HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening Statement: "OK, I appreciate you all being here. [I'm] proud of our football team, proud of the season. I told these guys in the locker room to hold their heads high because they did everything that a football team can do to be the best football team that they can be throughout the course of a season – a resilient team, a tough team; a team that faced every challenge and just fought and stayed together and worked hard and made the most of every single day. They were a joy to be around every single day, and they did everything they could do to be the best they could be. I'm proud of them. We didn't win this game, which is disappointing, of course. It's a big game. We didn't end up doing the things we needed to do to win the game. We played well enough to win, but we didn't make the plays in certain circumstances. Give the Bills a lot of credit for the plays that they made. What questions do you have?"
TE Mark Andrews has done so much for this franchise over the years. What do you say to him after that dropped two-point conversion? (Jamison Hensley) "Yes, the same thing I would say to all the guys like Mark ... There's nobody that has more heart and cares more or fights more than Mark. We wouldn't be here without Mark Andrews. That's what you say to him. It's like anything else – destiny is a decision that you make. The decision is how you handle what comes in your life. Mark will handle it fantastic like he always does, because he's a high-character person, he's a tough person, and he's a good person. I'm proud of him just like I'm proud of all the guys."
Obviously, turnovers and penalties seemed to be the difference maker in this game. What was it about the Buffalo Bills team that you saw that had your team unsettled? (Reporter) "I didn't see that. I didn't see that part of it."
Was there something that they were doing early, defensively, in terms of the adjustments they made against the run early in the game? (Jeff Zrebiec) "Yes, I thought we made some great adjustments. They were doing a few things in terms of the way they were playing it, loading it up a little bit, and I thought our coaches did a great job, especially at halftime, even towards the end of the second half, and we kind of cleaned it up a little bit. We started running the ball really well in the second half."
What was the message from QB Lamar Jackson after the game? (Brian Wacker) "Lamar said, 'Hey, we just get back to work.' Talking about in the locker room? Yes, that was his message, to get back to work."
All year, you've done so well at limiting turnovers. How do you handle it – in a game like this, where it goes uncharacteristically – how do you handle that? (Jamison Hensley) "I mean, you handle it. What can you do? It was uncharacteristic to have turnovers like that. There were opportunities for us to not have those, but we had them. So, you try to bounce back from them. That's what you try to do, in the course of the game. You can't take them back. Once they happen, they happen. You try to make the next play. It's like I just said about making a decision ... You make a decision about how you're going to handle things like that. We have not been a team that turns the ball over. I'm proud of our guys, they did a great job with that all year. We did turn it over this game, but you have to try to go make the next score and the next play. That's what I judge it on. And we'll look at ball security and all the details and the techniques and certain things like that, of course, but really, the mark is if you want to make a judgement, and you want to make an evaluation, that's what you make it on. What happens next? We come back, we fight, we go all the way down the field, and we score. That's the answer that our team makes. I'm concerned about our team, and that's the answer that our team made, and that's why I'm so proud of these guys. That's why I told them I love them. I love them. I'm proud of them. I have nothing but admiration for them in every single way, and that's just how I feel about it."
I know with these playoff loses, having more turnovers than your opponents have been a common thread in the last few years. In the QB Lamar Jackson era, turnovers have kind of the been the thing. I'm not saying they're all on Lamar, but does it feel like a pattern? (Kyle Goon) "No. No, it does not. It's football. It's how football works. If you want to draw some big cosmic thread, you draw it for every single team in the league except the team that wins. It's a big challenge. That's why the Chiefs – you have admire what they've done. It's tough to win playoff games. It's tough to get in the playoffs. Then it's tough to win playoff games. Now you have to stack four playoff wins to win a championship, and when you don't win it, you're going to start drawing threads. There's no thread. It's football. That's football. This game went the way it went. You talk about all that. There's plenty of playoff games that we have had that we didn't turn the ball over. [We] usually win those. That's just the way it goes. That's football. I think people like to talk about what they want to talk about, and they want draw conclusions because ... It's cool. It's good. I understand it. People love football, and you should be talking about all of that. But the men who play this game deserve to be respected – and I know you do, I know you respect them – because it's tough out there. It's a hard fight, and whoever wins the Super Bowl, they earned it. Because you have to stack a lot of big wins against really good teams in tough environments. That's how it goes. That's how it works."
