Matt Birk: “Three Games Doesn’t Make a Season”
October 1, 2009 – 10:10 am by Jimmy Shapiro
This post was written by Chris Fedor of WKNR in Cleveland. A season ago, behind a rookie head coach and a rookie quarterback the Ravens advanced to the AFC Championship game where they were upended by the eventual Super Champion Steelers. People around the league wondered what they would do this season. They lost Rex Ryan and Bart Scott to the Jets, but in true Ravens fashion haven’t looked like they’ve missed a beat.
It’s only been three games into the NFL season, but the Ravens right now look like they have all the makings to finish the season at the head of the class in the AFC North and possibly represent the Conference in The Super Bowl. They have one of the best defenses in the NFL still and now they have an improved offense that is scoring over 34 points per game. It’s still way too early to get carried away and give them the crown, but this looks like an awfully strong team. With that being said, they have their toughest test of the season on the horizon as the Ravens travel to Foxboro to take on the Patriots.
Matt Birk joined WNST in Baltimore to talk about the 3-0 start to the season, last weekend’s demolition of the Browns, Joe Flacco as a quarterback and this weekend’s game against New England.
On the 3-0 start to the season:
“It has. It’s been nice. We’ve been able to play pretty well and have gotten three wins. That’s right where you want to be after three games, but I think this team realizes too that it’s just three games. Three games doesn’t make a season. There’s a heck of a long way to go. What good teams do is they keep getting better throughout the season and that’s really where our focus is at right now.”
On whether he thinks the Browns quit or not on Sunday:
“I didn’t sense that. I was going against Shaun Rogers and he’s a pretty awesome player, so I had my hands full all afternoon from start to finish. I would say that assessment isn’t accurate.”
Thoughts on Joe Flacco and the improved offense:
“No, he’s played well. Joe’s awfully talented. He’s got a great approach and a great disposition to play quarterback. It’s not just him. Our playmakers are making plays, their catching the ball, their running the ball, making guys miss and obviously Joe is a big part of that. He’s doing exactly what you want him to do.”
On whether there was any backlash over leaving Minnesota:
“Yeah, I think a little bit. First of all, I’m a center. It’s not like I’m the quarterback or the wide receiver or stuff like that. I love Minnesota. It will always be home for me, my wife is from there and it will always be home for us. Things in Minnesota were great, but we just felt like at the end of the day, we needed to try something new just kind of for our own personal growth, take a risk, and leave our comfort zone and just see something else. Obviously the Ravens are a big part of my life, but I have four kids, another one on the way, I have a life outside of football so that was part of the decision making process as well just as a family, for us to grow and to move somewhere else and try something new.”
On this weekend’s game vs. New England:
“Yeah, it’s a great challenge. The last decade, they’ve been the best team around and it starts with Tom Brady and what he’s accomplished. You’re talking about one of the best ever to play that position. It’s a great challenge for our team to go into their place, they’ve got it going pretty good right now and it’ll be a good challenge for us to see where we are at.”
Listen to Matt Birk on WNST in Baltimore with Drew Forrester
Tags: AFC North, Baltimore Ravens, Matt Birk, Ravens vs. Patriots
