The last time these two teams met, we were treated to one of the most exciting ~3-minute stretches of football in NFL history. Perhaps special teams will give us another treat on Sunday, because I can’t see either of these offenses doing much. But hey, that’s why they play the games, right?
Let’s take a look at the stats, notes, quotes, and more to get you ready for Ravens/Vikings, ,c/o Casa Mia’s White Marsh.
KNOW THY ENEMY
SERIES HISTORY
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
LB C.J. Mosley on the Ravens regrouping after a tough defeat to Chicago:
“If you want to be a great team and a great defense, leaders have to make sure that everybody’s in the right mindset. Everybody has to hold themselves accountable. Like [Eric] Weddle said, everybody has to be their biggest critic. You need to figure out what you need to improve on. We’ve got to move on, because it’s still a long season. One loss doesn’t end our season. [The Chicago game] is one loss against an NFC opponent, so we have to make sure we’re ready for next week.”
OLB Terrell Suggs on the Ravens as a team and the defense:
“I think, still, that we’ve got a really good football team. We’ve just got to get rid of the inconsistencies. You can’t go out and play like we did in Oakland and then come back [and not play well]. We just didn’t play well [against Chicago]. I’m just talking as a defense – that’s all I can speak for. There’s nothing more disappointing in the world than mediocrity. You can’t play good last week, and then we come out here, and we don’t play too good. We gave up a ton of yards rushing. It just sucks, but we’re going to get it fixed. We’re all committed. We all bleed purple and black, and it’s going to stay that way.”
DB Lardarius Webb on regrouping after the Chicago loss:
“This is where our leadership is going to have to step up. We need to keep the young guys’ heads forward, and that’s all we can do right now.”
TE Benjamin Watson on how the offense can do a better job of scoring points:
“It’s a matter of starting fast. [At Oakland in Week 5], we started very fast with a big play. That’s always our goal – to start fast. I think the coaches do a great job of scripting it that way for us to get some chunks early, and then it comes to execution on the field. Everybody has a role to play, and the coaches do a good job of scripting it, but when we get out there, we need to execute it and get the ball moving early. When you look at games, it’s tough in this league to come back when you’re down. So, that’s why it’s very important to be able to start early, score points early on, at least to sustain long drives early in the game.”
RB/RS Bobby Rainey Jr., who was signed by the Ravens Oct. 10 and then had a 96-yard KOR-TD last Sunday vs. Chicago:
“I kind of knew they brought me in here to play. I knew I was coming here to play. In the position I was in, I had to learn quickly. As a professional, you just have to pick up and go. It doesn’t matter what your circumstances are. I knew I had a big role coming in on special teams. In the position I play, I try to bring a spark to the team.”
GETTING TO KNOW YOU ~ Q&A with Mike Wallace
What does it mean to you to eclipse 500 career receptions last week?
“I just play football and just go do it, and whatever happens, happens. I’ll be happy at the end of my career. I think I did some good things throughout my career, and that’s just another one. Everyone doesn’t make it to 500, so it’s a blessing.”
What is your favorite thing to do on your off day?
“I play NBA 2K17 pretty much all Monday. I work out, do what I need to do, but after 1 p.m., I’m playing NBA 2K17. No one can beat me on it; I’m the G.O.A.T. I play online all the time, so sometimes I lose. I also play with my friends, but I win 99 percent of the time. I’ve won 25 in a row before.”
What is your favorite NBA team?
“I just like Lebron James, honestly. I’ve been a Cavaliers fan for the last two, three years.”
Who would you want on your 3-v-3 basketball team?
“Ronnie Stanley – he looks like he could play basketball; he’s probably one of the biggest people on the team. I need the ball in my hands, so I need another tall guy. I’ll take Bronson Kaufusi; he can play defense.”
Imagine you’re on a desert island for the rest of your life. You can only bring three books, three movies, and three albums. What would you bring?
“If I’m on an island, I just need the Bible, because I’ll be doing a lot of praying. My three movies would be: ‘Life,’ with Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy, a season of ‘Survivor,’ even though that’s not a movie, and ‘The Jungle Book.’ My three albums would be: Lil’ Wayne’s ‘The Carter’ and ‘The Carter II,’ and maybe a podcast on survival.”
If you were in the Olympics, what event would you medal in?
“They would put me on the USA Basketball team.”
What is your go-to karaoke song?
“‘Run This Town’ by Jay-Z.”
Best advice you’ve ever been given?
“Stay prayed up. Always pray – that’s probably the best advice you could give somebody.”
What is your proudest achievement outside of football?
“Buying my mom a house.”
If you could trade jerseys with any player it would be …
“Tom Brady – he’s the G.O.A.T. He’s the best player ever. If you want to get somebody’s jersey, you might as well get the best player ever, right?”
I can’t survive without …
“My wonderful daughters: Maliha (7) and Brooklyn (2).”
HEY, YOU LOOK FAMILIAR ~ Key Connections
Ravens WR Mike Wallace spent 2015 with the Vikings, with whom he registered 473 receiving yards and 2 TDs on 39 catches.
Vikings LS Kevin McDermott joined Baltimore midseason in 2014, while C Nick Easton spent the 2015 training camp with the Ravens prior to being traded to San Francisco.
Ravens strength & conditioning coach Juney Barnett spent six seasons (2006-11) with the Vikings as their assistant strength & conditioning coach.
Baltimore’s assistant offensive line coach Richard Angulo played professionally for Minnesota from 2004-06, later taking part in the Bill Walsh NFL minority coaching fellowship with the Vikings in the 2013 offseason.
LAUGH OF THE WEEK AT EXPENSE OF RAVENS’ OPPONENT
Just scroll back up and watch those highlights from 2013 again. MARLON BROWN!
