just feed off of his energy, feed off of each other's energy and just play off each other. So, yes, he's been great, for sure."
On how important the similarities are between him and OLB Dre'Mont Jones with their abilities to slide inside in passing situations and create pressure: "It's huge to be able to do both, for sure. [Dre'Mont Jones] is a guy who has kind of done that his whole career, so it's been good for me to kind of learn from him, take tips from him in the meeting room and stuff like that. So, yes, it's been good, for sure."
On what he's seen from Patriots QB Drake Maye on film: "[Drake Maye] is a good quarterback. They have a good team over there, so it's going to be on us to contain him and come up with a [win]."
On if the AFC quarterbacks that he has played against this year are the most stacked: "Yes, I think we've definitely played against some good quarterbacks. So again, it's going to be a good challenge this weekend to go out there and get it done, for sure."
On if the team has talked about the importance of ending the year with a win at home against the Patriots: "Yes, I think it's so important, because we have the fans who come out every week and support us. So, it's important for us to go 1-0 this week, and it just happens to be at home, so it's very important for us to do that."
On if the game against the Patriots being flexed into Sunday Night Football brings more energy to the team: "Most definitely. I think primetime games, Sunday Night games, always have a little bit more energy surrounding it, so I think, for sure. Yes."
On the importance of a fast start at home: "It's so important starting fast, and again, just kind of having energy. When your brother makes a play, go celebrate. [It] gets that energy flowing in the crowd, the team and all that, so it's very important, for sure."
On if the defense felt excited and happy for defensive coordinator Zach Orr after last week's shutout against Cincinnati: "100 percent. 'Z.O.' [defensive coordinator Zach Orr] has been a great coach from Day 1, and he puts us in the positions to go out there and make plays every week. So, it's on us to execute what our job is. Yes, major credit to Zach. He's been, again, a great coach from Day 1 from training camp."
On how the Ravens athletic trainers helped him rehab his injury and why he high fived all of the athletic trainers after his sack in the Bengals game: "That was kind of the first thing, and we were talking about it during my rehab. After my first sack, I told [seasonal athletic trainer] Marquis [Netter] that I was going to come find him and give him a big hug, because he was the guy who was with me every day. I'm grateful for 'A.D.' [head certified athletic trainer Adrian Dixon] and the whole training staff over there. From Day 1 when I got hurt, the day after, I said, 'I'm going to be annoying. I'm going to be in here every second I possibly can, so I'm just warning you guys now.' They were great. I'm just really grateful for them for getting me back."
On when he was cleared to walk after posting a video of him walking: "That was my first time walking, so it was two weeks after, because it was no weight [on his foot] for two weeks, and that was my first time walking. Yes."