How difficult was it like getting stops today? (Reporter) "We got stops for most of the second half until the last drive, but then we got a stop in the red zone – which I was happy about – but I thought we did a lot better in the second half than we did in the first half."
Sixteen rushing attempts from RB Derrick Henry. Do you feel like you could have utilized him a little bit more? (Reporter) "No, I don't second guess any of that. We did what we tried to do to win the game."
S KYLE HAMILTON
On the swing of emotions on the Ravens' final offensive possession: "I think holding [the Bills] to three [points] on that second-to-last defensive drive was huge to just give our offense an opportunity to go tie the game. I think everyone on the sideline wasn't surprised with what happened. They go down the field and score a touchdown. At the end of the day, the chips didn't fall our way, but we have the utmost belief in everybody on both sides of the ball – special teams [and] coaches – so that's just the way the coin was flipped today. [There's] nothing really more to say."
On the message and adjustments at halftime: "It's not really any adjustments being made. It's just you [have] to do your job [and] just be more physical. You can draw up all the plays you want to. if you don't have dudes going to hit people, then it's not going to work. I didn't think we were physical enough in the first half. [In the] second half, I thought we did better. We could've done better throughout the whole game, but I think they ran the same duo play like 10-plus times tonight, and that honestly is just not a good showing of what we can do as a defense. I feel like that's somewhat disrespectful, and for us to allow them to do that, that's just out of character for us. We can pinpoint different things that happened this and there. At the end of the day, it just wasn't enough to get the job done."
On how much he feels for TE Mark Andrews after his late-game drop: "[Stuff] happens in this league. I dropped a pick earlier in the year. People don't turn on one another. We go through so much from fall camp to now. One play doesn't define anybody. [Mark Andrews is] the all-time leading touchdown receiver in Ravens history, so for anybody to say anything about him, you have to look in the mirror and really evaluate your thought process [given] what he's done for this franchise [and] what he will do for this franchise in the future. He's been a consistent beacon of success the whole time he's been here, and for anybody to take anything away from him and his work ethic, I think it's just unfair."
On his level of frustration with the results of the season: "High – a high frustration level. This is nothing that we planned for. It's a shock to everybody walking off that field – definitely me – for it to just be over like that. We feel like we have the team and the mentality to win a Super Bowl every year we come out. Obviously, it's easy to say that, and every team says that, and we [have] to just go back to the drawing board and find out what we need to do to get to that point."
On how highly he thought of this team's potential: "Very high. We kind of set ourselves back earlier in the season, and therefore we [had] to come on the road and stuff like that. It doesn't matter – the environment or whatever people we have. I feel like we can go up against anybody and get a win. With Lamar [Jackson] at quarterback – we have 'Ro' [Roquan Smith] leading the defense – there's really not much more that you need. You just have to put people around them with the right mentality. It's not a personnel thing. It's not a coaching thing. [We] just didn't execute at the end of the day."
On how daunting it feels to go through the process to get back to this point next season: "I don't think it's daunting at all. I feel like every year I've been in this league, every time we've lost in the playoffs, I'm just more eager to get back to it. These losses hurt, but it adds fuel to the fire coming into the next year. So, [we'll] save that for then, let this sink in, and we won't forget it, but at the same time we're ready to get back going."
RB DERRICK HENRY
On how it feels to end the season in this fashion: "How does it feel to lose? It doesn't feel good. We didn't play well enough to win. They were the better team today, so give them all the credit."
On how tough it was to come back after the team's initial turnovers: "You never want to have turnovers. It gives the other team momentum. We had three [turnovers] today; that hurt us. We fought back. It just wasn't enough. They were the better team."
On his initial emotions after the game was over: "I think it's self-explanatory."
