OWLING MILLS, Md | In the purple corner is the Ravens' up-and-coming quarterback who is still looking for a first Super Bowl: Lamar Jackson. In the red corner, his opponent is the reigning world champion Patrick Mahomes from the Chiefs. The table is set for a big battle in the American Conference finals on Sunday in front of 71,000 fans in Baltimore.
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The Journal is on location in Baltimore in what promises to be an electrifying environment, and it's fair to say that the creative analogy to a boxing arena isn't ours.
The image is more of Lamar Jackson, drooling with desire for the fight but barely hiding a completely understandable fear at the thought of facing Mahomes' Chiefs.
Finally, the Ravens are in their first conference final since the 2012 season, when they defeated the Patriots in Foxborough, en route to their second Super Bowl conquest.
Back then, Lamar Jackson was a 16-year-old who dreamed of the NFL. Since then, he's wowed Ravens crowds with his unique athletic style and looks set to win his second-tier Most Valuable Player title in two weeks, even if he's still missing the biggest collective trophy.
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Ready for a big fight
Mahomes is now in the conference finals for the sixth time in a row and has been in the Super Bowl three times.
“I don’t like playing against Mahomes at all,” Jackson burst out laughing to the many journalists gathered in the Ravens auditorium.
“He’s a great quarterback, definitely a future Hall of Famer. I believe we will see a match between two rising greats who will fight like a heavyweight fight. That’s how I see it,” he continued his comparison with fine art.
No pressure
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Except that in the days leading up to a championship fight, the tension in the room is palpable. The atmosphere in the Ravens' locker room is relaxed, even if the players don't have the Chiefs' experience in big moments.
No loud shouting, no loud music, no big explanations. We feel that this presence in the conference finals was clearly not the main goal.
While most quarterbacks retire after their weekly press conference and practice, Jackson stayed at his locker for long periods, snooping on his phone and laughing with reserve Tyler Huntley. Just like it was the beginning of a week in September.
“There is no pressure on my shoulders or in my head. I've been thinking about the Super Bowl, but we can't forget what lies ahead. These boys [les Chiefs] are the champions. To become a champion, you must first go through the champions,” emphasized Jackson.
A new era
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The beauty of this matchup between the Chiefs and Ravens is that the unconventional styles of both of their quarterbacks would have been a hindrance in the NFL 15 years ago. Today, Mahomes amazes fans with his impossible angle passes and Jackson racks up incredible stats both on the ground and in the passing game.
The Ravens pivot is also the first in NFL history to reach the conference finals while also being his team's leader on the floor. He also set a quarterback record by becoming the Ravens' all-time quarterback for the fifth straight season.
In a time not long ago when quarterbacks had to behave well in their protective pocket and never stray from the established order, two phenoms like Mahomes and Jackson would never have become the faces of the NFL.
Today they are preparing for the fifth confrontation and the first entry into the playoffs.
“I knew we would play games like this when our careers started to improve, and I'm sure this will be just the first of many,” said Mahomes, who leads the team with three wins and one loss .
A first final in Baltimore in 53 years
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OWLING MILLS, Md | The last time there was a conference final in Baltimore, the Ravens didn't exist. It was January 1971 when the legendary Johnny Unitas led the then team, the Colts, to victory.
The Colts moved to Indianapolis in 1984 and the Ravens came from Cleveland in 1996. And all this to say that for the first time in their history they are in the American Conference finals in front of their fans.
“It’s significant. We must now continue the work and win. That’s the challenge,” said head coach John Harbaugh, who is making his fourth Finals appearance since taking over with the Ravens in 2008.
A victory for the city
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In the Ravens' locker room, kicker Justin Tucker is the longest-serving player. In his 12th season of faithful service, he fully understands how emotional Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore will be. Already at the second round game last Saturday it seemed to be extremely loud in the audience. It's hard to imagine the great atmosphere that will prevail in the city on Sunday after 53 years of waiting.
“I love this city. The whole team, we love this city. We want to inspire the fans. They are always present. We will continue to win for them.
“It is very special for our organization. We worked hard to get here and we deserved it in this game. This city is full of people who adore their birds. They love football. We want to reward them with championship experience with the opportunity to secure our Super Bowl presence here in Baltimore,” he concluded.
An honor for young people
Even the youngest people in the locker room, like center Tyler Linderbaum, recognize the magnitude of the moment.
“Absolutely! There are only four teams left alive and it's so hard to get this far. We can't take anything for granted and we want to play in this locker room for older players who haven't had a chance to get there yet,” said he.
For his part, quarterback Lamar Jackson didn't want to step back in time and imagine what he would feel coming out of the tunnel and jumping onto the field to deafening cheers.
“Our mission is not yet complete. When it’s ready, we can talk about it,” he said.
IN SUMMARY…
Media madness
It's difficult to see Odell Beckham through journalists, cameras and microphones. Stephane Cadorette
OWLING MILLS, Maryland | Sometimes we listen to people talk about the media pressure surrounding the Montreal Canadiens and we imagine it's an apocalypse like nowhere else. You have to see what a zoo it is in the Ravens locker room this week. Asking a star player like wide receiver Odell Bekcham Jr. a question is almost an obstacle course. A team publicist told us that 300 accreditations were awarded for the game's official broadcaster, CBS alone. Around 200 other journalists have accredited themselves in the press gallery, including you.
Welcome to the “Château”!
The Ravens headquarters, nicknamed the Castle. Stephane Cadorette
OWLING MILLS, Maryland | The least we can say is that the Ravens do not skimp on the comfort of the players and staff of the organization, where the team is based in a suburb about forty minutes from Baltimore in Owling Mills. The building, nicknamed the “castle” because of its fortress-like appearance, houses the team's offices, locker room and training center. The whole thing was built in 2004 and renovated five years ago for 45 million. The Ravens even bought seven houses to expand their 33-acre property. Inside, the two Super Bowl trophies from the 2000 and 2012 seasons, as well as the team legends that have a place in the hallways, are featured prominently in giant photos. The headquarters is more than spacious and even has a player rest area with a hair salon.
Beauty treatment in the stadium
The Ravens' stadium, M&T Stadium, will be upgraded over the next three years. IMAGE PROVIDED BY BALTIMORE RAVENS
OWLING MILLS, Maryland | Shortly after the conclusion of the duel between the Ravens and the Chiefs, M&T Bank Stadium is stormed by workers. Extensive renovation work worth 430 million is planned for the stadium, which opened in 1998 and will last until 2026. A reception area with various concessions will be set up. Further improvements will be made to changing rooms, video screens and sound, among other things. The Ravens have already spent $220 million on stadium improvements since opening.