"An absolute d**k" - Fans angry with John Harbaugh's rude interview with Melissa Stark during Ravens vs. Bengals

Baltimore Ravens v Cleveland Browns
John Harbaugh of Baltimore Ravens v Cleveland Browns

As fans tuned in to watch John Harbaugh's Baltimore Ravens take on Zac Taylor's Cincinnati Bengals, one could feel the tension in the air. These were two AFC North division rivals going head-to-head in the playoffs.

They had met at the end of the regular season as well, when the game was overshadowed by whether there would be a coin toss to determine who gets to host the game. Ultimately, the Bengals won and made the point moot. They also got their own back after the Ravens had defeated them earlier in the season.

So, it is safe to say that there was an edge to the game even before it began. The match saw some skirmishes and penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct. It even spilled on to the sidelines. John Harbaugh spoke with Melissa Stark on the sidelines and did not look or sound too pleased with how the game was going.

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The heat of the game is understandable, but to let it influence how one behaves with reporters is not the best idea. NFL fans certainly thought so as they took to Twitter to vent.

What is John Harbaugh's record in the playoffs?

People can understand the frustration on John Harbaugh's part as he is ultimately an extremely competitive coach. No one can survive as long as he has survived in the NFL without being very good. He has, of course, won the Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens.

He also has a winning record in playoff games. He has been in the postseason 19 times before and has an 11-8 record. That can only come when you are completely immersed in the game and perhaps Melissa Stark's interview caught him at the wrong moment when he was trying to focus on his job.

Ultimately, things did get worse before becoming better in this game. The Bengals scored a field goal and an unconverted touchdown to race to a 9-0 lead. However, the Ravens got back with a touchdown of their own to close the lead to 9-7. Just before the half, they took the lead by scoring a field goal.

John Harbaugh will go into halftime feeling much better than he was earlier during his interview. If they can hold on to win the game away from home, one can imagine the post-game interview will be completely different from the one he gave mid-game.

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Edited by Rit Nanda