On what he would say to TE Mark Andrews: "I would say how it's a team effort. It's not on [Mark Andrews]. We're all in this together. He's a warrior, and there's a lot to be proud about from this season [for] us as a group. We always [are] going [to] back him."
On what changed in the third quarter with the ground game: "We were just executing as an offense and trying to get some things going [to] get in the end zone and give ourselves a chance. It [doesn't] matter though. We lost."
On the type of player and leader QB Lamar Jackson is: "I came in being a teammate and found a brother. Lamar [Jackson] is what makes this team go, and he's the reason why we still had a chance, so I'd tell him the same thing; hold his head high. He's a Hall of Fame player, had a great season. It's a team effort. We came up short together. It's not on him. Forget what anybody else outside of what we [have] going on says. We believe in him, and we always [are] going [to] be behind his back."
On the potential of this team going forward: "I'm not thinking about that right now. We just lost. We'll celebrate the season and what we accomplished, and when that time comes, I look forward to that."
On how long it takes him to get over losses like this: "I don't know. I'm not even thinking about that. [The game] just ended. I'm not thinking about that right now."
CB MARLON HUMPHREY
On his emotions after the loss: "We had a good chance coming into this game [with our] gameplan [and] everything we had, and it seemed like we ... I'm not going to say it seemed like we did enough to win the game, but obviously, we didn't play that great in the first half. I, personally, had three or four plays where I just wasn't on my P's and Q's that kind of led to not crazy big gains, but I just didn't do my one-of-11. So, on four plays, but man, they just .... [I'm] really just in shock if I had to say an emotion."
On the halftime message was that rejuvenated the team in the second half: "Really, like I said, it was just do your one-of-11. I know I had two or three plays in the first half alone where I just didn't do my one-of-11 that led to a run that got out [and] a pass that probably went for about 10 [yards]. So, just do your one-of-11, and I felt like we kind of came out of the half and did a little bit better with that, but it just wasn't enough."
On what caused the team's mistakes: "I really couldn't pinpoint anything on offense, because obviously I don't know what's going on over there. For me personally, I think, I don't really know. I think it's just a bad time to kind of revert back to some old ways that kind of happened in the beginning of the season for myself. Just doing your one-of-11, but you can't really overcome how we played in that first half. It seemed like in the first half, every single play ... How they moved the ball was someone not doing their one-of-11. That kind of was the message at the beginning half of the season. You don't want to revert back to those ways, but we had some good calls that were perfect, and to describe my one with [James] Cook bouncing, we wanted to stop the middle, we knew he was going to bounce it, [but] I got nosy with the eyes and tracked my man inside, and he bounces outside for probably a 10-yard gain. Just [have] to do your job; that's the biggest thing."
On the message for the team after the loss: "Honestly, I know this sounds kind of just not really a great answer, but there's only a select few people that know they're going to be here next year. There really [is not] a true message. This team is done. Obviously, there's a message to go, but when I look at it, some guys will be here, [and] some guys won't – who knows what. I know I have no more years guaranteed on this existing contract, so it's whatever message you have ... You could be on this team. You could be on another team. Some guys will stay, some guys will leave, and I fall into that same bucket. So, the message is, 'We lost. Get over it,' and we'll kind of see where the offseason goes."
QB LAMAR JACKSON
On what he says to TE Mark Andrews: "We're a team. In the first half, I had two costly turnovers. Me not holding the safety, me just knowing the coverage and knowing it was man [coverage], I threw a B.S. interception. It was 7-7 at the time. I believe they scored after that. We battled back, fumbled the snap trying to make something happen. It was like an RPO play, so I couldn't really throw the ball to [Isaiah] Likely [because] the offensive line was down the field, so I tried to make something happen, tried to squeeze the ball. It slipped out of my hand, [and the Bills] picked it up, got some yards that I think lead to points for them, so it's a team effort out there. [Mark Andrews has] been busting his behind. He's been making plays out on that field for us. [We] came up short, and like I've been saying all season, every time we're in situations like this, turnovers play a factor. Penalties play a factor. Tonight, the turnovers ... We can't have that [expletive]. That's why we lost the game, because as you can see, we're moving the ball wonderfully. It's just hold onto the [expletive] ball. I'm sorry for my language. I'm just tired of this."
