Next week the Ravens will be in New Orleans, amidst the hoopla and pageantry surrounding the biggest game in all of sports.
As the Ravens prepare for Super Bowl XLVII, leader Ray Lewis and Head Coach John Harbaugh have reminded the team to stay focused on their work and not lose sight of the fact that there is still a game to play.
"It will be very important for us to understand that this is a business trip, first and foremost," Harbaugh said. "Yes, we want to enjoy it. But we want to enjoy all the things about it that make it special. You can do all those other things any time. You can do them next week if you want. But you're not going to be going to the Super Bowl next week. You're going to be going to the Super Bowl this week."
Lewis, the only player on the roster to win a Super Bowl, has already delivered that message to his teammates.
"The real prize is actually going to win the Super Bowl," Lewis said. "It's great to get there, don't get me wrong, but to win it is something special."
The Ravens already have a plan in place for the players' curfews and free time, Harbaugh said. They want the players to enjoy the Super Bowl experience with their families, but also stick to their game preparation routine as much as possible.
"That will be our priority," Harbaugh said. "I will be shocked if our guys have their focus anywhere other than that."
The Super Bowl is as much of an event as a football game, and having it in a city known for its parties like New Orleans creates plenty of potential distractions.
Wide receiver/returner Jacoby Jones, a New Orleans native, isn't worried about all of that entertainment becoming a problem for the Ravens.
"It is a business trip," he said. "We still got another game to get accomplished and get done to get a ring. You can enjoy yourself, but when it's time to go to work you got to go to work and buckle down, simple as that. We got one week to lock in."
