Photo Credit:
Established: February 9th, 1996
First Season: 1996
Play in: M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore, Maryland
Headquartered: Owings Mills, Maryland
League/Conference affiliations:
National Football League (NFL): American Football Conference (AFC) 1996 – Present
AFC Central: 1996 – 2001
AFC North: 2002 – Present
Team Colors: Purple, Black, Metallic Gold
Fight Song: “The Baltimore Fight Song”
Mascot: Poe (costumed mascot)
Rise and Conquer (live ravens)
Personnel: Head Coach: John Harbaugh
Play in: M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore, Maryland
Headquartered: Owings Mills, Maryland
League/Conference affiliations:
National Football League (NFL): American Football Conference (AFC) 1996 – Present
AFC Central: 1996 – 2001
AFC North: 2002 – Present
Team Colors: Purple, Black, Metallic Gold
Fight Song: “The Baltimore Fight Song”
Mascot: Poe (costumed mascot)
Rise and Conquer (live ravens)
Personnel: Head Coach: John Harbaugh
Team History: Baltimore Ravens 1996 – Present
Championships:
1. League Championships (2)
2. Super Bowl Championships (2) 2000 (XXXV),
2012 (XLVII)
3. Conference Championships (2)
4. AFC: 2002, 2012
5. Division Championships (7)
6. AFC North: 2003, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2018,
3. Conference Championships (2)
4. AFC: 2002, 2012
5. Division Championships (7)
6. AFC North: 2003, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2018,
2019, 2023
7. Playoff Appearances (15)
8. NFL: 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009,
7. Playoff Appearances (15)
8. NFL: 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009,
2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023
Home Fields:
1. Memorial Stadium 1996 – 1997
2. M&T Bank Stadium 1998 – Present
Home Fields:
1. Memorial Stadium 1996 – 1997
2. M&T Bank Stadium 1998 – Present
Team Owner(s):
1. Art Modell 1996 – 2004
2. Steve Bisciotti 2004 – Present
Origins:
Ahead of the 1995 league expansion, eleven years after the Colts’ controversial move to Indianapolis, the city of Baltimore expected to be granted an NFL franchise and put together its most attractive financial package(1). However, to make way for Jack Kent Cooke’s ultimately unsuccessful plan to move the Washington Redskins to Laurel, Maryland, then-commissioner Paul Tagliabue convinced the team owners to pass over Baltimore(1). In 1995, the NFL Expansion Draft saw the creation of the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars, franchises granted to smaller TV markets in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida respectively(2)(3). In response to outrage in Baltimore, including then-governor William Donald Schaefer’s threat to announce over the loudspeakers Tagliabue’s exact location in Camden Yards any time he attended a Baltimore Orioles game,(4) Tagliabue remarked, “Maybe (Baltimore) can open another museum with that money. (1)” Having failed to obtain a franchise via the expansion, the city, despite having “misgivings,”(1) turned to the possibility of obtaining an existing franchise, namely the Cleveland Browns, whose then-owner Art Modell was financially struggling and at odds with the city of Cleveland over needed improvements to the team’s stadium.
On November 6th, 1995, Modell announced his intention to move the team to Baltimore, citing the inadequacy of Cleveland Stadium, the lack of a sufficient replacement, and his heavy debt. Initially, the team was to be known as the “Baltimore Browns(5)(6).” The plan was for the “Baltimore Browns” to play at Memorial Stadium until a new stadium could be built(5).
1996: Inaugural Season
The 1996 season was the inaugural season of the Baltimore Ravens and the first time a regular season NFL game was hosted at Memorial Stadium in 13 years. They won their first game at home against the Oakland Raiders but lost the next two against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Houston Oilers. After their bye week, they beat the New Orleans Saints at home with a score of 17 – 10 but could not beat the New England Patriots in the following game. On October 13th, they faced the former team in Baltimore, the Indianapolis Colts, but lost 26 – 21. Two weeks later they won against the St. Louis Rams in an overtime victory. They were not able to repeat this mostly for the remainder of the season but managed to win against Pittsburgh in week 14. They ended they’re with a record of 4 – 12. Even though they did not have a winning season, quarterback Vinnie Testaverde was voted into the Pro Bowl, and wide receivers Michael Jackson and Derrick Alexander surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark.
