OWINGS MILLS — Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney are a couple of experienced players who have provided a boost to the Ravens.
Each player is also having one of the best seasons of his career.
In a 56-19 victory over the Dolphins, Van Noy, 32, registered a sack for the second consecutive game and now owns four quarterback takedowns in his last four games. His eight sacks this season are a career high.
Clowney, 30, has 8 1/2 sacks, one shy of tying a career high.
Coach John Harbaugh said both players have been a perfect fit for the Ravens.
“I do think our system is built in such a way where we are equal-opportunity scheme builders, I guess you could say,” Harbaugh said. “It’s set up for everybody, [and] everybody can do something [and] do [their] job really great. But it’s also … And you try to put guys … Those guys are in position, and they do their job really [well], and they play super hard. I mean, it’s really them. They’re the ones making the plays, so I think they deserve the credit. I hope they get their records, man. I mean, let’s go. Let’s smash those records. That’s the goal.”
The Ravens have already clinched the top seed in the AFC playoffs.
Harbaugh now must decide which players will sit out the regular-season finale against Pittsburgh.
Neither Van Noy nor Clowney appear to need a break.
“We have a two-fold thought process right now,” Harbaugh said. “We have our priority, which is the [Pittsburgh] Steelers game and putting our best foot forward and playing our best game against our biggest rival who is playing great football. We expect it to be a very hard-fought game, so we have to get our minds right for that as we will, and then [we are] just planning for the next step in the playoffs.”
