The Baltimore Ravens have had a stunningly bad start to the campaign. After expecting to challenge the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills for AFC supremacy, the Ravens have found themselves sitting at 1-5, with their sole win coming at the hands of the lowly Cleveland Browns.
However, head coach John Harbaugh is making it clear that his focus is on the next 11 games and doing whatever they can to salvage the season.
“Our focus is going forward and what we can accomplish for the next 11 games to try to earn our way into the playoffs, which obviously, as [it was] pointed out last night, has not been done very often with the record we have,” Harbaugh said, according to Pro Football Talk. “But, we still believe we can do it.”
Star quarterback Lamar Jackson has missed some time with an injury, and Harbaugh feels that his return can help turn the tide.
“I’m leaning into [Jackson’s return] pretty hard,” Harbaugh said. “If I was on the couch with a psychiatrist right now, if I was spilling it, I would have to say I’m leaning really hard into that, really hard. For any kind of psychological well-being, spiritual well-being, I’m leaning hard on that happening. So, I’m very hopeful that that happens.”
Harbaugh also feels the veteran presence in the locker room will help promote change.
“I believe in our guys. I really like our guys. I have great respect for our guys,” Harbaugh said. “Our guys are really special people, and if you looked at every one of those guys that you’re talking about — the veteran leaders — you could see why I would say that. But, we’re working on that, because when you face adversity like this in football — just like in life, we say [that] all the time but — it’s true, and that’s why you asked the question, because we all live our lives; it’s something you have to really be intentional about, and you have to talk to people about and ask them how they’re doing and see what they’re thinking, what they can do, what they think they can do, what they think needs to be done, what the best ways to say things or to approach things and try to help with that as much as you can when you’re in this kind of position.
“That’s what I try to do. It’s really important to try to do that, so I feel like we’re going to get great, great veteran leadership; I believe that, and we’re going to have to, to your point. Nothing is going to be more important than that.”
The Ravens are on their bye week.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.