1997
In 1997, the team played their final season at Memorial Stadium. They lost their final game at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars by one point, then won the next three games against the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants, and Tennessee Oilers. They then lost their next two games against the San Diego Chargers and their division rivals, the Steelers. After their bye week, they won only one out of the next four games and lost one in overtime. On November 19th they played against the Philadelphia Eagles, holding them to a 10 – 10 tie. They lost their next two games, then won two, and ended the season with a home loss to the Bengals, ending with a record of 6 – 9 – 1, the lowest in the AFC Central Division. Peter Boulware, with 11.5 sacks, was named AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
1998: New Stadium
Baltimore began the season by moving into their new stadium Ravens Stadium at Camden Yards (later named PSINet Stadium, and as of 2003 named M&T Bank Stadium). Testaverde, who had left for the New York Jets, was replaced by Eric Zeier, and later, former Indianapolis Colt Jim Harbaugh. Defensive back Rod Woodson joined the team after a successful stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Priest Holmes started getting the first playing time of his career and ran for 1,000 yards, but the Ravens finished with a 6 – 10 record. After three consecutive losing seasons, Marchibroda was succeeded by Brian Billick, who had served as the offensive coordinator for the record-setting offense of the Minnesota Vikings the season before.
1999 Season
In the 1999 season, with a newly renamed stadium, PSINet Stadium (now M&T Bank Stadium), Baltimore showed a marked improvement. Quarterback Tony Banks came to Baltimore from the St. Louis Rams and had the best season of his career with 17 touchdown passes and an 81.2 pass rating. He was joined by receiver Qadry Ismail, who posted a 1,000-yard season. The Ravens struggled early, starting 3 – 6; but rattled off four consecutive wins to put themselves in playoff contention. A loss in the final week sent them home early with an 8 – 8 record.
2000: First Super Bowl championship
The 2000 season saw the Ravens defense, led by defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis, develop into a rock-solid unit that emerged as one of the most formidable defenses in NFL history. The Ravens defense set a new NFL record in holding opposing teams to 165 total points; the feat eclipsed the mark set previously by the Chicago Bears of 187 points for a 16-game season. Linebacker Ray Lewis was named Defensive Player of the Year and, with two of his defensive teammates, Sam Adams and Rod Woodson, made the Pro Bowl.
Baltimore’s season started strong with a 3 – 1 record. Tony Banks began the 2000 season as the starting quarterback and was replaced by Trent Dilfer when the Ravens fell to 5 – 4 and failed to score an offensive touchdown the entire month of October. Coach Brian Billick announced the change at quarterback would be for the rest of the season. The thousand-yard rushing season by rookie running back Jamal Lewis combined with the stout Ravens defense kept Baltimore competitive in games even when the offense struggled. At one point in the season, the team played five consecutive games without scoring an offensive touchdown but still managed two wins during that stretch. The team regrouped and won each of their last seven games, finishing 12 – 4. The Ravens made the playoffs for the first time.
Since the divisional rival Tennessee Titans had a record of 13 – 3, Baltimore had to play in the wild-card round. In their first-ever playoff game, they dominated the Denver Broncos 21 – 3 from a then-record crowd of 69,638 at then-called PSINet Stadium. In the divisional playoffs, they went on the road to Tennessee. Tied 10 – 10 in the fourth quarter, an Al Del Greco field goal attempt was blocked and returned for a touchdown by Anthony Mitchell, and a Ray Lewis interception return for a score put the game squarely in Baltimore’s favor. The 24 – 10 win put the Ravens in the AFC Championship against the Oakland Raiders. Shannon Sharpe’s 96-yard touchdown catch early in the second quarter, followed by an injury to Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon, highlighted the Ravens’ 16 – 3 victory.
Baltimore then went to Tampa for Super Bowl XXXV where they met the New York Giants, cruising to a 34 – 7 win for their first championship in franchise history. The Ravens recorded four sacks, and forced five turnovers, one of which was a Kerry Collins interception returned for a touchdown by Duane Starks. The Giants’ only score was a Ron Dixon kickoff return for another touchdown (after Starks’ interception return), making the 2000 Ravens the third Super Bowl team whose defense did not allow an opponent’s offensive score; however, Baltimore immediately countered with a TD return by Jermaine Lewis. The Ravens became only the third wild-card team to win a Super Bowl championship. The interception returns for a touchdown, followed by two kick return TDs, marked the quickest time in Super Bowl history that three touchdowns had been scored.