On if there was something different about today with turnovers or if that's just how things roll: "That's just how things roll. Like I said, I [saw] it was man coverage. I just didn't get my eyes on the safety. If I would have gotten my eyes on the safety, it would not have been an interception, but going back to the fumble, I still have to hold onto the ball. [On] a bad snap, hold onto the ball and just go down. It's a playoff game. We know that. In a split second, I'm just trying to make something happen, but just go down."
On the takeaway from this season and this game: "Protect the ball. Protect the ball. Like I said, we were driving the ball [smoothly] all game. I don't even think we punted tonight. It was the three turnovers that got us off the field, so if we protect the ball, we're not even having these conversations, [and] you guys aren't even having those type of questions for me. We have to do a better job at protecting that ball, and then we'll be on the right track."
On the possession where they didn't score in the red zone: "I'm trying to make something happen. They actually ... We called like a man-beater [play], and they were in zone [coverage], so we couldn't force [anything]. Just protect the ball. I felt like we did a good job in that situation and 'Tuck' [Justin Tucker] got us three points right there."
On the exchange with Bills QB Josh Allen after the game: "We're competing. We're competing – don't get me wrong – but hats off to [Josh Allen]. 'Hats off to me.' That's what he said to me. Great players recognize greatness, and we both recognize each other, but I told him, 'Man, go get something. Go win something. MVP or Super Bowl. Do something.' I want him to be successful."
On if he talked to TE Mark Andrews after the game: "Yes, I talked to [Mark Andrews] on the sideline, but I'm just as hurt as Mark. I don't ... [It's not] his fault. All of us played a factor in that game. It's a team effort. We're not going to put that on Mark, because he's been battling all season. He's been doing all the great things he's been doing all season. It [doesn't] always go our way. We want it to, but at the moment in time, it's not going our way. We need to figure it out.
On how difficult it is to know he has to wait another year to try reach the Super Bowl again: "I have to get over this, because we're right there. I'm tired of being right there, we need to punch it in. We need to punch in that ticket. We have to get right in the offseason."
On what he needs to do to take that next step: "I don't know how you even want me to answer that question. I said it, if I protect the ball, we're not having this conversation, and you're not asking that question. If we protect the ball, we're still on the field, and I believe we're driving the ball down the field and we're putting points [on the board]. And there were three opportunities that those guys had on their defense that they made for their team to win. We didn't do s---. We didn't do what we were supposed to do. Protecting the ball – that's the number one priority, and we didn't do it. Especially me, I'm the leader. I have to protect the ball, so I'm hot."
On he saw anything differently defensively from the Bills in this game than in the Week 4 matchup: "No. They had different players on the field, but not really. They didn't do anything spectacular."
On the team's potential going forward: "The guys who were here, hats off to all of the guys who were here, our unit, the players who were all on the journey together. Some pieces were added to the team late. Guys stepped up, stepped in. Guys went down and came in and helped us in the situation. Unfortunately, some of the guys won't be here next year, but hopefully the guys who are returning have that sting from this game into next season.
TE ISAIAH LIKELY
On the playing conditions: "It's football. Once you're in between those white lines, the conditions don't really matter. You've just got to make the plays on the plays that you need to make."
On TE Mark Andrews and his performance tonight: "Mark [Andrews] is a pro's pro. You all are going to have to ask him how he feels, but I know Mark [well]. Any other situation, Mark holds onto the ball. He does everything right. That's why he's my big brother. I look up to Mark in everything he does. I try to be a sponge with everything he does. It happens. He's human."
On the difference that contributed to increased offensive production in the third quarter: "Just playing Ravens football. Just everybody getting behind one another, understanding that to win this game, we're going to have to score some points."
