HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening Statement: "[I] appreciate everybody being here. I just wanted to start with this, because this is important to me and to a lot of people. On this week, Christmas ... Christmas is in a couple, what, four days? We happen to play in four days, right? So it's right around the corner, and we'll be together on Christmas. So, I read this to the team in our post-game prayer. And it's this – this is 'Mary.' Mary the mother of God said this when she was getting ... When she was with Elizabeth. She said this, she said, 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.' So I just want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas [and] happy holiday season and rejoice, rejoice, rejoice in life. Rejoice in your circumstances. Rejoice in the tough games. Rejoice in the losses. Rejoice in the wins like we're blessed to do today as a football team, and just rejoice in the people that you love [and] the people that are close to you – rejoice. We aren't here on this earth to worry about every little thing and spar with one another. We're here to rejoice in one another and with one another and love one another, so let's try to remember that this week. This is a big football week. It's also a big life week. It's a big spiritual week, OK. Alright so what questions do you have?"
You've officially clinched a playoff berth. What do you think that means to the team or are they kind of focused on bigger goals? (Jamison Hensley) "It's huge; it's huge. We rejoice. I rejoice in the fact that we made the playoffs because it's tough to do. It's really hard to do; look around the league [to see] how hard it is to do. I'm so proud of these guys, and we have goals. The first goal is to win the next game we say. So, everything we do all year is to win the next game. The second goal is to make the playoffs. The third goal is to win the division – the AFC North. The final goal is to win the championship – the Super Bowl world championship. We [achieved] two of them tonight – we won the next game, and we made the playoffs."
We know how crazy Ravens-Steelers can be with the swings and big plays. After QB Lamar Jackson throws the interception there, CB Marlon Humphrey then got the pick-six there. Just how massive was that? (Luke Jones) "It was massive. Just the things that we had talked about [and] the things that the guys were talking about – the idea that it's just good. It's good – something happens; a good circumstance, good. A tough circumstance, good. It gives us an opportunity to come back and make the next play and take the next opportunity to turn things around. For Marlon [Humphrey] to do that ... We had pressure on that [and] all those kinds of things; it just means so much. And Marlon also had a baby this week, so he [received] the game ball. He didn't get the game ball, [but] his son [received] the game ball."
On that same play, how big was it to see OLB David Ojabo have that moment after all the ups and downs that he's had? (Childs Walker) "Yes, so good. [David Ojabo] had a couple big pressures and a couple big plays there. David's been practicing really well, and you see him get his opportunity and step up like that. Really the whole game, [it] was great to see. I'm proud of him."
We know how physical this matchup can be. What does it mean to see you guys rush for 220 yards on the ground? (Cordell Woodland) "Big; big. It starts right there with No. 22 [Derrick Henry]. That's who it starts with. It also starts with the offensive line. Our offensive line played really great tonight. I thought our coaches did a great job scheming up the run game. Lamar [Jackson] had a lot of checks involved with that. So, it was just [a] really well-executed run game, and [we have] a hard runner [and] the best in the business right there."
This is a Steelers defense that was really, really good against under-center runs. You guys didn't seem to go away too much from that. What gave you the confidence that you guys could do that? (Jonas Shaffer) "Yes, we had a good plan. We have a great runner, so it starts with that, and the ability to come downhill was important to us in this game and our ability ... We had a couple scheme things that took some of their pursuit out of it, so I thought that was really clever of our coaches."
I don't think you guys had any defensive penalties today. What made your team so focused? (Noah Trister) "And I'm really happy about that. I'm really pleased with that. It was really good. We covered better. They had a couple downfield throws that we defended without grabbing. So, I thought we did a good job."
S Kyle Hamilton I think during the week said that the message from you is that you guys had to sort of learn to not lose before you could win. Can you expand on what you meant there, and how much of an example of that was tonight? (Brian Wacker) "Yes, I mean it's something we talk about a lot. The guys all understand. I wasn't telling them anything they don't know. It's always a topic, but sometimes you want to win so bad, and you want to do well so bad that you try to win suddenly. You try to win in one play. The game's not going to be won in one play. It's going to be won one play at a time. If you take that mindset and try to have a good play one at a time, and if you have a tough play, you come back and try to have the next good play, and suddenly a big run is broken off or there's a pick-six, or there's a sack. All of a sudden, you look up, and the score is 34-17. And when just a few minutes before that, it was tight. So that kind of patience is really what it means, [to] be patient doing the ordinary things well over and over again."
