Some of the players spoke to MacIntyre by phone from the locker room

"Coach Mac is the driving force of this success we've been having," senior tight end RyanOtten said. "We know that he did a great job. He established a culture here. But we know what it's like to win now, what it takes to win now, and we proved today that we can do it even without him here. I think that's good for the program going forward."

Some of the players spoke to MacIntyre by phone from the locker room before the game and the performance also was a way to speak to their former coach.

"I think that was a good way to send Coach Mac a message that he trained us well," junior defensive back Bené Benwikere said. 

According to sources, Cameron and Harbaugh also were involved in a heated exchange on the sidelines

However, Cameron, who was given a contract extension this past season, was ultimately doomed by a lack of significant progression from Flacco and his failure to establish Pro Bowl running back Ray Ricein several games over the past couple of seasons. Rice's touches have decreased in each of the past three seasons and he's currently on pace to have his fewest carries since 2009.

According to sources, Cameron and Harbaugh also were involved in a heated exchange on the sidelines that carried over to the locker room after Sunday's loss. The exchange, said the sources, was over how the Ravens handled their final possession before halftime and how Flacco was being protected in the second half. Harbaugh denied that any such exchange took place though he did acknowledge that the decision was made following Sunday's game.

"It's just an opportunity to try to get this thing going and become the best offense and the best team we can be, and we feel like it's what is best for the team at this time ," Harbaugh said. "That's why we made the move. There's no more to it than that."