LB KEITH BULLUCK
(On how the team is preparing coming off the bye )
I think we had a great three days of practice last week and we came out yesterday flying. Our whole mentality and approach to practice is practice how we are going to play on Saturday. I don't expect us to come out slow. I don't expect us to come out missing a beat. I expect us to come out firing on all cylinders and start out fast and try to win this game.
(On if he cherishes the physical matchup this week)
I'm with it. That is the kind of football that I came into this league playing. I have been playing for Jeff Fisher since 2000. That is the only thing that I know as an NFL player. No one on this team backs down from no one. We welcome that. We have to welcome it because we are the home team.
(On whether it is strange playing against former teammates Samari Rolle and Derrick Mason)
It is not weird anymore because they have been there for a few years. They have helped that organization win. They have helped that organization beat this organization. A lot of time has passed. I still have a great relationship with Samari. I'm still cool with D-Mase [Derrick Mason]. It is a business. Unfortunately, they are on the other team this time around. We are all playing for big things right now.
RB CHRIS JOHNSON
(On facing the Ravens earlier in the season)
It is tough to run against those guys. Basically coming into this game, we have to run the ball better than we did last time. Hopefully if we get the running game going then it can help us get a win.
(On what makes the Ravens so difficult to run against)
I feel like they don't want anyone to run against them. That is what they pride themselves on. They also have a lot of athletic linebackers.
(On anticipating and preparing for a physical matchup)
We are ready for a physical game. We feel like we are physical. We practice against one of the best defenses in the NFL every week. I feel like that prepares us every week for the game.
QB KERRY COLLINS
(On facing the Ravens again)
They are obviously playing really well. The defense is playing great. We have to have a good week of practice to get ready for them because they are playing really well.
(On if he can learn from what the Ravens defense did to Chad Pennington last week)
Obviously, we need to limit the number of turnovers and limit the number of mistakes. They forced Chad into a lot of them and it had a big impact in the game. We will try to learn from it and not make the same mistakes they did.
(On what it is like to face the Ravens defense)
It is a challenge, there is no question. They are a very good defense. Schematically they don't give you a lot. On third downs they have a lot of exotic blitzes and things like that. You always have to be on your toes because they are very sound in what they do.
(On facing the Ravens defense for the second time this year)
The fact that we prepared for them one time already this year, it helps with the familiarity standpoint of it. They really haven't changed a whole lot. They are probably playing better now than they were then. They really don't change what they do. They do what they do, and they do it real well.
(On his comments after the first meeting about how he got off to a slow start)
Obviously, I didn't get off to a great start last time we played them. That is part of it. Our goal this week is just to limit the number of mistakes and turnovers.
G JAKE SCOTT
(On the importance of home crowd noise)
The fans understand. If you go out and they are loud, it makes it hard to communicate for an offense or defense. That helps out, it's obvious. You get more false starts on the road than you get at home and it is all because of crowd noise.
(On Ravens defensive line and how they protect Ray Lewis and Ed Reed)
They are good up front. Every year they are one of the best defenses in the league. You can't argue with the success that they have had. They play hard and they know what they are doing. It is going to be a good challenge for us.
(On the potential absence of Kevin Mawae and how that affects the other veterans on the line)
That is something we have to do every week. We have to help each other out on every play and make sure everybody knows what they are doing. If it is Leroy [Harris] or Kevin or whoever it is, we all have to help each other to know what is going on.
DT ALBERT HAYNESWORTH
(On if he had any questions about his health heading into today's practice)
No, none at all. I didn't have any questions. Once I ran the other day, I knew I was fine. I didn't feel it or anything like that. I was good.
(On how crucial it is to get pressure on Joe Flacco)
We have to. We have to get after him and we have to hit him as many times as we possibly can. We have to make him uncomfortable. We have to make him realize that he is not welcome in our stadium. We have to knock him down as many times as we possibly can.
(On how the injuries to himself and Kyle Vanden Bosch affected the first meeting)
I'm sure it did [affect the game], but you can't tell. We have great guys that back us up and can probably start anywhere else. We are just going to go out there and try to get that rhythm back and get back to our old selves, Salt and Pepper.
RB LENDALE WHITE
(On his respect for Ray Lewis and how long he has played the game at a high level)
I respect Ray Lewis a lot. My hat goes off to him considering what he has been through and where he is at now. Ray Lewis deserves everything that he is getting, all the publicity and all the people that say he is great. He is doing it. A lot of people want to play as long as he does and to get to that point he obviously prepares. He knows the game so well that he has put himself in position to be here this long. My hat definitely goes off to him. I'm excited for him, but at the same time I'm excited for my guys too. There are a lot of guys that have been around here a long time too, Keith Bulluck, Kevin Mawae, Craig [Hentrich]. There are people that have been here and they want it just as bad as everyone else. This is a 'want to' game. It is not about who is a Hall of Famer on either side. It is about who wants it and who is going to go after it.
TE BO SCAIFE
(On what the team can learn from last season's playoff experience)
You need to execute in the playoffs, that is what it is about. You have to run the ball and everyone has to do their job. You have to play well and that is how you get to the big show.
(On Kerry Collins' experience)
He has been good for us all year. Now we are in the postseason and he has been there a bunch of times and played a bunch of snaps. I think everyone is going to follow his lead as far as the offense is concerned. It should be a good game for us.
(On the play of Ed Reed)
He is a great player and we have a lot of respect for him. I don't think we are going to shy away from him at all. Obviously, we are going to know where he is at on the field. He probably is going to make some plays, but we have guys that are going to make plays on him too. It is going to be a good game. I'm excited.
LB DAVID THORNTON
(On playing against Joe Flacco)
We are definitely going to try to create some pressure and get him rolling out of the pocket and force some errant throws. Those are the things that he is not doing now. Those are the things that he did earlier in the season. Hopefully we can continue to create pressure and force him to make some throws and get some turnovers.
CB CORTLAND FINNEGAN
(On the emotions of this game)
Every play counts, it is the playoffs. It is win or go home. You can't be too emotionally involved in the game. You have to play within the game and let the game come to me. We know [Derrick] Mason is a very good receiver. He will be coming after me and likewise. It will be a good, intense game for the both of us.
(On if he likes the opportunity to play the Ravens again)
Absolutely. Any time you can play a good football team it is a challenge. I look forward to that. This team looks forward to that. It is raising the bar one step. They are a good defense. We feel like we are. We just have to showcase that on Saturday.