The title made the Ravens the fourth Baltimore-based pro football team to win a league championship. They were preceded by the NFL Baltimore Colts in 1958, 1959, and Super Bowl V, the USFL Stars in 1985, and the CFL Stallions in 1995.
In 2001, the Ravens attempted to defend their title with a new quarterback, Elvis Grbac, but an injury to Jamal Lewis and poor offensive performance stymied the team. After a 3 – 3 start, the Ravens defeated the Minnesota Vikings in the final week to clinch a wild card berth at 10 – 6. In the first round, the Ravens showed flashes of their previous year with a 20 – 3 blowout over the Miami Dolphins, in which the team forced three turnovers and outgained the Dolphins 347 yards to 151. In the division playoffs, the Ravens played the Pittsburgh Steelers. Three interceptions by Grbac ended the Ravens’ season, as they lost 27 – 10.
2002: Salary Cap Problems and Player Removals
Baltimore ran into salary cap problems in 2002 and was forced to cut several players, including Sam Adams, Rod Woodson, and Shannon Sharpe. The Ravens replaced Woodson by drafting safety Ed Reed in the first round. Longtime backup QB Chris Redman took over behind center. The Ravens stayed somewhat competitive before a December slide cost them a playoff spot with a 7 – 9 final record.
2003
The Ravens needed a quarterback but drafting after all the top quarterbacks were gone, used their 10th pick to select Arizona State defensive end Terrell Suggs. They then traded their 2003 2nd round pick and 2004 1st round pick to the New England Patriots for the 19th overall selection which they used to draft Cal (University of California, Berkeley) quarterback Kyle Boller. The Patriots eventually used the Ravens’ 2004 1st round selection to take defensive tackle Vince Wilfork.
The Ravens named Boller their starting QB just before the start of the 2003 season, but he was injured midway through the season and was replaced by Anthony Wright. The Ravens held a 5 – 5 record until, in a home game against the Seattle Seahawks, they wiped out a 41 – 24 gap in the final seven minutes of regulation, then won on a Matt Stover field goal in overtime for a 44 – 41 triumph from there the Ravens won five of their last six games. With a 10 – 6 record, Baltimore won their first AFC North title. Running back Jamal Lewis ran for 2,066 yards on the season, including a then NFL single-game record of 295 yards at home against the Cleveland Browns on September 14th. In doing so, Lewis became only the fifth player to eclipse the 2,000-yard rushing mark in league history, with his single-season total placing second all-time; just 39 yards short of the NFL record held by Eric Dickerson. Their first playoff game, at home against the Tennessee Titans, went back and forth, with the Ravens being held to only 100 yards total rushing. The Ravens lost, though, by three, 20 – 17.
For his remarkable season, Jamal Lewis was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, while linebacker Ray Lewis, with another stand-out year that included 6 interceptions, was also recognized as Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in his career. This marked the first time ever that teammates received these respective individual honors in the same season.
After the season, Art Modell officially transferred the remaining bulk of his ownership to Bisciotti, ending over 40 years of tenure as an NFL franchise majority owner. Modell still held an office at the Ravens’ headquarters in Owings Mills, Maryland, and remained with the team as a consultant.
2004
The Ravens attempted to engineer a trade for Terrell Owens in the 2004 offseason, but the NFLPA filed a grievance with the NFL, claiming Terrell Owens should have been granted free agency. Just before a judge decided in the case, the NFL and NFLPA came to a settlement, which set up a 3-way trade between the Eagles, 49ers, and Ravens. Owens went to the Eagles, and the Ravens got back the pick they had traded to the 49ers and were also granted a 5th-round draft pick. Boller remained quarterback through the entire season. Ed Reed became a full-fledged star on defense, with nine interceptions. Reed was also named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He broke the NFL record for longest INT return, with a 106-yard return against the Cleveland Browns. Baltimore remained in playoff contention for the entire season, but with a 9 – 7 record did not go to the playoffs.
