>> countdown presented by lynn the plumber. >> for the ravens the destiny is in reach, for a win in san diego and find themselves just two weeks away from a bye week. welcome to snap dragon stadium, it was called qualcomm and they must have acquired another company and those rights continue to evolve. but the ravens are looking for a fourth straight win, something they haven't done before under

coach john harbaugh. this team is all about ground transportation. that's because ray rice with 1600 yards, and more than 200 last against cleveland but san diego is a tough place to play in december. under the chargers with a 19-2, with the home games. but ray rice hopes they can wear down the chargers this evening. >> every playoff game i played the wild card and the divisional and the championship. and they all have been on the road. and it's tough. anyone will tell you that it's tough. and any team that has to play us in baltimore is tough as well. we don't have to play them other teams now, right now we have play the san diego chargers, and

that's the next task at hand. >> and for ray rice and his teammates it's a show-down in the national spotlight. you can see the game tonight, ravens and chargers on tv 11 with 8:20 kickoff and you can hear it at wbal radio and 98 rock. the chargers in a must-win situation for playoff alive and the ravens with a must-win. this must be a classic, and the weather is about perfect. it's cool, no breeze and no rain in the forecast. in other words, it's southern california. >> good, i was worried and wanted you to have perfect weather, because it's just lovely here. and we will check back with jerry, and talk about a banner

year, for harvard athletics and the crimson topped the 25 this season, and i sat down with one of their alums with a challenging position in basketball or football, that's center. matt burke. >> i will give it my best result, how i was raised. not about results but effort. and to have the opportunity at that time was pretty unheard of. and i said, i put off the real world for five or six months and give the football thing a shot. and when i showed up, my initial reaction was, there is no way i will last here, these guys are too good. but i was fortunate to have great coaches and a team where i could be a project. they had the luxury of making me a project. and here i am 14 years later. >> how did you go, you didn't play at the highest level as far as on the field in college.

and you get to the nfl and you say, just a project and see, how do you become a pro-bowler then? >> what i tell young people, everyone matures physically at different times. and i hadn't reach my potential in high school and i wasn't recruited by big-time teams because i was big enough. but i love everything about the training and the team aspect of the sport. just being a part of the team. and i think from that passion it's allowed me to work hard. and i was fortunate. i got in a situation in the league and got to work with some great older guys and great coaches. and after one or two years in the nfl this is a great way to make a living.

>> you go back to the alumni events and do they look at you, just a football player? when you have correspondence with your school? >> they think it's pretty cool. the guys i ran in college were athletes and hockey players and they think it's cool. and in the nfl you are traveling to a lot of different cities. and depending on where we are going, and guys in today's age and they reach out and i get to catch up with them. and being one of the guys from harvard in the nfl is unique. and other alumni pay attention and are pulling for me. >> you have been elsewhere and i am seeing through different glasses or something special? >> we all feel that the team and

the organization are capable of doing some special things here. and we have had our ups and downs like every team does. but this team has done a great job of focusing at the task at hand and not caught up in the big picture. first and foremost you have to take care of business in the nfl, and if you don't do that, nothing else matters. >> matt has been a great part of the community and the ravens control their own destiny. and we have an exciting announcement from our friends. >> in san diego be prepared for plenty of purple pride as

>> welcome back to ravens countdown and we have good news with mark burnett joining us with happiness for the holidays, with a five year partnership. >> thanks pete, we are happy for the ravens and couldn't be better and consistency and talent and you guys got it all, and the ravens got it. >> the raven's broadcasting, 98 rock and tv all working together. and we hope to have things going on year round. >> that's exciting and don't forget where we are on every night. >> and this partnership talk about what makes it special. >> the enthusiasm and the

knowledge and experience, and the energy and promotion. the working together, the partnership, it makes a difference. and we have reached the whole state and eastern coast. and we guys are proud of you and want to thank mark for the time to share the good news, and hope for a long playoff year. and the superbowl on nbc. >> don't get ahead of yourself. >> checking on the injury list, ray lewis missed last four games but won't miss the fifth, and will suit up in san diego. and billy cundiff on active and this will begin in about 35 minutes. more amazing one of these teams coming from houston.

and the texans continue to click off wins. houston has clenched a playoff berth and vying for that bye. and here ken newton was a number one over-all pick, and you see why, and in the end zone, 9-0 panthers with the lead. and here one is thrown like a third stringer pick. and texans go down by a final of 28-13. perfection on the line, and kansas city with the green bay packers in town, and here getting it going. and kansas with romeo at the helm, gets it done and putting it away and the chiefs give

green bay their first loss of the season. we will countdown for the game of ravens against the chargers, we invite you to stay up late for the key players in tonight's game. and as we head for break, a look outside of the station, yes we are proud to be the raven's broadcast team. be right back. ♪ [ female announcer ] this time of year you have a lot of festive meals. and safeway helps make every holiday meal a special occasion. so you can make all of your gatherings, just as merry as can be. get a boneless beef loin ny strip roast

