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It might not carry the same weight or draw as much hype as Steelers week, but the fact that the Ravens are preparing for the defending Super Bowl champions this week has everyone at The Castle on high alert.
"I mean, these are the champs," linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "Everybody watches them every week, and until there's a new champion, they're still going to be the champs. So you definitely want to see where you measure up against the team that won the world championship."
Currently, the defending champs don't even lead their own division. The Saints have put together a solid season, but at 10-3, they trail the Falcons by a game in the hunt for the NFC South title.
But, as far as many Ravens are concerned, until someone dethrones the Saints, they're the team to beat.
"I would say it is a motivating factor," head coach John Harbaugh said. "You're playing the world champs. If want to be the best, you've got to beat the best. We know that they're a great football team. We know that they accomplished a great thing last year. We know they've got talent all over the place. Obviously, we're looking forward to playing them. They've earned the title; they have the title."
New Orleans ranks in the top 10 in most statistical categories, both offensively and defensively. They have the league's third-best offense, the sixth-best defense and have plenty of weapons on both sides of the ball.
They'll be a tough team to take down, even though the game will take place in Baltimore. But one Raven says that people shouldn't worry about the ring that the Saints will have on their fingers when they roll into M&T Bank Stadium.
"I'm sure the Saints would tell you right now [that] there's no Super Bowl champ this year right now," safety Ed Reed said. "It's a whole new year. That Super Bowl is gone, and (we're) in December of a whole new season. So right now, we're playing the New Orleans Saints of 2010. They're not the Super Bowl team from last year.
"They are a great team - they are still a great team and they are the defending champs - but it's a new season, and we're just trying to get another win. We're trying to get to 10-4. That's all that matters."