2005
In the 2005 offseason, the Ravens looked to augment their receiving corps (which was second-worst in the NFL in 2004) by signing Derrick Mason from the Titans and drafting star Oklahoma wide receiver Mark Clayton in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
The 2005 season (the Ravens’ 10th Anniversary season) began as the featured Sunday Night Football game televised by ESPN. This game against the Indianapolis Colts led the announcer to state, “What a wonderful way to begin the season, the game between the team that plays here now and the team that used to play here.” The game’s first half was a defensive slugfest, with the score at the half 3 – 0 Colts, but the second half saw the Ravens fall apart, and starting QB Kyle Boller was lost to a foot injury (Colts 24, Ravens 7).
In the 2nd week road opener versus historic rival Tennessee, backup QB Anthony Wright failed to spark the offense and the defense couldn’t hold the Titans back, allowing the second straight loss (25 – 10). During the team’s bye week, coach Billick tried to instill the idea that after the bye, the season starts anew, and they forget about their past losses. This strategy led the Ravens to a week 4 win against the Jets (13 – 3), but the Ravens fell apart against the Lions (35 – 17), setting a franchise record for penalties in a single game (21). The Ravens rebounded at home the next week against the Cleveland Browns, with a final score of 16 – 3. However, from week 7 to week 10, the Ravens would lose to the Chicago Bears (10 – 6), the Pittsburgh Steelers (20 – 19), the Cincinnati Bengals (21 – 9), and the Jacksonville Jaguars (30 – 13).
The Ravens turned the tide in a week 11 rematch with the Steelers at home, winning 16 – 13 in OT, but were season-swept by the Bengals the next week, 42 – 29. The Ravens won their next game against the hapless Houston Texans 16 – 15 but lost a week later on the road to the Denver Broncos 12 – 10. Then, the Ravens played their final two home games under the prime-time light. First, they manhandled the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football 48 – 3. They destroyed any playoff chance that the Minnesota Vikings had by winning on Sunday Night Football 30 – 23. Despite the resurgence of Kyle Boller, they couldn’t carry their momentum entirely. Despite leading the Browns 13 – 6 at halftime, they lost the lead in the 3rd quarter and trailed the rest of the game, ultimately losing 20 – 16.
The Ravens ended their season 6 – 10. Despite having the same regular season record as the Cleveland Browns, the Ravens were technically third in the AFC North, since they beat the Browns on the division records tiebreaker: In the AFC North, the Ravens were 2 – 4, while the Browns were 1 – 5.
2006
The 2006 Baltimore Ravens season began with the team trying to improve on their 6 – 10 record in 2005. The Ravens, for the first time in franchise history, started 4 – 0 under the surprising leadership of former Titans quarterback Steve McNair. With miracle offensive plays engineered primarily in the second half of games by players Todd Heap, Jamal Lewis, Mark J. Clayton, and even backup quarterback Kyle Boller, the team scored key victories over playoff-bound teams such as San Diego and New Orleans.
The Ravens then lost 2 straight games mid-season on offensive troubles, prompting coach Brian Billick to drop their defensive coordinator Jim Fassel in their week 7 bye. Also, during the mid-season, the Ravens won an important victory when McNair and wide receiver Derrick Mason returned with the Ravens to their former stomping grounds of Tennessee to defeat the Titans.
Riding the influence of their winning streak, the Ravens sought a sweep of the AFC North division in a rematch against the Bengals late in the season. Baltimore was unable to produce offensively enough to overcome a team led by their own former defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis. The loss ended Baltimore’s hopes of a division sweep.
Still ranked second overall to the first-place San Diego, Baltimore continued. They slowed down the surging Chiefs, continued dominance over rival Cleveland, and held the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers to only one touchdown at Heinz Field, allowing the Ravens to still clinch the AFC North.
The Ravens ended the regular season with a franchise-best 13 – 3 record. Still considered one of the better teams in the NFL, and a Super Bowl favorite by some the Ravens had secured the AFC North title, the #2 AFC playoff seed, and clinched a 1st-round bye. The Ravens were slated to face the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the playoffs, in the first meeting of the two teams in the playoffs. Many Baltimore and Indianapolis fans saw this historic meeting as sort of a “Judgement Day” with the team of Baltimore facing the old team of Baltimore (the former Baltimore Colts having left Baltimore on March 28th, 1984). In one of the most bizarre playoff games in NFL history, both Indianapolis and Baltimore were held to scoring only field goals as the two defenses slugged it out all over M&T Bank Stadium. McNair threw two costly interceptions, including one at the 1-yard line. The Super Bowl-bound Colts won 15 – 6, ending Baltimore’s season.
