If you’re going to be a team called the Ravens, and you’re going to be playing at home on an especially frigid Saturday night in the NFL playoffs, it might feel like just the right time to break out the cool duds — you know, the intimidiating, all-black ones.
And certainly, few teams carry a more imposing look in the NFL than the Ravens do when they’re decked out in black. It might even be that the Ravens would prefer to come out for their wild-card game against the Steelers in their black uniforms, especially as they look to reverse their recent playoff history.
Problem is: They can’t.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson
Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
That’s the explanation from the team. As Ravens.com reporter Ryan Mink wrote this week: “League rules state that teams cannot wear their alternate jerseys during the playoffs. In the game operations manual, it states, ‘Postseason uniform designation must include Primary Jersey color (team color or white) and Primary Pant color choices.’
“Thus, it’s between purple and white. The Ravens went with a classic look with the purple jersey and white pants.”
Still, an electric atmosphere is expected at M&T Satidum, even if temperatures are expected to drop into the 20s.
“I’m more excited about the atmosphere than the weather, personally.”coach John Harbaugh said. “The weather may drive the atmosphere a little bit, too. It’s just going to be a great environment. I expect our fans to be how they are – they’ll be into it; they’ll be fired up. It’s going to be a night game; it’s going to be cold; it’s going to be dark, and our team is going to try to play lights out.
“We’re going to try to play the football that I think we’re capable of playing, but I think our fans will be there to help us and support us and be loud when they’re supposed to be loud, I’m quite sure.”
