For the Baltimore Ravens there's no question that their biggest rivals are the Pittsburgh Steelers. In fact, the Ravens-Steelers rivalry is arguably the best in the NFL.
But a team that is often an afterthought in terms of rivals for the Ravens happens to be the Cincinnati Bengals. When you think about it, it's only natural for the Ravens to resent them, playing the Bengals twice a year, but the hate is not as strong as it is for the Steelers.
Recently some comments by Ravens personnel on Wednesday may have showed that the Ravens do see the Bengals as true rivals after all.
According to CBSSports.com's Jason Butt, head coach John Harbaugh gave Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green high praise.
By saying that Green is possibly the best wide receiver in the NFL, coach Harbaugh is taking a tactic out the Bill Belichick and Tom Brady book of things to do prior to games: always give praise to the opponent. For Harbaugh to say this is not normal, and it's only fitting that he says it against a division rival.
Now of course Green is not the best receiver in the NFL, but Harbaugh saying he is, just adds fuel to Monday's game.
If the Ravens defense can shutdown Green like they've done in the past, it will look more impressive as opposed to if Harbaugh had not mentioned Green at all.
Late it seemed that Harbaugh's comments weren't the only ones to surface about Green.
According to ESPN.com, Baltimore safety Bernard Pollard told reporters that if Green runs across the middle of the field "we are going to let you know that you came across the middle on the wrong team."
Pollard is one of the league's most physical safeties, and his comments made the game a bit more exciting.
Though he did also give praise for Green after his previous comments, the matchup between Green and the Ravens secondary is now the most intriguing matchup in Monday night's game.
