'The Audacity!' John Harbaugh Rips Critics of Ravens Streak

When comes to those scoffing at the Baltimore Ravens' lengthy preseason streak, coach John Harbaugh doesn't want to hear from those who haven't played the game.

When it comes to Charm City sporting streaks, the spotlight returns to Cal Ripken Jr.

Eight years, 24 games, and 2,910 days later, the Baltimore Ravens have finally lost an NFL preseason game. The streak ended in a 29-28 thriller in favor of their inter-conference Mid-Atlantic rivals, the Washington Commanders, on Monday night in Landover. The 24-game exhibition winning streak was the longest in NFL history.

Thanks to the attention the streak brought upon them, Monday's loss yielded some extra jeers. Most critics questioned its legitimacy and worth in the eight years it ran, citing the increased meaninglessness of the games in question thanks to the dwindling snaps for starters. 

Unless those critics actually partook in an NFL training camp or game, however, head coach John Harbaugh won't offer a penny for their thoughts. 

“You’re proud of it, of course, you appreciate it, but the thing that you’re proud of is all those games were mostly just like that”, Harbaugh said in a video from ESPN. “Preseason games, people want to write about it and say they don’t mean anything because you never played the game. You were never out there in a preseason game. You never were fighting for a spot on the team.

"Yet you have the audacity to say that the effort that somebody puts into that to win and fight and win a game like that is meaningless. Tell it was meaningless, what you just saw. … I can’t respect anybody that says that."

Even with the added brand of history, Baltimore (1-1) likely won't lose much sleep over the final score. The defenders who allowed Washington's 14-play, 60-yard drive that led to kicker Joey Slye's game-winning 49-yard field are likely destined for practice squads or spring leagues. The Ravens can also revel in events like the Monday breakout of Zay Flowers, their most recent premier pick who scored his first unofficial NFL touchdown on the first drive of the game.

It's hardly a badge worth wearing, but Monday's summer sizzler at FedEx Field perhaps went down as one of the tensest games in NFL preseason history. The Commanders made no secret of their desire to end the Ravens' streak and its conclusion can be viewed as a treat for fans of a downtrodden franchise facing its first sign of long-term, legitimate hope upon transfer of ownership from Dan Snyder to Josh Harris. 

The Ravens have a chance to start a new streak in Saturday night's preseason finale, which will see them hit the road to battle the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 7 p.m. ET.

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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