On the post-game message: "Really just understand [that it's] the little things that matter in games, really just building on our chemistry, understanding that it's a shitty feeling. You're going to dwell on it, but you also have to understand that once it's time to come back, it's time to go again."
On the Ravens' last offensive drive of the game and the touchdown: "Really just understand that we were down eight points, and we had to do whatever we had to do to get those eight points on the scoreboard and put our defense in position to get the ball back, whether it was to end the game in the fourth quarter or to end the game in overtime."
C TYLER LINDERB*AUM*
On the team giving up costly turnovers: "It just starts with execution and understanding that the ball's everything. But credit to [the Bills] for forcing turnovers and obviously their offense not creating any turnovers. You just have to learn from it. It stinks – it definitely does stink – just knowing what our team was capable of and then just not fulfilling that. It's tough, for sure."
On the emotions right after the game: "Yes, it sucks. Plain and simple. It sucks."
On the offense's success running the ball in the second half as opposed to other drives: "Just staying at it with the run game. It's not going to be perfect, but I thought we did a good job of staying at it. Then, it kind of broke open there in the third or fourth quarter, but at the end of the day, it definitely stinks. It stinks. It sucks, everything about it. You just have to learn from it and move on."
On if there's anything he said to TE Mark Andrews: "No, Mark [Andrews is] a great player. [He's] the best tight end in the league. There's nothing to say. It doesn't come down to one play. It's a four-quarter ball game for a reason. There are 160 plays in a game. You can't allow it to come down to one play, and we have all the faith in the world in Mark."
ILB ROQUAN SMITH
On if the way the game ended makes it hurt even more: "I would say absolutely. At the end of the year, there's obviously only one team that's hoisting that trophy, but personally, I would rather get my heart ripped out every time at that game or competing for that. At the end of the day, any loss sucks, and obviously, this one, knowing that this is the last time that each and every guy will be in that locker room together ... And that's what life is about – creating memories – and we didn't play good enough to create more memories with each other. Thinking about that, it sucks. I guess it's life at the end of the day."
On if the defense wasn't physical enough in the first half: "[In] the first half, yes. Honestly, hats off to those guys, but when I looked at it coming over to the sideline, everything that they got was self-inflicted, and I feel like that's the case most of the time. But hats off to those guys for making those plays and capitalizing on the things that we didn't do so great, and that starts with each and every person doing your one-of-11, including myself."
On what the defense improving over the course of the season: "It's never about how you start, but it's about how you finish at the end of the day. I think it's just a testament to each and every guy on the defensive side of the ball going through the face of adversity and coming out whichever way opinions want to say in a sense, and I just think it goes to the guys that's in the locker room. Obviously, we didn't play good enough to get the dub today, and that's all that it is to it. We have to play better if we want to win, and it's not pointing fingers at anybody. It's about each and every person looking themselves in the mirror, because not anyone that was on defense played a perfect game. It's about doing your one-of-11 consistently enough to be on the winning side."
On QB Lamar Jackson's performance: "I'm always riding with [No.] 8 [Lamar Jackson] – ride-or-die, regardless of the situation – so I'm always backing him. I'm always going to be there for him. I thought he played a good game, but at the end of the day, we didn't play good enough as a team to win, and that's what it's all about. It's always a team game. It's not an individual game at all. If it was that, it would be one person out there, not 11. When you think about it from that perspective, I'm riding with him until the wheels fall off, and if the wheels fall off, and we're on metal, we'll ride that out as well. Whatever the case may be."
On the direction he sees the team heading: "Well, obviously, this team is going to be different next year, because at the end of the day, no team is ever the same. So, it's about using this as more fuel to the fire, and [we] fell short. When you fall short, you're eager to get back at it, and I know each and every is pissed off, because not one person did enough to get us over the hump this game, and every person should take that personally, and if you don't, you're not an ultimate competitor. That's how I'm looking at it. I have a few [things] that I have to do better as well, so it's just more fuel to the fire, and we have to continue to get better. We just have to enjoy the memories that we all created together because, hey, you only get one chance to play this game this season. That's it for us, but it is what it is."
