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John Harbaugh on Ravens tying all-time preseason record: ‘It’s notable’

By Kevin Brown

Why Harbaugh values Ravens' preseason win streak record originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

With the Orioles mightily struggling with 18 straight losses, Baltimore can take pride in the Ravens tying the all-time NFL record with their 19th straight preseason win on Saturday night. 

The Ravens comfortably beat the Panthers, 20-3, to tie Green Bay’s mark of 19-straight preseason wins from 1959-1962. Baltimore’s last preseason loss came ahead of the 2015 season, when the Ravens lost three straight to end preseason and went 5-11 overall. 

Since their last preseason loss 2,179 days ago, the Ravens have lost 28 regular-season games, won two AFC North crowns, and overhauled a roster centered around fourth-year All-Pro quarterback Lamar Jackson. 

Aside from the pandemic-altered season last year in which teams did not play any preseason games, the Ravens now have five consecutive unblemished preseason records. 

For coach John Harbaugh, he believes that success shouldn’t be discounted as a fluke. Entering his 14th season at the helm, Harbaugh got deeply philosophical on why exactly he cares about the streak on Saturday.

“I mean, there are going to be people that say this doesn’t mean anything, and there are going to be people who look at it and say, ‘Wow, that’s something.’ So, I think everything is something,” he said. 

“I’m of the belief that everything has meaning in life. So, I guess you can take two things; nothing has meaning, and everything has meaning. So, if we’re doing it, it’s worth doing, it matters and it’s worth doing well.”

Harbaugh took a step back to look at the big picture with his answer, reminiscing on the young players who made impacts to make this streak possible, pointing to people like former Ravens practice squad QB Josh Woodrum, a current free agent who took the most of his preseason opportunity in 2017. 

“So, I feel like the players [and] coaches that were involved all those times,” said Harbaugh. “If you want to look at the big picture of it, all those young players that were out there playing, Josh Woodrum having a game-winning drive, I think. You can go back… Those guys should all take pride in that. All those guys that were part of that over those years should be proud about that tonight because it’s something that only one other team has ever done – the Vince Lombardi Green Bay Packers. I’d say that’s notable.”

It’s also notable that the recent trend of preseason success has correlated well with the Ravens jumping out of the gates in winning fashion to start their regular-season campaigns. Baltimore has won their first two contests in four of the last five seasons since the preseason streak began.

The Ravens will get a chance to notch their 20th win when they take on Washington on Saturday. Pregame coverage starts with Washington Football Kickoff Live at 5 PM on NBC Sports Washington.

2023 NFL Free Agency: Biggest names on the free agent market

By NBC Sports Washington Staff
Biggest names in 2023 NFL Free Agency originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonWith the 2022 NFL season in the rearview, NFL teams can begin to look toward the draft combine and, of course, free agency. March 15 is the official start of free agency in the NFL, with March 13 as the start of the legal tampering period. Deals can be agreed to during this time, but none are official until the 15th at the earliest. Here's a look at some of the biggest names that were set to hit the free agency market.Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore RavensJackson and the Ravens have gone round-and-round regarding Jackson's extension, and it is still up in the air whether Jackson's long-term future will be in Baltimore or elsewhere. It's possible the Ravens will offer Jackson the franchise tag, but the former NFL MVP will be in for a huge payday once he signs a new deal, wherever that might be.Orlando Brown, OT, Kansas City ChiefsLike Jackson above, it's entirely possible the Chiefs use the franchise tag on the offensive lineman to keep him around for the 2023 campaign. Brown was one of the centerpieces of the Chiefs' Super Bowl run this past year, culminating in an immaculate performance in which the team didn't allow a sack in the big game.Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants2022 was the best year of Barkley's career to date. The Giants' bruising running back finished fourth in the NFL with 1,312 rushing yards on the season to go along with 10 rushing touchdowns. However, running backs are only as good as their offensive line, so it's possible Barkley won't get the same kind of cash as other players on this list.Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas RaidersSpeaking of running backs fresh off their breakout season, Jacobs tops the list. He paced the entire league with 1,653 rushing yards on the season with 12 rushing TDs. His elite cutting ability would make him a tasty acquisition for any team desperate to upgrade their run game, and with Raiders' QB Derek Carr headed to a new destination, Jacobs is likely next in line to depart.Daniel Jones, QB, New York GiantsJones isn't as big a target as Lamar Jackson, but the fact is he can flat out play. He had the lowest interception rate on pass attempts in the NFL this past year while leading his Giants to the playoffs despite shaky play from his wide receiver core. Another candidate for the franchise tag, Jones will get a hefty payday whether it's in the Big Apple or elsewhere.Jessie Bates III, S, Cincinnati BengalsBates has been a staple of the Bengals' secondary since they drafted him in the first round back in 2018. He's also coming off a career year with four interceptions, eight passes defended and 66 tackles. He already played last season on the franchise tag, so chances are he'll be an immediate plug-in piece to a new team's secondary.Geno Smith, QB, Seattle SeahawksWhat can be said about Geno Smith that hasn't already been said? After spending his entire career as a bridesmaid and never a bride, he finally got his chance to walk down the aisle this past year in Seattle -- and boy did he show out. He finished eighth in the league in passing yards, fourth in passing TDs, and willed the Seahawks to a postseason appearance in their first year of the post-Russell Wilson era. No wonder he earned Comeback Player of the Year and Pro Bowl honors. Teams should be scratching at the door to snatch him up, if Seattle misses their chance.Bobby Wagner, ILB, Los Angeles RamsThe six-time First Team All-Pros tenure in L.A. was short lived as the Rams and Wagner agreed to part ways following a disappointing campaign for the defending Super Bowl champs. Still, Wagner is as disruptive of an inside linebacker as you'll find in the league, so he'll provide some pass rush stability for whoever signs him.James Bradberry IV, CB, Philadelphia EaglesBradberry switched NFC East allegiances and enjoyed a conference title in his first year in Philly. He was a massive part of arguably the best secondary in the NFL, so it would be wise for the Eagles to do what they can to keep him. Though he's 29, Bradberry has serviceable years ahead of him.Jakobi Meyers, WR, New England PatriotsThough Meyers won't wow you with his numbers or any gravity-defying catches, he's as solid of a WR2 or WR3 as you'll find. That'll probably help his free agency quest, as he's a plug-and-play option for any team eager for wideout depth. At 26, Meyers could be a low-cost yet high-upside addition on the open market.
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