During this offseason, the Ravens waived Jamal Lewis, who signed with the Cleveland Browns, and failed to re-sign Adalius Thomas who signed with the New England Patriots, and Ovie Mughelli who signed with the Atlanta Falcons. The Ravens traded for Willis McGahee with a 3rd and 7th-round draft pick in 2007 and a 3rd-round pick in 2008.
2007
After a stellar 2006 season, the Ravens hoped to improve upon their 13 – 3 record but injuries and poor play plagued the team. The Ravens finished the 2007 season in the AFC North cellar with a disappointing 5 – 11 record. A humiliating 22 – 16 overtime loss to the previously winless Miami Dolphins on December 16th, ultimately led to Billick’s dismissal on New Year’s Eve, one day after the end of the regular season. He was replaced by John Harbaugh, the special teams coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and the older brother of former Ravens quarterback Jim Harbaugh (1998).
1. Art Modell 1996 – 2004
2. Steve Bisciotti 2004 – Present
Origins:
Ahead of the 1995 league expansion, eleven years after the Colts’ controversial move to Indianapolis, the city of Baltimore expected to be granted an NFL franchise and put together its most attractive financial package(1). However, to make way for Jack Kent Cooke’s ultimately unsuccessful plan to move the Washington Redskins to Laurel, Maryland, then-commissioner Paul Tagliabue convinced the team owners to pass over Baltimore(1). In 1995, the NFL Expansion Draft saw the creation of the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars, franchises granted to smaller TV markets in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida respectively(2)(3). In response to outrage in Baltimore, including then-governor William Donald Schaefer’s threat to announce over the loudspeakers Tagliabue’s exact location in Camden Yards any time he attended a Baltimore Orioles game,(4) Tagliabue remarked, “Maybe (Baltimore) can open another museum with that money. (1)” Having failed to obtain a franchise via the expansion, the city, despite having “misgivings,”(1) turned to the possibility of obtaining an existing franchise, namely the Cleveland Browns, whose then-owner Art Modell was financially struggling and at odds with the city of Cleveland over needed improvements to the team’s stadium.
On November 6th, 1995, Modell announced his intention to move the team to Baltimore, citing the inadequacy of Cleveland Stadium, the lack of a sufficient replacement, and his heavy debt. Initially, the team was to be known as the “Baltimore Browns(5)(6).” The plan was for the “Baltimore Browns” to play at Memorial Stadium until a new stadium could be built(5).
1996 – 1999: First Years
1996: Inaugural Season
The 1996 season was the inaugural season of the Baltimore Ravens and the first time a regular season NFL game was hosted at Memorial Stadium in 13 years. They won their first game at home against the Oakland Raiders but lost the next two against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Houston Oilers. After their bye week, they beat the New Orleans Saints at home with a score of 17 – 10 but could not beat the New England Patriots in the following game. On October 13th, they faced the former team in Baltimore, the Indianapolis Colts, but lost 26 – 21. Two weeks later they won against the St. Louis Rams in an overtime victory. They were not able to repeat this mostly for the remainder of the season but managed to win against Pittsburgh in week 14. They ended they’re with a record of 4 – 12. Even though they did not have a winning season, quarterback Vinnie Testaverde was voted into the Pro Bowl, and wide receivers Michael Jackson and Derrick Alexander surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark.
1997
In 1997, the team played their final season at Memorial Stadium. They lost their final game at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars by one point, then won the next three games against the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants, and Tennessee Oilers. They then lost their next two games against the San Diego Chargers and their division rivals, the Steelers. After their bye week, they won only one out of the next four games and lost one in overtime. On November 19th they played against the Philadelphia Eagles, holding them to a 10 – 10 tie. They lost their next two games, then won two, and ended the season with a home loss to the Bengals, ending with a record of 6 – 9 – 1, the lowest in the AFC Central Division. Peter Boulware, with 11.5 sacks, was named AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
1998: New Stadium
Baltimore began the season by moving into their new stadium Ravens Stadium at Camden Yards (later named PSINet Stadium, and as of 2003 named M&T Bank Stadium). Testaverde, who had left for the New York Jets, was replaced by Eric Zeier, and later, former Indianapolis Colt Jim Harbaugh. Defensive back Rod Woodson joined the team after a successful stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Priest Holmes started getting the first playing time of his career and ran for 1,000 yards, but the Ravens finished with a 6 – 10 record. After three consecutive losing seasons, Marchibroda was succeeded by Brian Billick, who had served as the offensive coordinator for the record-setting offense of the Minnesota Vikings the season before.
