OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — From the moment they arrived at training camp in July through the waning seconds of their game in Pittsburgh on Sunday, the Baltimore Ravens worked in unison to achieve one overriding goal: qualify for the playoffs.
"We wanted to win the game," coach John Harbaugh said. "When you put that much into it — heart, soul, effort, believe in one another, a lot of hard work — it's going to sting."
The Ravens put up a heck of a fight in a hostile environment, but couldn't close the deal.
"We feel very excited about where we are as a football team," Harbaugh said. "I know we're a very good football team. That's evident in the way we play."
"That's the nature of football and that's the nature of life," Harbaugh said. "We have a week of football left to play and we intend to make the most of it. I know all of our players feel the same way."
"Our guys handled it very well. There's just no denying that," Harbaugh said. "(The Steelers) just made another play in the end when it was all said and done."
For now,Wholesale Shoes Uk, however, Baltimore must focus on playing one final game. The re-adjusted goal,Shoes Clearance Sale Uk, like it or not,K?nken Ryggs?ck, is to finish with a winning season.
A sobering 31-27 defeat to the Steelers ended the Ravens' bid to reach the postseason, and it was evident Monday that it's going to take a lot longer than 24 hours to ease the feeling of disappointment.
But cornerback Jimmy Smith won't suit up, missing a third straight game with a high ankle sprain. The Ravens sure could have used him against Steelers receiver Antonio Brown, who had 10 catches for 96 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown.
The Ravens responded with a 21-14 win over Pittsburgh on Nov. 6, and they stayed in contention until the penultimate game of the season.
Harbaugh said he will use his starters against the Bengals (5-9-1), including linebacker Terrell Suggs and guard Marshal Yanda, both of whom have been playing through injuries.
The team's ability to bounce back was tested much earlier this season,Schuhe Online Kaufen Schweiz, after Baltimore lost four straight to fall to 3-4.
Harbaugh was hoping to have Smith back for the playoffs. Naturally, the coach wasn't counting on losing to Pittsburgh.
The Ravens (8-7) needed to beat both the Steelers and Cincinnati in the finale to win the AFC North. The first part of that equation seemed well in hand when Kyle Juszczyk scored on a gritty 10-yard run with 1:18 left for a 27-24 lead.
"Very disappointing," safety Lardarius Webb said afterward. "We worked our butts off all year to be at this point and have a chance."
There will plenty of time after the season for the Ravens to dissect what went wrong, determine who's to blame and decide which players (and coaches) won't be back.
"We do want to be 9-7. It's important to have one more win,Patriots Jersey Super Bowl 53," Harbaugh said. "That's what we do this for, that's what it's all about, and our guys are going to be fired up to do it. I would never question their resiliency."
But Pittsburgh answered with the game-winning touchdown with 9 seconds to go, leaving Baltimore out of the playoffs for the third time in four years.