Speaking of QB Lamar Jackson's play, there were some clutch throws especially on that last drive? (Reporter) "Clutch throws, especially against man [and] tight coverage. Guys running [and Lamar Jackson] dotting people on the run in man coverage. I thought Lamar was fantastic, and that's no little bit of pressure [from the Steelers]. Our guys did a good job up front, but Lamar ... He's under pressure. This group rushes the passer always. They're going to give you pressure. He stood in there and made some throws. He always does."
I don't know how much you pay attention or not, but a lot of talk going into the week. I'm sure you're sick of it by now, losing eight of nine against Pittsburgh. A lot of the conversation was, "What's going to go wrong?" It had to mean a lot to see you guys play as well as you did, especially in the second half? (Ken Weinman) "Yes, I'm really happy with the win. It's a great win."
S Ar'Darius Washington is a guy you made that switch for a number of weeks ago. What gave you that confidence that he would do that, and how well has he played in your view? (Brian Wacker) "Well, if you look at Ar'Darius [Washington], he's always played well. He had the injuries [for] a couple years, but he's always played well when he's gotten his chances. He practices well. I don't think anybody's surprised by it. I'm happy to see it happen though. He's playing great football."
Why have you decided to mix P Jordan Stout in on some of the kickoffs? (Michael Fletcher) "Jordan [Stout] has a massive leg. You may have noticed that. Mixing it up a little bit's good, but also kicking into that wind down there to that end – he gave us the best chance to bomb one out of the back of the end zone because he's so strong. He's young, but then he was under the other one like a lot of young guys. So, there's some inconsistency there, but that was the idea."
Is RB Justice Hill ... I know he's in concussion protocol, but is he OK overall? Are you seeing some good signs? (Jeff Zrebiec) "Well, I don't know. That's a concussion with a game four days from now. So, we'll have to see how that goes."
WR RASHOD BATEMAN
On his touchdown catch: "It was Cover-2. Lamar [Jackson] made a good read. I got up on the safety, made that cut to the outside, and touchdown pass. Got the toes down."
On how big this game was for Baltimore: "Definitely a big game for us. There was a lot going on, a lot of media interest of course. A lot of questions from you guys. But somehow, we always seem to make the best out of it. Prayers go out to some of the guys who got hurt tonight, [including] Justice [Hill]. But yes, we were able to come out with the win, big win, and now [we] get ready to play the next one. [It's a] quick turnaround."
On the quick turnaround: "We are always locked in, but we really, really have to get locked in with this one. It starts with taking care of your body, but we have to go back to work quickly and get focused on the Texans. [They're a] good team, but they have a quick turnaround, too."
On where the Ravens are after 15 weeks: "I'm not sure. I feel like we know the level that we can get to if we come to work every day and lock in. If we show up and do our jobs, we can go far – really far."
WR ZAY FLOWERS
On how he's feeling after the win: "We've been working for this all season. We've had ups and downs, so it feels good to clinch it, and especially versus a team that's been our rival."
On how it feels to beat the Steelers after losing eight out of the last nine games: "We weren't really focused on that out there. We were just focused on getting this win, clinching our spot and moving onto to next week."
On his 49-yard catch down the sideline: "I was asking [Lamar Jackson] on the sideline ... I was like, 'Hey, L, we can switch to a fade, because they've just been playing man all game, and I need 33 yards for a band [1,000 yards].'" (laughter) "And he gave me the chance, and I ran it, and it just happened."
On what it meant to beat the Steelers at home: "It felt good. We felt the energy out there. Everybody was locked in, [and] everybody kept going no matter what happened. We had a few bumps here and there, but we just kept stacking."
On having another game on Wednesday: "Yes, that's tough right there, but we're good. We're going to be all right."
On what it means to break 1,000 yards: "It's just everybody around me. From Rashod Bateman, to the O-line, I appreciate everybody that helped me get there – [offensive coordinator] Coach [Todd] Monken [and] Lamar [Jackson] trusting me. It was a goal of mine, and I was able to cross it, and we were able to get the win, too."
