6 quotes from Ravens players that will fire up the fans ahead of Week 2 vs. Bengals

QB Lamar Jackson: "No excuses. We have guys getting paid to bust their behinds"

While this is not a new rivalry, per se, the stakes are higher than ever after the Bengals got their organization together following the arrival of QB Joe Burrow and reached the Super Bowl a couple of years ago while falling one game short of reaching it again last season.

Lamar Jackson was able to play against the Bengals in last season's Wild Card game because of an injury suffered in December, but he's eager to do so on Sunday. Speaking of injuries...

"It's no excuses. We all have guys in the NFL that are getting paid to bust their behinds, so it is what it is. It's tough just because they're key players, but we have guys that are going to step up and lead us out there on that field and do what they're supposed to do."

- Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens will have to face Cincy without four starters at the very least, including CB Marlon Humphrey, S Marcus Williams, and offensive linemen Tyler Linderbaum and Ronnie Stanley.

Lamar ain't going to use that as an excuse to lower the expectations, though, and nor will any other member of the Ravens entering Sunday.

Baltimore is facing the extraordinary opportunity of going up 2-0 in the AFC North while dropping Cincy to an ominous 0-2 record barely two weeks into September, so they know they need to pounce on this unique chance.