Indianapolis Colts Football

HARBAUGH HAS CONNECTION TO LUCK

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has had a unique view in observing Andrew Luck over the past four years.

John’s brother, Jim, coached Luck for three seasons (2008-2010) at Stanford University, including his first two years as the Cardinal starting quarterback.

“A great player, great guy,” Harbaugh said of Luck. “We’ve met and talked, just following him because he was there the whole time with my brother at Stanford. Obviously (Jim) felt strongly about (Luck) and I just have the upmost respect for him.”

This weekend, Harbaugh is now faced with the task of game planning against a player he heard his brother rave about for the past few years.

While the Colts offense is almost entirely new to Harbaugh and his Ravens staff, one constant has remained and that’s the Pro Bowl caliber of Reggie Wayne.

“I think his game has gone to another level with some of the things he’s done,” Harbaugh said. “In that offense, he’s doing a lot of things that he hadn’t been asked to do before and he’s doing them very well.”

Heading into Sunday’s AFC Wild Card round, the Ravens are aiming for an NFL-best fifth straight season in which Baltimore has won at least one playoff game.

Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco has been the starter in each of those victories beginning in his rookie season.

This weekend Luck will become the first quarterback chosen No. 1 overall to start a playoff game that same year.

Back in his rookie season of 2008, Flacco led the Ravens all the way to the AFC Championship game and earlier this week he offered some advice for all three rookie quarterbacks playing on Sunday.

“I remember it being a great opportunity and I just kind of tried to go about business as usual and go play my normal game,” Flacco said.

“I guess a lot of teams will hype it up and try to maybe make it something more than it is, and pump into it a little bit, but the biggest thing is just stay comfortable and take advantage of the opportunity.”