On if getting over 1,000 receiving yards was on his mind before he caught that 49-yard catch: "Yes. I kept walking up to [Lamar Jackson]. I didn't want to walk up to him and say it, because we were locked in, but I was like, 'Hey, let's get that high fade real quick so I can get that 1,000.'"
On what he thought when he saw the ball in the air on that catch: "'I've got to go get this one. I've got to go get this one.'"
On how good the pass was on his 49-yard catch: "Yes, it was perfect. [It] landed right in my breadbasket."
RB DERRICK HENRY
On how much his disappointment from the last Pittsburgh game went into his motivation this week: "The emphasis all week was just finish. We know that if we didn't turn the ball over or have any self-inflicted wounds, [we'd] give ourselves a chance to win the game, and I think we did that a lot last game. All the guys were locked in, focused in on the emphasis from this week, to be able to go out there and finish and play that way that we did."
On what he's learned about the Ravens-Steelers rivalry and what it takes to win the game: "You have to bring it every time you play these guys, but we don't try to make it so much about the rivalry. We try to focus on us and what we need to do. We know if we play the way we know how, then we give ourselves a chance against anybody. They are a great team, have a great defense, a great offense, but we just had to focus on what we need to do to give ourselves the best chance to win."
On if this felt like a breakthrough win because the team faced tough moments and bounced back with huge plays: "It feels good to get a win, knowing that we had emphasis on things that we need to do to win the game, and we didn't shoot ourselves in the foot at any point in the game, to let the momentum go the other way. We just stayed focused no matter what happened on each drive, just stayed encouraged and just focused on finishing. I felt we did that well today."
On what he saw from the team after the interception: "That was a big momentum swing, when they got that turnover, but it's complementary football. Defense had our back in that. Marlon [Humphrey] did a great job, made a huge play that we definitely needed, and just hats off to those guys, man. They work hard throughout the week to be able to make big plays like that throughout the game."
On if the fact that they might face Pittsburgh in the playoffs added any more importance to beat the Steelers: "We don't go into a game and feel like we can't win in any game. We know some games are going to be tougher than others, but we know we have to make it about us and the way we execute, by the way we work. Everybody is going out there and taking one play at a time. You're not going to win each game by one play; it's one play at a time, and it's great to get this win in a big rivalry – like you said, we might see those guys again – but [we're] just happy to get this one under our belt and focus on this one and get ready for the next one."
On if he knew he would be a focus early on in the gameplan: "No, I just focused on whatever the opportunity [I had] to get the ball, make an impact and be efficient and be consistent in my play. The O-line [and] everybody did a great job blocking today, so they made my job easy. Any time I have a game like this, they did a great job blocking, so they deserve all the credit."
On how tough it was to witness RB Justice Hill's injury and how grateful he was that Justice was able to walk off on his own: "We were all grateful to see [Justice Hill] get up and walk off on his own. We were worried there for a minute, because he was just lying there. Justice, that's my brother, and I'm glad to see that he was able to get off on his two feet, and I'm glad he's doing well. That was a scary moment."
CB MARLON HUMPHREY
On how important it was to get a victory against the Steelers: "Man, it's huge. I think [the Steelers have] definitely gotten the best of us over the years, and I feel like we haven't played good football, let alone – and not even close to – great football. Not that we played the greatest today, but I felt that we did not do the things we usually do that kind of beat ourselves. So, to clinch [the playoffs] against the Steelers, there's not a better feeling."
On his pick-six: "I was right there by the guy, and 'Russ' [Russell Wilson] kind of threw it to me, and I was running ... And I want to make this pretty clear: When I was running with the football, I saw David Ojabo, a really great teammate of mine, and I was trying to pitch him the football. Some people brought up to me that it looked like taunting or something, but I was trying to pitch him the football, and there's no taunting there at all; I just want to make that very clear. Ojabo is a great guy. I wanted to pitch it to him. Then I got in the end zone, and it was good."
On if he felt the momentum swing after his pick-six, which came shortly after the Ravens threw an interception of their own: "Yes. Actually, right before we went out, we were talking about, 'Let's get the ball back on defense.' That was kind of the conversation we were having on the field. And to be able to get the ball back [and] really die out that momentum, it was a good time for somebody to make a play."
