It's been one heck of a week for Marlon Humphrey, so you'll have to excuse him for having his days mixed up.
When it looked like the Ravens were in danger of another here-we-go-again game against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers, Humphrey flipped the script with a 37-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter, propelling the Ravens to a 34-17 win at M&T Bank Stadium.
It was the game's biggest play in a must-win game against the Ravens' biggest rival, who had beaten Baltimore in eight of the last nine meetings. Humphrey's first career pick-six punched Baltimore's ticket into the playoffs. Most importantly, it beat the Steelers.
The Ravens' troubles against Pittsburgh have worn on Humphrey, who is in his eighth season in Baltimore. He had only beaten the Steelers four times.
In the Ravens' loss to the Steelers in Week 11, Humphrey was criticized by media for running off the field a little early before the clock had hit zeros. He explained that by saying he's a poor loser and winner.
Humphrey used to do jersey swaps with AFC North opponents. He has since stopped. He doesn't want them.
"Over the years, it has really meant a lot to me how much it means to represent the Baltimore Ravens. These rivalries, they mean a lot to me," Humphrey said.
"I don't know if it's because I've been here so much, but I really feel like I bleed purple and black. To put a big play like that in the archives and clinch the playoffs, it was huge. For me, I would imagine it probably means more to me than some."
But the circumstances that made Humphrey say afterwards that it was probably his best game ever was that it came just days after his son, Duke, came into the world.
His first baby, Humphrey has been living the newborn baby dad life this week – in and out of sleep, filled with gratitude and emotion. He couldn't even remember what day Duke was born and said he was texting with his wife earlier about picking them up from the hospital.
"There's a lot of great things that happened this week," Humphrey said.
"It was a lot. I was just trying not to pass out or anything. I was trying to make the moment about her and the baby. I was just head down. The baby came out. I didn't even really see it. I'm a little wheezy and I've never pushed past the wheezy and I didn't think that was the day. So it was a lot. But I'm thankful. God is good."
It's not quite the same (understatement), but the Ravens were in a sticky situation against the Steelers when Humphrey made his play.
The Ravens were hanging onto a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter, in range to extend it following a 44-yard Derrick Henry run, when Lamar Jackson threw an interception in the red zone, giving the Steelers new life.
It was just Jackson's fourth interception of the season, coming after Rashod Bateman stopped his route in a miscommunication. With the Ravens' MVP quarterback seething on the sideline, however, Baltimore's defense came through.
Two plays after Jackson's interception, Humphrey stepped in front of an off-target Russell Wilson pass (thanks to pressure from David Ojabo) to the sideline and took it the other way, holding the ball out in front of Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III as he cruised into the end zone.
Humphrey's family is in town for the birth of Duke. They all told him that if he got a pick-six, he had to "rock the baby" ball. He was so ecstatic to make the play that he didn't do it.
But after the game, Head Coach John Harbaugh gave Humphrey a game ball, dedicated to his son. And, funny enough, every NFL ball already has "The Duke" printed on it.
It has been a resurgent season for Humphrey. His six interceptions now lead the AFC and doubles his previous career-high. After injuries kept him out of 11 games the past two seasons, Humphrey is playing up to his "All-Pro Marlo" nickname again.
"Having a child, bringing a baby into this world, I think we all felt like it was due for him," fellow cornerback Brandon Stephens said.
"The great thing about this sport and all sports is you always have an opportunity to come back. It's on you to not forget who you are. I think he did that coming into this season. He remembered who he is and he's putting it on display this year."
