Marlon Humphrey was an All-State player for two undefeated AHSAA Class 6A championship teams at Hoover High School. He was a Football Writers Association of America All-American selection for a CFP national championship team at Alabama. He was a first-round pick in the NFL Draft.

But Humphrey said he'd never experienced anything like the Baltimore Ravens and their 2019 season -- and they're not finished yet.

“I told the guys this, actually right before we played the Browns, that I’m having the most fun that I’ve ever had playing football," Humphrey said. "I don’t know if it’s just this team or the guys in the places that we have them. Coming to practice, it’s enjoyable coming to work. It’s just really enjoyable with these guys. I think we really enjoy each other’s company. I think the best ingredient to winning is how close you are to your teammates. How much are you willing to give up to give your all to the guy next to you? …

"I think when you have a whole bunch of guys on the same page, not too many bad apples in the tree, really good things will come from it.”

Baltimore defeated the Cleveland Browns 31-15 on Sunday for the Ravens’ 11th consecutive victory. At 13-2, Baltimore has the best record in the NFL and has secured the No. 1 seed, with its accompanying first-round bye and homefield advantage, for the AFC playoffs, which Humphrey called “pretty big.”

In Humphrey's rookie season, Baltimore missed the playoffs after posting a 9-7 regular-season record. Last year, the Ravens reached the playoffs but lost to the Los Angeles Chargers 23-17 in the opening round.

“Homefield advantage with the Ravens -- I know that’s going to give us a big-time advantage,” Humphrey said, "so I’m looking forward to, first, finishing up the regular season next week against the Steelers and then I guess we’ll figure out what happens next when it comes.”

The Browns are the most recent team to beat Baltimore, scoring a 40-25 victory over the Ravens on Sept. 29. The next week, Baltimore started its winning streak with a 26-23 overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Humphrey caused a fumble in the extra period that set up the Ravens' winning field goal.

This time around against Pittsburgh, Baltimore has only its rivalry with the Steelers to fuel it because the outcome of the game won't affect the Ravens' playoff position. It could affect Pittsburgh's, though. If the Steelers beat Baltimore and the Tennessee Titans lose to the Houston Texans on the final Sunday of the regular season, Pittsburgh will be the AFC's second wild-card team.

Humphrey and 11 teammates were chosen for the AFC’s Pro Bowl team. With nothing on the line for Baltimore on Sunday, it remains to be seen how much the all-stars will play. Running back Mark Ingram won’t play after suffering a calf injury against the Browns, and Ravens coach John Harbaugh already announced safety Earl Thomas, a 10-year veteran, and defensive tackle Brandon Williams, a seven-year vet, will not play against Pittsburgh.

“As far as that goes, I just know Big Baby and Earl are not playing,” Ravens defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale said. "So we’re going to do what we do every game -- put the best 11 out there and try to put them in the best spots to make plays for this game, because let’s not forget who we’re playing. …

"I have the utmost respect for (Steelers coach) Mike (Tomlin) and the entire organization. We respect each other, but we don’t like each other. That doesn’t matter if it’s Week 1 or Week 17, so we’re going in there to be ready. I told the defense today, this is going to be a ‘test your manhood’ game. They’re going to run the ball, try to run the ball 50 times."

The Ravens have built their winning streak with one of the most prolific running attacks in NFL history and an evolving defense.

Baltimore needs 93 rushing yards to break the league's single-season record of 3,165 set by the New England Patriots in 1978. On defense, the Ravens have yielded the third-fewest points and the fifth-fewest yards in the league.

The defense has improved with the addition of several pieces during the season. Linebackers Josh Bynes (a former Auburn standout) and L.J. Fort arrived in time for the first game against Pittsburgh -- Bynes signed off the street and Fort picked up after the Philadelphia Eagles cut him. Cornerback Marcus Peters came aboard in a trade six games into the season, and defensive tackle Domata Peko came back for a 14th NFL season with seven games remaining on the 2019 schedule.

“They were just the perfect character guys to come in for this team,” Humphrey said. "Josh Bynes, I tell him he has the most relaxing voice when playing that nickel was pretty new to me. He was helping me getting lined up and has a very soothing voice to help me out.

"I think we have a perfect group of guys in there. You have to give it to (general manager Eric) DeCosta. The new guys who came in were perfect, and then we traded for Marcus, and he gave us a little juice. He’s a real nice guy on our team, not so much to the opponents. Not only do we have great players, but we have great personality guys, and they just fit so well with what we already have going on.”

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

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