On S Ar'Darius Washington's forced fumble: "I looked up, and 'Russ' [Russell Wilson] was kind of running with a lot of green grass, and I was kind of coming [in and] thinking [that] Ar'Darius [Washington] didn't have the best angle to make that play, and then he forced that, and that was a huge play. That was a huge play to make, by 'A.D.' [Ar'Darius Washington]. That forced fumble happening really swung the game. I think that was probably the biggest play of the game."
On forcing two turnovers today: "Obviously, we were not playing good football at the beginning of the year, but when you look across the league, the only difference that was really killing us was [that] we had double-digit dropped picks, [and we were] not taking the ball away with forced fumbles and strip-sacks, so that was kind of a big thing. Sometimes defenses can be known for getting turnovers, but that doesn't always mean you're a good defense. But when you're not playing well, and you're not getting turnovers, it's just a recipe for disaster. I think [we're] playing more sound defense [and] getting turnovers here and there. If you can get two a game, you're going to be really successful, and that's something [defensive coordinator] Zach Orr has been preaching every day, every day, every day. [At] practice, I'm telling guys, 'Just visualize yourself punching the ball out. Visualize yourself picking the ball [off]. Even when we're doing walk-through, we can still visualize these things.' What we've been doing in practice, and what we've been doing [from] coaching, it seems like it's paying off in the game."
On how it felt to record his first-career pick-six: "Yes, it felt good. I think I put my goals for this year a little too low. I think I had on there six interceptions and one pick-six and some forced fumbles, and I can't remember everything. But it really feels good to be able to get a pick [and] get in the end zone. Coming into this game, I had zero interception yards, so I was like, 'Man, hopefully I'm not the first guy to have five or six picks with zero yards,' so it was good to try to get that average up."
On stealing the momentum back with his pick-six: "Yes, it was good. It was big. That's what you want to be able to do to put out that fire. Our offense has bailed us out so many times. Over the past, we'd give up a touchdown, then they'd go score, [so] it felt good to be able to return that favor [with] complementary football. Obviously, Lamar [Jackson] is going to be pissed, even, through it, but we want to have those guys' back as much as they've had our backs."
On what these next couple of days look like before traveling to Houston: "It's a super quick turnaround. You've kind of got to enjoy this one for a couple hours. Hopefully, everybody does a little stretch tonight; I just did mine. I might swing by the facility tonight. But [it's] a super quick turnaround. You've really got to be a pro in order to have success when you've got those quick turnarounds, and that starts with recovery and mental work. [There will be] a lot more iPad work and different things. We've handled a couple Thursday night games [and] a couple tight stretches like pros, and I think we'll continue to do that."
On the direction of the defense: "I just think we've just got to continue to put in the work in practice, continue to be vocal [and] continue to just strive for greatness, because it's just different when you put on that Ravens jersey. The standard of defense has got to be ... The bar is set really high, and I feel like, obviously, we dropped it earlier, but now that we've been emphasizing it more ... And we've really taken it upon [ourselves], because I felt like the calls ... We just were not executing the calls. If you go through a lot of the plays, [and] you look at each time there's a big play, somebody is not doing their job. So, the adjustment has really kind of been simple; just 11 guys are now doing their job, and the success has been coming."
QB LAMAR JACKSON
On what this win means to him: "It means a lot. I feel like we've been busting our behinds all season long, had ups and downs throughout this whole season, but to clinch a playoff [berth] against a great team like that – that's great. That means we're moving in the right direction."
On how gratifying it is for him to play well against the Steelers: "I feel like I could have played better. That interception really got me mad. [If] we don't turn the ball over [in] almost any game, [then] we win the game. That one turnover could have been the difference, but shoutout to 'Marlo' [Marlon Humphrey] and the defense because those guys [played] lights out all game. Definitely."
On what the Ravens did better against the Steelers in this particular matchup: "I believe we just stayed [true] to what we've been preaching all week – just one play at a time no matter what in the game, just move onto the next play. And things happen throughout the game where it was like we could start having that little setback, but we didn't let anything bother us – penalties, the little turnover here and there, and if we got stopped. We kept our minds focused on when we got another opportunity."
