After Henry accumulated 195 yards in 30 runs during the Baltimore playoff loss of 28-12 to Tennessee last season, the Ravens approached their first seven in the offseason. They added two veterans to their defensive line, Campbell and Derek Wolfe, and called up strikers Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington, along with internal linebackers Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison.
In November, the Ravens faced Tennessee without Campbell and Williams, two key players in their running defense. But the two are back, and Sunday’s playoff game is the kind of battle Campbell was brought to Baltimore.
Coach John Harbaugh knows that Campbell is a unique player who can make a difference, and he looked healthy in Sunday’s 38-3 win over Cincinnati Bengals.
“It looks like he’s physically back,” said Harbaugh. “He’s a big, very strong, very agile man. He can move sideways, he can extend, he can get out of blocks, of course he takes up a lot of space. He’s a very athletic guy for a man his size and he he knows how to play. He knows how to play the schemes, he plays very hard. So he’s definitely a factor, a big factor. “
For Campbell, now in his 13th season, there is no time to lose. In 2008-2009, Campbell went to the Super Bowl as a rookie with the Arizona Cardinals, who lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII. But he hasn’t come back since, and this is only the sixth time in Campbell’s career that he’s been to the playoffs.
Some teams don’t like to talk about their aspirations for the Super Bowl aloud, but the Ravens have been outspoken about their goal since the start of the season. Campbell likes this approach and is at a stage in his career where few other goals matter.
“I think you need to have confidence,” said Campbell. “It will be hard work, it will not be easy. There is a sentence hanging on the wall, ‘We have what is needed and it will take everything we have.’ We have all the pieces in place to succeed, from being able to run the ball, play a talented physical defense.
“In the playoffs, especially on the road in the playoffs, you have to be able to run the ball, play a great defense, bring in your special teams. That is the formula throughout history.”
What the Ravens did not show in their two most recent games against Tennessee, however, is a formula for controlling Henry. That’s the main reason why Campbell is with the Ravens, and in your mind, what happened in the past will be different from what happens on Sunday.
“We know that we can deal with any of the difficult circumstances we face,” said Campbell. “It was quite a journey. But I feel like we were tested. We went through difficult times and left the other side. I feel like we can start playing our best football.
“For me, not being able to play that first game, and not being able to play a lot of games, the advantage is that I feel very good now. I feel very healthy in the sense that I can go there and make a few moves. I’m looking forward to it. I can’t wait to go there and play some good football. “