1999 Season
In the 1999 season, with a newly renamed stadium, PSINet Stadium (now M&T Bank Stadium), Baltimore showed a marked improvement. Quarterback Tony Banks came to Baltimore from the St. Louis Rams and had the best season of his career with 17 touchdown passes and an 81.2 pass rating. He was joined by receiver Qadry Ismail, who posted a 1,000-yard season. The Ravens struggled early, starting 3 – 6; but rattled off four consecutive wins to put themselves in playoff contention. A loss in the final week sent them home early with an 8 – 8 record.
2000: First Super Bowl championship
The 2000 season saw the Ravens defense, led by defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis, develop into a rock-solid unit that emerged as one of the most formidable defenses in NFL history. The Ravens defense set a new NFL record in holding opposing teams to 165 total points; the feat eclipsed the mark set previously by the Chicago Bears of 187 points for a 16-game season. Linebacker Ray Lewis was named Defensive Player of the Year and, with two of his defensive teammates, Sam Adams and Rod Woodson, made the Pro Bowl.
Baltimore’s season started strong with a 3 – 1 record. Tony Banks began the 2000 season as the starting quarterback and was replaced by Trent Dilfer when the Ravens fell to 5 – 4 and failed to score an offensive touchdown the entire month of October. Coach Brian Billick announced the change at quarterback would be for the rest of the season. The thousand-yard rushing season by rookie running back Jamal Lewis combined with the stout Ravens defense kept Baltimore competitive in games even when the offense struggled. At one point in the season, the team played five consecutive games without scoring an offensive touchdown but still managed two wins during that stretch. The team regrouped and won each of their last seven games, finishing 12 – 4. The Ravens made the playoffs for the first time.
Since the divisional rival Tennessee Titans had a record of 13 – 3, Baltimore had to play in the wild-card round. In their first-ever playoff game, they dominated the Denver Broncos 21 – 3 from a then-record crowd of 69,638 at then-called PSINet Stadium. In the divisional playoffs, they went on the road to Tennessee. Tied 10 – 10 in the fourth quarter, an Al Del Greco field goal attempt was blocked and returned for a touchdown by Anthony Mitchell, and a Ray Lewis interception return for a score put the game squarely in Baltimore’s favor. The 24 – 10 win put the Ravens in the AFC Championship against the Oakland Raiders. Shannon Sharpe’s 96-yard touchdown catch early in the second quarter, followed by an injury to Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon, highlighted the Ravens’ 16 – 3 victory.
Baltimore then went to Tampa for Super Bowl XXXV where they met the New York Giants, cruising to a 34 – 7 win for their first championship in franchise history. The Ravens recorded four sacks, and forced five turnovers, one of which was a Kerry Collins interception returned for a touchdown by Duane Starks. The Giants’ only score was a Ron Dixon kickoff return for another touchdown (after Starks’ interception return), making the 2000 Ravens the third Super Bowl team whose defense did not allow an opponent’s offensive score; however, Baltimore immediately countered with a TD return by Jermaine Lewis. The Ravens became only the third wild-card team to win a Super Bowl championship. The interception returns for a touchdown, followed by two kick return TDs, marked the quickest time in Super Bowl history that three touchdowns had been scored.
The title made the Ravens the fourth Baltimore-based pro football team to win a league championship. They were preceded by the NFL Baltimore Colts in 1958, 1959, and Super Bowl V, the USFL Stars in 1985, and the CFL Stallions in 1995.
2001 – 2011
2001 In 2001, the Ravens attempted to defend their title with a new quarterback, Elvis Grbac, but an injury to Jamal Lewis and poor offensive performance stymied the team. After a 3 – 3 start, the Ravens defeated the Minnesota Vikings in the final week to clinch a wild card berth at 10 – 6. In the first round, the Ravens showed flashes of their previous year with a 20 – 3 blowout over the Miami Dolphins, in which the team forced three turnovers and outgained the Dolphins 347 yards to 151. In the division playoffs, the Ravens played the Pittsburgh Steelers. Three interceptions by Grbac ended the Ravens’ season, as they lost 27 – 10.
