'My Butt Is Going To Be Blocking Bosa!' Ravens Christmas Focus Is On The Game, Not Presents

The Baltimore Ravens are searching for the perfect balance between embracing the true meaning of Christmas and one of its extracurriculars.

'Twas the night before Christmas, nothing could be finer. Not a Raven was stirring ... because they're playing the 49ers.

Christmas is anything but a holiday for the Baltimore Ravens, who have lucked into one of the most anticipated regular-season games in recent NFL memory when they face the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night in Santa Clara. 

Lamar Jackson, Ravens Santa, John Harbaugh (L_R) / FanStreamSports.com

Football games on Christmas aren't as much of a time-honored tradition as NBA contests but if the ratings are any indication (a tripleheader from last season averaged nearly 23 million eyes a game), they're not going anywhere anytime soon. That, of course, leads to the question and mental well-being of the participants, many of whom will have to be on the road on the holiday that places a particular emphasis on family. 

"When you play in the NFL or any major sports league that operates in the winter, and you play long enough, eventually you're going to have a game on a holiday," kicker Justin Tucker said, per the team's official site. "There's something really special about it. It's tough when you want to have time with your family on the actual day, but you adapt a little bit and celebrate Christmas in your own special way."

According to the report, those of the purple uniforms are taking varying approaches to observing the 25th: no traditional walk-through will be held on Saturday and the team's flight to the Bay Area has been delayed, giving the players more time to make last-minute adjustments for Santa Claus' arrival.

Some of the fathers have somewhat lucked out: running back Justice Hill said that his two-year-old daughter is too young to be aware of the Santa legend and simply "just wants to open boxes." Blocker John Simpson is taking advantage of the fact his newborn is "clueless" and will celebrate on Dec. 26 when the Ravens come home.

Tucker isn't as blessed in that sense: his son Easton is seven, perhaps the height of Santa belief. The longtime Baltimore kicker, one of the few leftovers from Baltimore's last Christmas excursion (a 31-27 loss to Pittsburgh in 2016), plans to get up early to see what Santa brought over FaceTime.

"Santa Claus still has to make the rounds the night of Christmas Eve so that the toys that the elves work their tails off to make can get delivered on Christmas morning. We know that's happening," Tucker said. "I've got to see what Santa dropped off for Easton, so I'm just as curious and excited as he is."

At the heart of it, however, Santa may be involved, but the focus is on Clara, not Claus. 

Baltimore and San Francisco probably won't get lost in the Super Bowl preview hoopla that has surrounded the game and its interconference nature doesn't put it at the forefront of tiebreaker debates. But a win for either side would guarantee that they continue to hold the first-round vacation that comes with top-seed honors no matter what happens on a busy weekend. Baltimore can win the AFC North by combining a win over San Francisco with a Cleveland Browns' loss or tie to Houston on Sunday.

That's why some, such as linebacker Roquan Smith, are seeing Monday's game as purely business.

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"When you sign up for something, that's what you sign up for. It's work," Smith said. "That's all it is at the end of the day and that's how I'm looking at it."

Simpson's fellow blocker Morgan Moses, a father of four, hinted that the only sign of red in his house might be the 49ers' red throwback uniforms.

"My (butt) is going to be blocking Nick Bosa," Moses lightheartedly declared when asked how he'll plan for Christmas. 

Since its inception, Baltimore has played two games on Christmas Day, the other being a 30-23 victory at home over Minnesota in 2005.