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Ravens coach John Harbaugh happy with QB trio

By Todd Karpovich, The Sports Xchange
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reacts during the first half of an NFL game against the Oakland Raiders on November 25 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Photo by David Tulis/UPI
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reacts during the first half of an NFL game against the Oakland Raiders on November 25 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said there is no quarterback controversy in Baltimore.

Rookie Lamar Jackson has led the Ravens to three straight victories in place of the injured Joe Flacco, who still has not been cleared by doctors to play in a game.

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The Ravens, however, face their biggest test of the season Week 14 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Harbaugh has not tipped his card about who will start that game if Flacco is healthy enough to play.

Instead, he is just happy to have Jackson, Flacco and third-stringer Robert Griffin III able to make plays.

"We're rock solid," Harbaugh said. "We are blessed with these quarterbacks. One of the guys on the sideline said 'I can't believe your quarterback situation. You have one of the best quarterback situations.' I have to say I believe that. We have three genuine winning quarterbacks that can do it for us. There will be no controversy.

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"Our guys want to win. They know our guys want to win. Whatever way we decide to go will only to make our team the strongest it can be. Maybe we play all three. Maybe we play one. We'll figure it out," he said.

The Ravens (7-5) are coming off a spirited 26-16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons and currently own the sixth playoff spot in the AFC. Baltimore is also just a half-game behind the first-place Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North.

The team has essentially flipped the script on the entire season.

Some critics thought Baltimore was destined to miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year after enduring a three-game losing streak entering their bye week.

The Ravens now control their own destiny to make the playoffs.

Harbaugh never lost confidence in his players.

"The words I would use are faith and guts. Faith and courage," he said. "Belief in one another. It's amazing the locker room we have. They deserve the credit. They understand what to believe, how to believe and how to believe in one another. How to believe in bigger things to make it about things that are important. Keep fighting, keep grinding and find a way.

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"I don't think we doubted. Nobody in the locker room doubted that we are doing whatever we are going to do. We're not done. We're 7-5, you know? We're not sitting here 12-0. We're still fighting for our lives."

--QB Joe Flacco (hip) missed his third straight game Week 13 against the Falcons. While Flacco was able to practice, coach John Harbaugh said he was not cleared to play in a game. As a result, rookie Lamar Jackson made his third straight start.

--RB Kenneth Dixon was activated from injured reserve Saturday and finished with eight carries for 37 yards against Atlanta. Dixon was placed on IR on Sept. 12 after leading the team with 13 carries for 44 yards and one rushing touchdown against Buffalo. Dixon has seen action in 14 games for the Ravens after originally being selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

--RB Alex Collins (foot) was placed on Injured Reserve. He ran for 411 yards and seven touchdowns this season. In 2017, he had a breakout performance with 973 yards and six touchdowns, earning a starting role. Collins will be e a restricted free agent after the season.

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--OL James Hurst (back) practiced last week for the first time in more than two months. However, he was ruled active for sixth-consecutive game against the Falcons.

--S Tony Jefferson (ankle) was inactive against the Falcons. He suffered the injury the prior game against the Raiders. Jefferson was replaced by Chuck Clark in the starting lineup. Jefferson could return this week against the Chiefs.

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