Jamison Hensley, ESPN Personnel Scribbler
LONDON — The utmost and most effective alternative moment the Baltimore Ravens performed in England, educator John Harbaugh spent the gliding house gazing his staff’s 44-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He couldn’t consider what he noticed. His staff used to be unrecognizable.
A terrible case of jet lag and an sudden political distraction left the avid gamers with out a legs, refuse focal point and — in hindsight — refuse prospect of profitable.
Harbaugh nearest stand in entrance of journalists and insisted one loss doesn’t outline a season. However he did recognize how this one loss formed his view on enjoying in a foreign country.
“To be honest with you, and maybe I’ll get into trouble for saying this, don’t plan on going over there anytime soon to play again,” Harbaugh mentioned in September 2017. “So, somebody else can have that job.”
Six years nearest, the Ravens are coming off a disheartening 17-10 loss to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers and head again to England, the place they’re going to play games the Tennessee Titans on Sunday (9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Community).
There are seven avid gamers excess from that 37-point loss, which is tie for the biggest margin of defeat in franchise historical past. However for many who persisted the embarrassment, there’s no debate as to the place that defeat ranks.
It used to be “the worst loss in the history of the Ravens or Baltimore sports,” Harbaugh advised “The Adam Jones Podcast” previous this past.
When requested in the event that they be expecting any flashbacks, the avid gamers identified that it’s a special stadium — Tottenham Hotspur rather of Wembley — and it’s a special regimen. Rather of arriving Friday morning just like the Ravens did in 2017, Baltimore landed this moment in England on Monday afternoon. The Titans are using the similar technique.
“[The last time], I was walking through both a figurative and literal fog the whole time we were there, just because, well, it’s London. And also we were all just really tired,” Ravens kicker Justin Tucker mentioned. “But I know this go around, we’re fired up for the opportunity to go overseas and play in front of a badass crowd.”
Tucker after added, “As far as the last trip goes, what do we remember? It’s like I don’t care to remember anything about it. I’ll just leave it at that.”
Right here’s a have a look at one of the gut-wrenching days in Ravens historical past, as advised by way of the folk who skilled it:
‘We’re made for London’
In 2017, the Ravens manufacture an April Idiot’s Age prank video through which Harbaugh introduced the staff used to be touring to England on a boat hat integrated a complete soccer farmland. However Baltimore didn’t shoot the travel around the Atlantic flippantly. Within the first complete staff assembly of London age, Harbaugh spoke for 26 mins concerning the travel. He advised his avid gamers what garments they must put on at the gliding and what they must devour that age for optimum remainder. However, because the avid gamers quickly came upon, it used to be interested by naught.
Pat Ricard, fullback: I slept possibly an past or two at the airplane. It used to be sinful, for the reason that airplane, it used to be a special one than we’ve got now, it used to be this standard industrial gliding, so I couldn’t unfold out. I had a complete row to myself, however the arm remainder didn’t exit up. So, I simply didn’t holiday really well.
Joe Flacco, quarterback: Our plan used to be: We’re gliding over on Thursday evening and that’s your bedtime. Next you get up and it’s such as you’re out at the observe farmland at midday on your Friday observe, and also you hadn’t even long gone to the resort but. You’re proper from the airport to observe. And truthfully, I have in mind going out to observe on a Friday and feeling like, “OK, I don’t feel bad. Maybe this isn’t that bad.”
Gerry Sandusky, play-by-play announcer: I went over to shield the observe, and so they had this wonderful observe. [Safety] Eric Weddle used to be all jacked up. And I have in mind nearest they were given again at the bus, nearest the observe, Harbaugh used to be pronouncing, “That was one of the best practices we’ve had all year.” You’ll simply inform everyone used to be like, “We’re made for London.”
Flacco: However the later couple days, you didn’t actually holiday, and after there may be the 5 hours moment remaining. I simply suppose it’s tricky to account for that.
Michael Pierce, nostril take on: I sat later to Harbs [John Harbaugh] in a staff assembly and he used to be falling asleep. I more than likely must have mentioned that off the file, however that’s in reality true. I will be able to by no means disregard that. In order I used to be suffering [and] Educator Harbs used to be suffering.