On if a miscommunication caused the interception he threw: "Yes. That's all that was."
On his reaction to CB Marlon Humphrey's interception-return touchdown: "I was still mad about the interception I threw to put them back out there. That's what I was mad about, just putting them in that type of situation where momentum could swing and let that team get the advantage. I was just mad. I was mad until the game was over. I'm still mad. I'm lying, I'm still mad. The game [is] over [and] I'm still hot."
On if winning after throwing that interception was a sign that luck was on their side today: "I believe the thing is is that's just God. We've been preaching that a lot more throughout just the locker room and to everyone. God is the reason we're able to perform the way we perform and just move on how we're moving. That's God. God gets all the glory."
On if he had the sense that the offense would go to RB Derrick Henry aggressively in the first half: "No, because we don't know ... When we play the Steelers, they have this certain type of defense they play against us, and we really didn't know what those guys were going to do – whether it was going to be man [coverage], zone [coverage] [or] what type of game it [would] be. And our offensive line just did a great job at keeping those guys off of [Derrick Henry] and letting him just get out of the backfield untouched, and he just did the rest."
On what it means for WR Zay Flowers to go over 1,000 yards receiving: "It means a lot just to have a 1,000 [yard] receiver. I believe we have that in [Rashod] Bateman too, though. He just has to get more opportunities getting the ball thrown to him, and that catch he made in the back of the end zone was dope. But shoutout to Zay [Flowers] too though. That's my boy right there, that's my guy. [He's] my little brother right there."
On if he knew that TE Mark Andrews scored his first touchdown against the Steelers tonight: "Damn. This is our seventh year and it's [Mark Andrews'] first touchdown against them? Damn. I'm glad he got it done with the victory, but damn." (laughter)
TE ISAIAH LIKELY
On the touchdown catch: "Really it was about finding the hole in the defense. [It was a] great play call and [Lamar Jackson] got the time to make the throw. I got past the flat defender, I was wide open, and he threw a good ball."
On if he was surprised to be that open on his touchdown: "Yes. I'm usually not that wide open, but it's always great to get those easy ones."
On cutting down the penalties and turnovers: "It really was a big emphasis this week, knowing that the last time we did all that and still only lost by two points. We knew if we could keep the turnovers to little to none and turnovers the same, it gives us an opportunity to just play football."
On his reaction to S Ar'Darius Washington's hit on QB Russell Wilson that forced a fumble: "Yes, that was huge. The defense has been preaching turnovers, punching the ball out, picking off passes [and] fourth-down stops. That mantra of creating turnovers came through for us today, and that was a big reason why we won that game. [It] totally changed the game."
On the quick turnaround to play Houston: "Really, it's about maintaining your schedule, knowing the task at hand and keeping your body fresh. It is a quick turnaround, so it is really about rest and recovery. Then we go out there and give it everything we've got."
K JUSTIN TUCKER
On how much confidence the 51-yard field goal gives him going into the last few games of the season and postseason: "For what it's worth, I still have the exact amount of confidence I did a week ago or two weeks ago or three weeks ago. Sometimes it just ... In the wise words of Terrell Suggs, 'Sometimes it just be like that.' The ball comes off your foot, and it does not go exactly where you want it every single time. Now, like I've said before, I take it really, really personally. As much as I try to stay positive about it, it's very real that I kind of lean into the negative reinforcement sometimes. I tell myself, like, 'You have to make this kick if you are worth anything to this team, if you're worth anything to your teammates – all the work that you put in – you have to make this kick. You don't have a choice.' I'm kind of trying to toe that line and just remain the same, which is easier said than done, given the nature of the pressures that come with playing in this league. At the exact same time, I have great teammates, I have great coaches, [and] we have a great organization, so as far as our confidence goes, that's never wavering. That's just a matter of seeing the results, seeing our work come to fruition in a significant way, like it did tonight. That was meaningful. That was meaningful for us, so I'm glad to have gone out there and played well. Nick [Moore] did a really good job snapping the ball. Jordan [Stout] has been doing a really good job holding the ball. Both of those guys have been doing an excellent job."
