OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Baltimore Ravens will play for the Tennessee Titans in the wildcard round on Sunday (1:05 am ET, ESPN), the day before the one-year anniversary of the franchise’s biggest postseason franchise loss.
On January 11, 2020, Baltimore was the AFC’s top seed and a 10-point favorite before falling to Tennessee 28-12 in the divisional round. It seems everyone is viewing the post-season Sunday rematch as the ultimate game of revenge for the Ravens, with the exception of the Ravens themselves.
Head coach John Harbaugh says vengeance is not a factor in the Ravens’ game against Tennessee on Sunday. Photo by Maddie Meyer / Getty Images
“We’re just focusing on the game,” said Raven coach John Harbaugh. “Previous games have little influence. It has a certain history, the rivalry is certain. But what effect does that have on the next game?”
Baltimore certainly has an emotional playoff history with Tennessee. In the postseason 2000 and 2008, the Ravens knocked off the top titans in Nashville. In the 2003 playoffs, Baltimore lost in the first round at home to Tennessee.
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The final painful blow came last year when the Ravens made the playoffs as Super Bowl favorites in a playoff series of 12 games. But Baltimore was 14-0 behind at the start of the second quarter and not leading a minute.
Raven’s linebacker Matthew Judon compared the shocking loss to a car accident. Now Judon just wants to look ahead.
“Man, we don’t worry about last year,” said Judon. “If we could come back last year, we would go back to last year. I don’t know why you all want to keep talking about it – we’re in 2021. Last year is last year and right now is right now.”
Lamar Jackson was confused during the Ravens’ loss to the Titans in last year’s playoffs. Maddie Meyer / Getty Images
With that loss to the Titans, the Ravens became the first number 1 to drop to number 6 since 2010. Baltimore was also the sixth team since the NFL playoffs began in 1933, winning at least 14 games in a season to fail to win a postseason game.
In the off-season, quarterback Lamar Jackson suggested losing the Ravens to the Titans because they looked past them. It’s an attitude that Harbaugh publicly disagrees with.
When asked about another playoff game against the Titans, Jackson said, “It’s not about them, it’s about us. It really doesn’t matter who we play against. We’ll go in there with the same mentality. Just focus on our task. ” and just try to get out with a W. “
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The Ravens team this season doesn’t look much different than last season. Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda is retired, All-Pro injured Tonnie Stanley after an ankle injury at the end of the season, and Safety Earl Thomas has disappeared after allegedly hitting a teammate at training camp.
But Baltimore still has Jackson, Mark Andrews, and Marlon Humphrey. In fact, 29 of the 44 players (66%) who qualified for last year’s playoff game against Tennessee will do so again on Sunday. But Harbaugh said you couldn’t compare the teams or situations.
“We’re excited about the opportunity,” said Harbaugh. “I love the team. I love the players and the coaches. I love what we’ve been through – even the adversity – [and] the challenges because it forges you and makes you who you are. This is exciting man. You live in the moment and it’s an exciting thing to be in the National Football League playoffs. “