2002: Salary Cap Problems and Player Removals
Baltimore ran into salary cap problems in 2002 and was forced to cut several players, including Sam Adams, Rod Woodson, and Shannon Sharpe. The Ravens replaced Woodson by drafting safety Ed Reed in the first round. Longtime backup QB Chris Redman took over behind center. The Ravens stayed somewhat competitive before a December slide cost them a playoff spot with a 7 – 9 final record.
2003
The Ravens needed a quarterback but drafting after all the top quarterbacks were gone, used their 10th pick to select Arizona State defensive end Terrell Suggs. They then traded their 2003 2nd round pick and 2004 1st round pick to the New England Patriots for the 19th overall selection which they used to draft Cal (University of California, Berkeley) quarterback Kyle Boller. The Patriots eventually used the Ravens’ 2004 1st round selection to take defensive tackle Vince Wilfork.
The Ravens named Boller their starting QB just before the start of the 2003 season, but he was injured midway through the season and was replaced by Anthony Wright. The Ravens held a 5 – 5 record until, in a home game against the Seattle Seahawks, they wiped out a 41 – 24 gap in the final seven minutes of regulation, then won on a Matt Stover field goal in overtime for a 44 – 41 triumph from there the Ravens won five of their last six games. With a 10 – 6 record, Baltimore won their first AFC North title. Running back Jamal Lewis ran for 2,066 yards on the season, including a then NFL single-game record of 295 yards at home against the Cleveland Browns on September 14th. In doing so, Lewis became only the fifth player to eclipse the 2,000-yard rushing mark in league history, with his single-season total placing second all-time; just 39 yards short of the NFL record held by Eric Dickerson. Their first playoff game, at home against the Tennessee Titans, went back and forth, with the Ravens being held to only 100 yards total rushing. The Ravens lost, though, by three, 20 – 17.
For his remarkable season, Jamal Lewis was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, while linebacker Ray Lewis, with another stand-out year that included 6 interceptions, was also recognized as Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in his career. This marked the first time ever that teammates received these respective individual honors in the same season.
After the season, Art Modell officially transferred the remaining bulk of his ownership to Bisciotti, ending over 40 years of tenure as an NFL franchise majority owner. Modell still held an office at the Ravens’ headquarters in Owings Mills, Maryland, and remained with the team as a consultant.
2004
The Ravens attempted to engineer a trade for Terrell Owens in the 2004 offseason, but the NFLPA filed a grievance with the NFL, claiming Terrell Owens should have been granted free agency. Just before a judge decided in the case, the NFL and NFLPA came to a settlement, which set up a 3-way trade between the Eagles, 49ers, and Ravens. Owens went to the Eagles, and the Ravens got back the pick they had traded to the 49ers and were also granted a 5th-round draft pick. Boller remained quarterback through the entire season. Ed Reed became a full-fledged star on defense, with nine interceptions. Reed was also named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He broke the NFL record for longest INT return, with a 106-yard return against the Cleveland Browns. Baltimore remained in playoff contention for the entire season, but with a 9 – 7 record did not go to the playoffs.
2005
In the 2005 offseason, the Ravens looked to augment their receiving corps (which was second-worst in the NFL in 2004) by signing Derrick Mason from the Titans and drafting star Oklahoma wide receiver Mark Clayton in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
The 2005 season (the Ravens’ 10th Anniversary season) began as the featured Sunday Night Football game televised by ESPN. This game against the Indianapolis Colts led the announcer to state, “What a wonderful way to begin the season, the game between the team that plays here now and the team that used to play here.” The game’s first half was a defensive slugfest, with the score at the half 3 – 0 Colts, but the second half saw the Ravens fall apart, and starting QB Kyle Boller was lost to a foot injury (Colts 24, Ravens 7).
In the 2nd week road opener versus historic rival Tennessee, backup QB Anthony Wright failed to spark the offense and the defense couldn’t hold the Titans back, allowing the second straight loss (25 – 10). During the team’s bye week, coach Billick tried to instill the idea that after the bye, the season starts anew, and they forget about their past losses. This strategy led the Ravens to a week 4 win against the Jets (13 – 3), but the Ravens fell apart against the Lions (35 – 17), setting a franchise record for penalties in a single game (21). The Ravens rebounded at home the next week against the Cleveland Browns, with a final score of 16 – 3. However, from week 7 to week 10, the Ravens would lose to the Chicago Bears (10 – 6), the Pittsburgh Steelers (20 – 19), the Cincinnati Bengals (21 – 9), and the Jacksonville Jaguars (30 – 13).
