TE MARK ANDREWS
On if it's unique playing a team that features a lot of former Ravens: "Yes. I think it's definitely a unique thing. I think it's a tribute to the culture that we have here, and just the type of organization that we have. We've had a bunch of incredible players and people and personnel that [are] on [the Chargers] and are doing great things, so it's cool."
On if he's looking forward to seeing Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman: "As always. 'G-Ro' [Greg Roman] is an awesome coach and someone I have so much respect for and look up to and have learned a ton from."
On if he's quietly rooting for a lot of his former teammates on the Chargers: "I mean, this week, it's game week. It's week by week, and I'm focused on that, and that's really that's all that's on my mind right now. Obviously, there are guys over there that I've played with and have so much respect for and am friends with, and [I] always wish them the best, but I'm looking forward to this game."
On what the Chargers defense does that's challenging: "They have a lot of great players, and they fly around and just the matchups on the board. They make you play good, sound football. When you have really good players like that on defense, as an offense, you have to be efficient."
On what a game against Pittsburgh does for the offense's mindset: "[We're] just focused. [We're] just focused on getting better, learning, becoming the team we want to be, becoming the offense that we're going to be and just moving forward, learning from our mistakes and being on point. That's the main thing."
On if he feels like Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh brings a lot of the same things to a team like head coach John Harbaugh has brought to the Ravens: "Yes. I think [John & Jim Harbaugh] both get a lot from their dad, Jack [Harbaugh], and that's an incredibly cool and fun dynamic. It's a really special thing, and obviously, there are some similarities, but there are also some differences, and [they are] just definitely two dynamic people and a dynamic family."
FB PATRICK RICARD
On facing a team in the Chargers that has so many former Ravens: "[They have] so many coaches, personnel, players – most importantly they have [head coach John] Harbaugh's brother [Jim Harbaugh] over there, and they are similar coaches, so they need similar players [and] similar guys, so it makes sense that they're using a lot of people that have been here."
On if the Chargers know more about the Ravens than a usual opponent: "I guess. Teams see everything we do on film anyways, so the only thing they know is us personally. That's the only difference that I would say."
On if there's extra motivation for Chargers players going against their former team: "I would say it depends on the person. A lot of guys that are [on the Chargers] that were here were drafted here or came here from college, so yes, they could say they're going to take it personal, [and] they're going to play harder. But I think whenever we play a team, we always get their best – everyone wants to beat us. It doesn't matter if you were a player here before; I think you're going to play as hard as you can against us."
On how the team can get refocused following a tough week: "Josh Johnson broke down practice today, and he said we have to attack each game [from] here on out as if it's a playoff game. That's the kind of level of focus we need to have, because every team we play for the rest of the regular season [is] a very good team. If we treat them now as playoff games, it's only going to help us to get into the playoffs and keep it going."
On the mindset of the offense after Sunday's loss: "I would probably say [to] keep doing the things we've been doing, but just harp more on the little details of things, because that's what's been stopping us from executing and getting these big plays. We're a great offense; we do a lot of great things. It's just a little more focus on the small details."
On if he's surprised by Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins' productive season: "No. I mean J.K. [Dobbins] is one of the hardest workers I've ever been around. He's very confident in himself; he knows his ability. It's just a matter of him staying healthy. He was dealing with his knee [and] tried to come back; it wasn't right [but he] still played through it – it's just the kind of guy he is. I thought he was going to have a great year last year and then he got hurt again. So I'm not surprised at all at the success he's having. It was just a matter of time with him."
On if he's happy for RB J.K. Dobbins: "It's a trick question." (laughter) "For him as a player, yes, I'm very happy for him [and] very excited for him. For him to have three years of just injuries after his amazing rookie season – it's just so great to see. [I'm] very proud for him, and I just hope he doesn't play that great this weekend."
