The Ravens and Raiders are seeking the same thing Sunday:
Their first win.
Both teams are coming off frustrating Week 1 outings. The Raiders went down 33-points at home before ultimately losing 33-13 to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens didn't get blown out like that, but they did miss an opportunity to come away with a comeback road victory against a conference opponent.
"They're looking for their first 'W,' just like we're looking for our first 'W,'" wide receiver Kamar Aiken said. "But we can only concern ourselves with what the Ravens are going to do. We don't really care about them trying to get their 'W,' it's all about what we're trying to accomplish this year. That's our main focus."
Getting a victory carries a somewhat different significance to each team.
The Ravens have expectations to compete for a playoff spot and a divisional title, and starting the year 0-2 would be a tough blow to overcome in that pursuit.
The Raiders, meanwhile, are seeking the first win in the new tenure of Head Coach Jack Del Rio. Getting a victory against a perennial playoff team would go a long way in the Raiders showing they've made significant strides this offseason.
"Every team has something to prove," Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack said. "Every game is important. We play every game like it is our last. It is going to be a great test going against a great team that has played playoff football."
The good news for the Ravens is that they have a strong history of bouncing back after a loss. Baltimore has a 28-10 record after a loss since Head Coach John Harbaugh arrived, which is the second-best mark in the NFL.
"I've been through plenty of [disappointments] and know this feeling all too well, and I like how we react to it as a group – come out here and practice today and put it behind us," quarterback Joe Flacco said. "It's always like that after a loss. You really don't feel good again until you get out there and play and win a football game."
Several players and coaches said the team quickly put the struggles of last week behind them. Spending the week together in California put them in somewhat of a forced bonding experience, and now they're eager to show they're a much better team than how they played last week.
"We definitely want to go out and put our best foot forward and show that we can play better, and we will play better," running back Justin Forsett said. "This week is going to be the start of that."