The Ravens turned the tide in a week 11 rematch with the Steelers at home, winning 16 – 13 in OT, but were season-swept by the Bengals the next week, 42 – 29. The Ravens won their next game against the hapless Houston Texans 16 – 15 but lost a week later on the road to the Denver Broncos 12 – 10. Then, the Ravens played their final two home games under the prime-time light. First, they manhandled the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football 48 – 3. They destroyed any playoff chance that the Minnesota Vikings had by winning on Sunday Night Football 30 – 23. Despite the resurgence of Kyle Boller, they couldn’t carry their momentum entirely. Despite leading the Browns 13 – 6 at halftime, they lost the lead in the 3rd quarter and trailed the rest of the game, ultimately losing 20 – 16.
The Ravens ended their season 6 – 10. Despite having the same regular season record as the Cleveland Browns, the Ravens were technically third in the AFC North, since they beat the Browns on the division records tiebreaker: In the AFC North, the Ravens were 2 – 4, while the Browns were 1 – 5.
2006
The 2006 Baltimore Ravens season began with the team trying to improve on their 6 – 10 record in 2005. The Ravens, for the first time in franchise history, started 4 – 0 under the surprising leadership of former Titans quarterback Steve McNair. With miracle offensive plays engineered primarily in the second half of games by players Todd Heap, Jamal Lewis, Mark J. Clayton, and even backup quarterback Kyle Boller, the team scored key victories over playoff-bound teams such as San Diego and New Orleans.
The Ravens then lost 2 straight games mid-season on offensive troubles, prompting coach Brian Billick to drop their defensive coordinator Jim Fassel in their week 7 bye. Also, during the mid-season, the Ravens won an important victory when McNair and wide receiver Derrick Mason returned with the Ravens to their former stomping grounds of Tennessee to defeat the Titans.
Riding the influence of their winning streak, the Ravens sought a sweep of the AFC North division in a rematch against the Bengals late in the season. Baltimore was unable to produce offensively enough to overcome a team led by their own former defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis. The loss ended Baltimore’s hopes of a division sweep.
Still ranked second overall to the first-place San Diego, Baltimore continued. They slowed down the surging Chiefs, continued dominance over rival Cleveland, and held the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers to only one touchdown at Heinz Field, allowing the Ravens to still clinch the AFC North.
The Ravens ended the regular season with a franchise-best 13 – 3 record. Still considered one of the better teams in the NFL, and a Super Bowl favorite by some the Ravens had secured the AFC North title, the #2 AFC playoff seed, and clinched a 1st-round bye. The Ravens were slated to face the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the playoffs, in the first meeting of the two teams in the playoffs. Many Baltimore and Indianapolis fans saw this historic meeting as sort of a “Judgement Day” with the team of Baltimore facing the old team of Baltimore (the former Baltimore Colts having left Baltimore on March 28th, 1984). In one of the most bizarre playoff games in NFL history, both Indianapolis and Baltimore were held to scoring only field goals as the two defenses slugged it out all over M&T Bank Stadium. McNair threw two costly interceptions, including one at the 1-yard line. The Super Bowl-bound Colts won 15 – 6, ending Baltimore’s season.
During this offseason, the Ravens waived Jamal Lewis, who signed with the Cleveland Browns, and failed to re-sign Adalius Thomas who signed with the New England Patriots, and Ovie Mughelli who signed with the Atlanta Falcons. The Ravens traded for Willis McGahee with a 3rd and 7th-round draft pick in 2007 and a 3rd-round pick in 2008.
2007
After a stellar 2006 season, the Ravens hoped to improve upon their 13 – 3 record but injuries and poor play plagued the team. The Ravens finished the 2007 season in the AFC North cellar with a disappointing 5 – 11 record. A humiliating 22 – 16 overtime loss to the previously winless Miami Dolphins on December 16th, ultimately led to Billick’s dismissal on New Year’s Eve, one day after the end of the regular season. He was replaced by John Harbaugh, the special teams coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and the older brother of former Ravens quarterback Jim Harbaugh (1998).
This article will be continued
Next Tuesday, August 6, 2024
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