The Ravens will unveil their Super Bowl XLVII banner before Sunday's home opener at M&T Bank Stadium. But fans shouldn't expect a big reaction from the players.
"I didn't even know that was happening," running back Ray Rice said Wednesday. "The Super Bowl was great. I think now that we … we finally had our reality check against Denver."
While fans will get to taste the championship magic perhaps one last time, the Ravens team has already turned the page on the 2012 season. And their lopsided Week 1 loss in Denver didn't put them in a celebratory mood heading into Sunday's game.
"It's great. It's something that will never be taken away from us," Rice said. "But we know that there are leaps and bounds and hurdles we've got to go through to get to another one."
Fans should get to their seats early to make sure they see the festivities, which are slated to start about 10 minutes before kickoff and just before the teams re-take the field.
It should make for another special moment at M&T Bank Stadium.
"I think any time you can open up with a division rival at home, the atmosphere is going to be electric no matter what," kicker Justin Tucker said. "To add in some of the festivities and the celebratory stuff from last season, that's all really cool to be a part of.
"But it doesn't matter how much they want to glorify us for last season. This is a new year. The bottom line is we want to beat the brakes off whoever we're facing. This week it happens to be the Browns."
One interesting factor in the whole equation is that the Browns have two players who were on the Ravens' championship team last season, outside linebacker Paul Kruger and running back Bobby Rainey. Kruger said he wouldn't let the unveiling be a distraction.
Harbaugh saw what Kruger said to the press and agreed. He said it's "great for the fans."
"I don't believe it's going to have any impact on either team," Harbaugh said. "Both teams are focused completely on the game and getting ready to play the game. ... And if it is a problem, then it's a problem we'll take every year. It's a problem we're happy to have."
The Ravens had a 6-2 record at home last year. They were undefeated at M&T Bank Stadium in 2011.
The Ravens were denied playing at home to open the season, however, due to a schedule conflict with the Baltimore Orioles.
"We can't wait to see our fans out here," Harbaugh said. "We just need to play up to the level that M&T Bank and our fans deserve, and that's what we're going to try to do."
