Marlon Humphrey, Roquan Smith send warnings to Ravens ahead of Steelers game

The 6-6 Baltimore Ravens will host the 6-6 Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday for a game that will determine which club will finish the weekend sitting atop the AFC North standings. 

On Wednesday, multiple Baltimore players spoke openly about the importance of the Week 14 clash.

Marlon Humphrey challenges teammates to be "a Raven"

"If you can't get up for this one, I think that shows something about your character [and] your will," Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey said about Sunday's showdown, per Jamison Hensley of ESPN. "And honestly, I think that just shows if you are a Raven or if you're not a Raven. I think how we come out of this game and how we prepare this week kind of echoes, not only for this game, but for the rest of the season, because we're basically in playoff football right now. ...They say that there's no must-win game, but this is definitely a must-win game."

The Ravens entered their Week 7 bye at 1-5 as star quarterback Lamar Jackson was dealing with a right hamstring injury. Baltimore then notched five straight wins before the club suffered a 32-14 Thanksgiving night loss to a Cincinnati Bengals side that had quarterback Joe Burrow back in the lineup for the first time since Week 2. 

The 4-8 Bengals are hoping Burrow's return could help them leapfrog both the Ravens and Steelers in the division standings. 

"If someone told you that you can control your own destiny, what would you give up? We're in that position right now," Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith explained. "So, it's more about what you're going to do with it, and it's not about talking about it. It's more about showing with your actions."

Ravens not taking slumping Steelers lightly

The Steelers are in the middle of a funk that has pockets of fans and even franchise legends calling for the team to move on from longtime head coach Mike Tomlin. Meanwhile, safety Alohi Gilman featured for the Los Angeles Chargers from 2020 up until he was traded to Baltimore this past October. On Wednesday, he acknowledged that he is "tired of hearing" that a player is "not officially a Raven" until that individual is part of a win over the rival Steelers. 

"We're going to go do it," Gilman added. 

As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Ravens as six-point home favorites over the Steelers. Those two teams will play again at Pittsburgh's Acrisure Stadium in Week 18.