OLB KYLE VAN NOY
Opening Statement: "I have to shoutout [pass rush coach] Chuck Smith. He got me my sweatshirt. [Getting 10 sacks] was a goal of mine this year, so shoutout to Chuck Smith."
On getting 10 sacks in a single season for the first time in his career: "I've always haven't had a different, and [I'm] just grateful for the guys that have been in the locker room and [pass rush coach] Chuck Smith, [assistant defensive line coach/outside linebackers] Matt [Robinson] and Coach [John] Harbaugh [for] just allowing me to be me here, and it's been fun. I've put in a lot of hard work. A lot of people wrote me off last year, and I believe I'm playing at a Pro Bowl level. So, all of the voters out there, vote for your boy." (laughter)
On what it meant for the defense to force two turnovers: "It was awesome to flip the script on them. That's kind of the been the Achilles heel for us playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers of late, and it's awesome to go be on the other side of that and have big ones. 'A.D.' [Ar'Darius Washington] had a big play to force the fumble, and I happened to recover it, which was awesome, and then to have Marlon [Humphrey] have a pick-six after the hell of a week he's had with the baby, it was awesome. Hopefully we see the ball next to the baby and get a nice photo."
On how he saw the S Ar'Darius Washington forced fumble unfold and was able to be there for the fumble recovery: "Honestly, it was kind of like an, 'Oh S---' play, because I lost contain, so I was like, 'Ah.' And then, I didn't give up on the play, right? Once I saw the ball on the ground, I was like, 'It's my ball.' I feel like I'm an offensive player on defense, so I always try to make a play."
On what it means to clinch a playoff berth: "[It's] awesome. I've been fortunate to be in the league [for] 11 years, and to be in the playoffs nine out of the 11, it's a blessing. I don't take it lately. But we have so much more to do. Winning 10 games got us in the playoffs, but it doesn't really mean anything. We still have a tough matchup on Wednesday, which stinks; I'm going to be with DeAndre Hopkins [on that]. It kind of stinks that the schedule is made that way, but we're just going to take it one day at a time up until Christmas."
On what he saw on CB Marlon Humphrey's interception: "Yes, we were ready for the boot action, [which] they hit us [with] a couple times early in the game. 'Ja' [David Ojabo] played it really well. [He] hit the tight end, released, and then he got pressure to make Russell [Wilson] make a decision, and he made a poor one on that, and we took advantage of it. It was awesome to be on the side of taking advantage of a poor decision on their part. And [for] Marlon [Humphrey] getting the pick-six, I'm happy for him."
On having his performance with former teammate QB Tom Brady calling the game: "Yes, [Tom Brady is] big brother. I love that guy. He needs to call more of the games I'm playing [in], because he seems to ... It seems to go well."
S AR'DARIUS WASHINGTON
On if he saw CB Marlon Humphrey during his interception and his reaction to it: "Yes, I saw Marlon [Humphrey] during the interception. He was right in front of me, so I was covering my guy, and I saw him. My reaction, I was turned up. I was celebrating the whole time, the whole way to the end zone."
On his forced fumble and if there was something that QB Russell Wilson did that might have indicated the ball would come out: "Not really. [Russell Wilson] just came through the hole, and it was just me and him. That's kind of what I [saw], just me and him. Let's just get him down right here. Don't let them score right here, so hopefully, stop them right there at the goal line or something like that, but the ball ended up coming out."
On if he felt the momentum swing in the Ravens favor after that play: "Yes, definitely. The crowd got into it, and the offense [went] down there and scored. I knew that was going to be a momentum shift, for sure, when the offense went down and scored off the turnover."
On what those big plays do for the defense and the whole team: "We preach about it all the time. The 'DBs' [defensive backs], we bring the energy, so that means a lot. If we're all on point, then the whole defense is on point. It carries over to the offense and everything like that. It can get those guys going, too. It can give those guys more touches."
On how difficult it was to make the open-field tackle on QB Russell Wilson: "It wasn't too tough. It wasn't too tough at all, actually. Yes."
On how badly CB Marlon Humphrey wanted the pick-six: "[Marlon Humphrey] wanted it bad, and we wanted it for him. We wanted somebody to get a pick-six. We haven't had one all year, so for him to get it, we were very rejoiced and very happy."