‘Guys had been nice-looking torn about it’
At the Friday prior to the sport, then-President Donald Trump struck a nerve with NFL avid gamers all through a political rally in Alabama. He mentioned if an NFL proprietor reacted to a participant protesting all through the nationwide anthem by way of pronouncing, “Get that son of a b—- off the field right now. Out. He’s fired. He’s fired!” that proprietor would, “be the most popular person in this country.”
Kevin Byrne, society family members : It actually were given to [linebacker Terrell] Suggs. … Terrell, who had refuse intentions of kneeling, determined, “I’m kneeling.” And avid gamers, particularly younger avid gamers on that staff, actually listened to him, as a result of he put it in a standpoint that wasn’t there.
Flacco: We had hashed that out for a reliable quantity of moment on what guys sought after to do, and I feel in the long run guys had been nice-looking torn about it. There have been guys that sought after to [kneel] and guys that felt actually strongly about in need of to, and guys that didn’t really feel that strongly.
Byrne: I have in mind the league calling me and pronouncing, “What do you hear from your players?” I talked to John [Harbaugh] and Ozzie [Newsome, then the general manager] and so they each mentioned [the players are] humming about it. And Terrell used to be actually disappointed, however John used to be looking to store the point of interest, telling the avid gamers, “Let’s remember now what we’ve seen on tape all week. These guys [the Jaguars] are good.”
Ricard: I feel Trump and all of the kneeling actually were given to a couple guys’ heads. I feel they had been extra fascinated with that than enjoying within the recreation.
‘Didn’t really feel alive’
The Ravens began 2017 as probably the most govern groups within the NFL. Baltimore started 2-0 with wins at Cincinnati and residential in opposition to Cleveland. The Ravens outscored them by way of a blended 44-10. However, because the staff made its solution to Wembley Stadium, the ones at the buses knew it used to be now not getting to be the Ravens’ presen.
Pierce: I fell right into a deep holiday on how to the stadium. Like asleep, asleep. Fortunately that used to be a protracted bus experience. However yeah, my holiday time table used to be shot. I used to be like, “I’m in trouble, man.”
Sandusky: [Former Ravens tight end] Dennis Pitta used to be my broadcast spouse that past, and he’s sitting slumped in his bus seat, leaning up in opposition to the window together with his legs stretched out. And he mentioned, “Man, I’m glad I retired because I couldn’t possibly play a game today. I’m wiped out.” He used to be floored at how a lot jet lag he had. He mentioned, ‘I am hoping those guys really feel higher than I do.’ And because the recreation opened up, you already know: Nope, they didn’t.
Flacco: I certainly didn’t really feel alive all through that recreation. It used to be simply a type of such things as, the primary moment you do it, you don’t actually know what you’re doing. You exit in with a plan and after the later factor you understand you’re like, “Wow, I think we’re all dragging here a little bit.”
‘Rise with our brothers’
When the nationwide anthem performed, the Ravens had a number of avid gamers who took a knee, together with Suggs, C.J. Mosley, Za’Darius Smith, Mike Wallace, Tony Jefferson, Anthony Levine, Lardarius Webb, Carl, Davis, Willie Henry and Matthew Judon. About 10 avid gamers knelt at the Jacksonville sideline.
Byrne: It used to be disjointed. There used to be obviously a dialogue at the farmland in pregame. I heard avid gamers speaking about it: ‘Are you kneeling?’ So there without a doubt used to be a distraction that approach.
Suggs (nearest the sport): We arise with our brothers. They’ve the correct, and we knelt with them as of late. To protest, non-violent protest, is as American because it will get, so we knelt with them as of late to allow them to know that we’re a unified entrance. There ain’t refuse dividing us. I supposition we’re all son of a b—-es.
Byrne: He used to be obviously indignant, and he sought after to let folk know that he used to be indignant. And thus we had, at that moment, the most important protest.
‘What the hell used to be that?’
