Let's begin today with a question.
Can we all pretty much agree that Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos is a must-win for the Ravens?
We've all done the math. The Ravens have lost three in a row. They have 10 games left against some pretty good teams and only three that are roadkill: the Browns, Lions and Raiders.
And the Ravens probably need 10 wins to make the playoffs, since you can't count on your season continuing with fewer wins.
So all that points to a must-win game against the 6-0 Broncos, right?
Well, not if you talked to anyone at the Castle on Wednesday.
No, at the media sessions with coach John Harbaugh and various players, the party line was this: It's just another game this Sunday.
"There's always a special sense of urgency going into any game," Harbaugh said. "So to make any game different would be to demean or diminish the other games. And we're not interested in doing that.
"So this game has the same importance it would have no matter what our record was."
Ohhh-kay.
With Harbaugh in full coach-speak mode, you were left hoping the players would talk about how critical it is for the Ravens to beat the Broncos.
Hey, Derrick Mason, anything different about the team's preparations this week?
"No, not really," said the wide receiver. "We understand we're on a three-game losing streak and you have to dig yourself out of the hole.
"So we have to keep doing what we've been doing and prepare the way we've been preparing, and hopefully the game won't come down to a last-second touchdown or last-second play we have to make to win the game."
Look, no matter how the Ravens try to spin it, this isn't just another game coming up at M&T Bank Stadium.
With consecutive losses to the Patriots, Bengals and Vikings, this is a team desperate for a win, a team with its back against the wall or whatever other cliche you want to use.
Which is why Harbaugh has been working himself and his team so hard the past two weeks.
The Ravens practiced Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, on what was their bye week, and the coaches also worked Thursday.
Harbaugh took Friday off to spend time with his family. But he was back at work Saturday and Sunday, breaking down film, game-planning for the Broncos, eating bad take-out food, etc.
And this'll probably shock you: His assistant coaches were back at work, too.