On what the Chargers' defense does well: "I would say that they have a lot of depth in a lot of areas, so they're able to stay fresh. They all play really hard [and] they're productive. Their edges are very good – Khalil Mack, I mean, he's a guy that gets a lot of attention. I feel like their linebackers, they move really well. They've been physical [and] making a lot of plays. And they obviously have No. 3 [Derwin James Jr.], their safety, who's a guy that's all over the field making plays. It's just for us executing the plays [and making] sure we know how they play, how they operate and just have our best foot forward playing them."
K JUSTIN TUCKER
On what he's thankful for during this Thanksgiving season: "Each and every day, when you wake up, you get to see your family, and you get to see friends; I think that's something that's always worth being thankful for."
On how he's feeling mentally right now, after some missed kicks that nobody is accustomed to seeing: "I appreciate you asking. I'm fine. I'm really good. And again, I appreciate you checking in, but it's also kind of unimportant how I feel. What is important is how I perform, and I really do feel that way. Coming into practice today, going out there tomorrow, getting some kicks in, that's really all I've been looking forward to since the game on Sunday. And again, taking it one kick at a time has always been a part of why we have sustained success over a long period of time, and we're not going to change anything about that now. We're going to continue to take it one kick at a time and just keep getting to work."
On if he's found any common thread between his missed kicks: "Well, if you just take the 10,000-foot view, and you look at where all the kicks have gone, they've gone just wide left, and – you just mentioned it – at the exact same time, each kick kind of lives in its own world. But the adjustment is pretty clear; I just need to make it a point not to let the ball carry to the left. So, that's something that we're going to continue to work on in practice."
On if repeating the adjustment he made before his 54-yard FG make last week is what he needs to do: "Again, each kick kind of lives in its own world. You have to take it for what it's worth in that moment. So, on that 54-yarder, we made it a point to ... Like I described after the game, we made it a point to change our aiming point, and that one worked out for us. Just given the conditions on that particular kick, that was the strike that we needed in that moment. But moving forward, the principles remain the same; it's foot-to-ball contact, finishing downfield with my swing, seeing the ball and striking the ball, picking the ball clean off the ground. We will do those things. We just need to carry them over ... I need to carry them over from practice to the game."
On how he's dealt with the reality of the situation that is right now: "I do take it very personally. Anytime I leave a kick out there, it bothers me. For all the fans, supporters, coaches, players, anybody that cares about Ravens football, believe me when I say [that] nobody takes it more personally than I do. Nobody is more affected than me when I miss a kick. So, yes, I take it really personally. At the exact same time, my particular line of work requires – in my opinion – that I compartmentalize my feelings, and I leave them to the side, and I focus on the action of kicking the ball and not the consequence. So, as difficult as that may be at times, that is the challenge that I'm facing right now. That's my only option – is just to continue to work and focus on the action, focus on the process and let the results take care of themselves after just putting in the work."
On if there has been any particular attention paid to practicing the snaps and holds of his kicks: "I think that just falls under the category of stuff that you guys might not normally be privy to. We tend to work on all the aspects of our operation. Anytime we're ... Like, today was a day we were not kicking or punting or snapping live during team periods, but even on those days where we're not having a quote-unquote heavy workload, we still make it a point to just get together and kind of talk through our process and stay dialed in."
On the snapping and holding consistency throughout the season: "Nick [Moore] and Jordan [Stout] are doing a good job. They're doing a good job, and whenever I miss a kick, it's because I let one get away. I've said this before; whenever we make kicks, it's because all of us are doing exactly what we need to do to make kicks."
On how much it means to him that head coach John Harbaugh has his back: "Yes, I do appreciate that. It's something that I will be making it a point to reward. That's something that all of us make it a point to do – we reward the confidence that our coaches and our teammates place in each one of us as individuals. That's part of being a team, is having each other's back the way that 'Harbs' [head coach John Harbaugh] has all of our backs, that I know my teammates do, and that I will also be doing for them whenever things are going really well and whenever things are not going so well. That's part of being a team, especially this team, specifically. We've always made it a point to maintain our culture [and] our standards, so I'll leave it at that."