The Jaguars jumped out to a 10-0 manage within the first quarter on a 17-yard landing catch by way of tight finish Marcedes Lewis, who completed the sport with 3 touchdowns — similar his overall from the former 3 seasons. Flacco didn’t entire a go till the 4:13 mark in the second one quarter, and his interception on a deep go in the second one quarter resulted in a 5-yard landing go from Blake Bortles to Allen Hurns.
Ricard: The Jaguars had been a actually excellent staff. They was at the AFC championship that past. They had been “Sacksonville.” However folk didn’t know that but.
Sandusky: I have in mind [then-Jaguars defensive end] Calais Campbell in every single place. I feel it felt like he had 50 tackles within the recreation, as a result of each and every alternative play games, I used to be pronouncing his title for Jacksonville.
Mike Wallace, large receiver (nearest the sport): I feel this one you must simply ball up and throw it within the trash transferring ahead. It came about, and also you simply wish to attempt and function find it irresistible by no means came about.
The Ravens, who had now not trailed at any level that season, had been indisposed 23-0 on the part. Baltimore allowed issues on 5 of the six drives within the first part and didn’t get a primary indisposed till 4 mins remained in the second one quarter. If the efficiency wasn’t humiliating plethora, Jacksonville educator Doug Marrone fauxed a punt age up 37-0. Flacco completed 8-of-18 passing for 28 yards, his fewest in a get started.
Flacco: If I may just erase one recreation from my reminiscence, that may more than likely be the only I’d select.
Byrne: When [the Jaguars] were given off to this type of admirable get started, it used to be like, “Oh my God, how do we get back into this game?” However, by way of that moment, Jacksonville’s having a look within the reflect pronouncing, “Hey, we are good. We got ’em on the run.” And provides them credit score, they saved us at the run. We by no means were given again within the recreation.
Flacco: We stayed unsleeping all of the experience [back to the United States]. A few us sat up at probably the most modest tabletops, more than likely in trauma and having a look at every alternative: What the [f—] simply came about? What the hell used to be that? We had been looking to have a humorousness about it, however on the similar moment similar to, holy s—, dude.
‘Certainly a insane past’
The Ravens misplaced 3 in their later 4 video games nearest coming back from London. Baltimore didn’t manufacture the playoffs, however there used to be any other urgent factor. In December, Ravens president Dick Cass despatched a letter to season-ticket holders, suite holders and sponsors concerning the selection of no-shows at M&T Storehouse Stadium that season, bringing up a protest all through the nationwide anthem as one possible explanation why. “The numbers [of no-shows] are higher, and it is noticeable,” Cass wrote.
Ricard: We had a number of participant conferences and staff conferences simply to exit over how we really feel [about social injustice] and what’s our observation of what we’re going to position out to the society. We simply had a bundle of lengthy talks with ourselves and the staff. It used to be roughly ongoing all season. Certainly a insane past.
Byrne: There used to be obviously pressure between the staff and a few enthusiasts nearest that. There used to be a bundle of aid for it, too, pronouncing, “We’re glad that some players stood up. We’re glad that the owner recognized the player’s rights to make a point of view or to express a point of view.” We were given each. The price tag workplace used to be busy. All our telephone strains had been being impaired.
Searching for ‘redemption’
Baltimore residue one of the green groups relating to enjoying in a foreign country. The Ravens are one in every of 9 NFL groups that experience performed just one world recreation for the reason that NFL began scheduling video games out of doors the U.S. in 2005.
Harbaugh: We’re getting to attempt to do higher than we did utmost moment. It wasn’t simply [arriving late in the week in 2017]. There have been alternative elements, if you happen to have in mind, that had been going down, that impacted our guys’ mindset within the recreation. That’s historical past now, and optimistically, we’re higher for it.
Suggs: That used to be now not a laugh in any respect. We simply couldn’t regulate to the moment and we had alternative s— occurring that had not anything to do with soccer. It wasn’t a excellent travel. It wasn’t a excellent travel in any respect.
Ricard: Expectantly we’re in a position to play games and in a position to get a modest redemption of our utmost travel.
Harbaugh: [A win Sunday] would manufacture me really feel a bundle higher about [England], I will inform you that. Each and every moment I see an image of Splendid Britain at the map, I’ve a reminiscence of that recreation.