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>> if you need a unique perspective on tonight's raven's game, check out our sports producer, christie shields blog, dash for the shrug, no christmas

sweater wasted on our christie shields. i had a chance to visit with the head coach, john harbaugh, and locked in on what a win could mean for the team in the short-term and long-term as well. >> coach, no understating the stakes in this win, a win could reach you a post-game win and that's not your ultimate goal, and to stay ahead in this race. >> this is what you work for and what we want to be best in december. and this game will demand our best. it's a good football team and a tough environment and we have to play our best football. >> your second trip to the west, do you try to draw on anything to the seattle trip? this is probably the most demanding thing that an athlete

plays, a six-hour flight and the time change. how do you make the adjustment for that so your players at peak? >> we are always adjusting and i don't know if seattle specifically and we have changed things in our schedule. and we have come out and won. >> chargers are a streaking team and what did you break out? >> what they do always well is big plays, they have big play receivers and running backs, they are not turning the ball over. it's a very football team. it's going to be a football team that demands our best to have a chance to win. >> they have big wide receivers and you have ray lewis back on defense, and how big of a motivator is that? >> it makes us complete but i am

proud ofow g-on our guys and we did well without ray but glad to have him. >> good luck. >>ul >> lardarius webb came out with a boot, but the good news is that webb is active tonight and will play. and cory lewis is active tonight. so the ravens finding a way to help before kickoff tonight. the ravens looking for a fifth straight win, and they hope to pick up where they left off the last week knocking off the indianapolis colts. and go down to field level with the sound tracks. >> in the back field and in the

shotgun, and showing blitz here it comes. and cory redding back to the 17 yard line. >> play fake and flacco with time, and fires caught, touchdown! cory smith the rookie from maryland with the first six points of the game. >> that's what you want to do is put the exclamation on the drive. >> and coming near side and splips a tackle and head and shoulder move and barrels down to the 26-yard line, for ray rice. out of the gun, and flacco fl s throws and taken down to the nine-yard line. ray rice goes around the left edge and darts in for the touchdown. >> oh, boy keep those crab cakes

warmed up. >> that was easy. >> play action and hit from behind, the ball comes loose and recovered by indianapolis. >> what matters if we lose? what have we done till then? nothing, it doesn't last forever but championships do. >> with pressure and throws incomplete. and with 5:16 to play, the hay is in the barn. >> that's the momentum that the ravens bring into san diego tonight. more to come on raven's countdown and we look at playoff central. with the titans losing today, the pittsburgh steelers have a playoff spot. and cincinnati is in the wild ward picture and the cleveland browns are

>> and we got you covered online as well. gilbert's arena at wbaltv.com, i share the college basketball ballot. and plus the occasional heart warming rant. we are just a couple of minutes away from football america. and the sunday night showcase between the ravens and the chargers. and san diego is like a lot of guys, needing to step up to the plate. and san diego needing to finish charge, the 6-7 chargers hanging by a thread in the afc west need

to win to keep their post-game hopes alive. the ravens know that the san diego team is down to their final shot and will play like a desperate dog. and williams is a man of few words. >> yeah, that's a great group. i think that -- it's well known and obvious from what they play. it will be the toughest challenge we have had this year. >> at least polite words. how about san diego in december, yeah, it's the ultimate get-away trip. and the ravens with themselves with a holiday gift. and jennifer with a number of fans with playoff hopes. >> playing a game across the country, no big deal for hundreds of raven fans that

booked a trip to san diego. with purple pride, ravens fans were checking in at the terminal heading west for the game. >> this is tons of raven fans and everyone is excited. can't wait, need this win. >> this is one of many jerseys that scott davis packed for the trip. one they are looking forward. >> there is a lot with a small market team we travel alone. >> nearly a hundred alone went to the web for tickets. >> we have friends and a place to stay. >> they know we are there, and they get wound up, and talked to brayden and will do a jump ball. they like the support. >> they are known as the posse,

familiar faces at every home game. captain defense is at the airport to send off the fans and support the team. >> when times are tough, we are the stands to keep them going. >> we are here to see them off and give them a bunch of high-fives, and bring back a victory. this is a business trip for the ravens. and come back with a win. >> we hear you captain defense. for all of these fans flying to san diego, that is nothing, they are prepared to go to the super bowl. >> thank you, jen, and i want to thank you all for stopping by for raven's countdown, and no need to go anywhere, with the game. and come after the game with raven's wrap-up. and leave you with images of

last sunday's night game against pittsburgh. that was fun. see ya. err [ female announcer ] at verizonfios.com,

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