"AMERICA'S GAME: 2012 BALTIMORE RAVENS" DEBUTS EXCLUSIVELY ON NFL NETWORK MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 AT 9:00 PM ET
Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco, Linebacker Ray Lewis & Head Coach John Harbaugh Recount the Baltimore Ravens' 2012 Super Bowl Winning Season
"We weren't pretty. We weren't perfect... But at least we were us."
- John Harbaugh
Oscar-Nominated Actor Edward Norton Narrates
The Baltimore Ravens were 5-2 headed into their bye week. While most NFL teams would gratefully sign up for those circumstances, the Ravens were at a crossroads. Inside a tumultuous meeting room in Owings Mills, MD, a strong-minded head coach was facing his strong-minded team and the season hung in the balance.
While the meeting was described in the media as a mutiny, in actuality, a championship team was molded. The Ravens won their next four games, and despite struggling down the stretch, recovered to win the AFC North. Then, with three wins in the AFC playoffs and a 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans, the Baltimore Ravens were crowned Super Bowl Champions.
On September 2 at 9:00 PM ET exclusively on NFL Network, re-live the Ravens' entire Championship journey through the NFL Films-produced America's Game: 2012 Baltimore Ravens. The one-hour edition of the Emmy-Award winning series features exclusive interviews with Super Bowl MVP & quarterback Joe Flacco, linebacker Ray Lewis, and head coach John Harbaugh.
Oscar-nominated actor, Edward Norton narrates.
NFL Films captures the entirety of a Championship voyage which commenced in 2008 when the Ravens hired Harbaugh and drafted Flacco in the first round of the NFL Draft. The special takes viewers through the season with behind-the-scenes video and sound from Ravens team meetings, locker rooms, fields, and coaching booths. It is an all-encompassing, inside look at the Super Bowl champions.
In addition to the infamous team meeting, events featured in America's Game: 2012 Baltimore Ravens include:
· Ray Lewis' last ride: The Ravens' journey through the playoffs was anything but standard. From Lewis' final home game, to the miracle comeback vs. the Denver Broncos, a rematch vs. the New England Patriots - all while John Harbaugh knew his brother, San Francisco head coach Jim Harabugh, had already clinched a trip to the Super Bowl - the Ravens journey to New Orleans was unique. Then, while the Ravens had a 28-6 lead, the Super Bowl suffered a 34-minute power outage delay in an unprecedented event. The three-week whirlwind is remembered in detail by Harbaugh, Flacco, and Lewis.
· Evolution of Ravens Offense: The relationship between Harbaugh and Flacco has grown in stages since 2008. America's Game: 2012 Ravens documents Flacco's frustration with the Ravens conservative approach and his desire to open up the offense more. Additionally, Flacco admits the burden he felt when offensive coordinator Cam Cameron was fired so late in the season. With a new philosophy and new understanding of how the offense needed to operate, Harbaugh explains how the transformation from a Joe Frazier-style into Muhammad Ali-style offense is what propelled the team to first an AFC Championship and then a Super Bowl.
· The Non-Tackle: The Ravens were one special-team tackle away from the Super Bowl Championship when Flacco had one last order for his teammates - make an illegal play. Was the quarterback joking? America's Game: 2012 Baltimore Ravens provides the uncut audio and Flacco's explanation.
· Ray Lewis' final home game: From the polarizing entrance to his first ever appearance on offensive side of the ball, Lewis had an emotional and successful final home game of his career.
· The Ray Lewis entrance: A ritual in Baltimore for 17 years almost ended in 2008, Harbaugh's first as a head coach. Why did Harbaugh and Lewis almost scrap the dance and for what reasons? Harbaugh explains.
· Brother vs. Brother Super Bowl: In a Super Bowl that was truly a family affair, hear the embraces that John Harbaugh had with 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh on the field before and after the Super Bowl. Additionally, hear what John said to his parents immediately after defeating his brother.
· Muhammad Ali's inspiration: Any good coach digs deep for motivational tactics. After showing the team countless films of Muhammad Ali, the message of the prize-fighter hit home when Ali visited the Ravens.
Quotes from America's Game: 2012 Baltimore Ravens:
- "People get crazy every now and again. Guys get in arguments and that is what happened."
- Joe Flacco on the bye week meeting which changed the course of the team
- "It was challenging, it was tough. A bunch of strong-minded men, but the good news was they had a strong-minded head coach standing in front of them. So if there was going to be a fight, let's have a fight."
- John Harbaugh on the bye week meeting which changed the course of the team
- "We probably got more accomplished in that half hour towards becoming the Champions that we were going to become than any half hour we had done all year. I couldn't have been happier when we walked out of the meeting. I wasn't too happy while it was going on. It was tough."
- Harbaugh on the bye week meeting which changed the course of the team
- "Sizzle was like 'You need to get back, everything is out of order. As soon as the General leaves, it is all messed up. I have never had a meeting like that in my life.'"
- Ray Lewis on what he had heard from teammate Terrell Suggs regarding the bye week meeting which changed the course of the team
- "I was in awe of the moment; for that to play out the way it did, that game was the marker to say that this team had what it takes. It was the key to the whole season."
-Harbaugh on the victory over the New England Patriots in which wide receiver Torrey Smith had a career game in the wake of the death of his brother
- "Ali inspired us with that attitude - it is never pretty, but we can find a way to win."
- Lewis on the inspiration the team drew from prize fighter Muhammad Ali
- "We weren't pretty. We weren't perfect... But at least we were us."
- Harbaugh on the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens
- "It is an awkward question, but it is what you have to believe. I really believe if you are going to be any good in this league that is what you have to think about yourself." -
Flacco on saying he believes he is the best quarterback in the NFL on a Baltimore radio station
- "You feel somewhat responsible for that. You are the leader of the offense and what makes it go."
- Flacco on the firing of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron
- "I thought about the point that we're going to have to beat Peyton Manning and Tom Brady to get to where we wanted to be. I think that makes it a little bit cooler."
- Flacco on Ravens' journey through the playoffs
About America's Game
America's Game, an Emmy Award-winning series, delves deep into the story behind the making of Super Bowl champions. Each episode is a 60-minute documentary, featuring key members of the winning team telling behind-the-scenes accounts from their championship season. With the signature NFL Films footage, combined with news clips and photos, highlights from team radio broadcasts, inside looks from team meeting rooms, sideline audio and other exclusive features, America's Game provides an epic and intimate portrait of championship teams.
About NFL Network
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