How it happened: Defense. Defense. Defense. Simply put, the 2000 Ravens’ “D” was one of the best units of all time. They delivered four shutouts, the most since Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain lineup of 1976, and allowed the fewest rushing yards and fewest points ever, barely 10 a game, over a 16-game schedule.

In the playoffs, Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware, Jamie Sharper—how’s that for a linebacking corps?—and company somehow ratcheted the intensity up another level, allowing just one TD in four games. (Remember, the TD that the Giants scored in the Super Bowl came on a kickoff return). In the big game, they held the G-men to 152 yards on offense and intercepted four passes, include the one Duane Starks ran back for a TD.

Offensively, the Ravens struggled at times during the year, but it didn’t matter. A rookie freight train named Jamal Lewis ran for 1,364 yards; Trent Dilfer took over and ran an efficient, if not prolific attack; and Matt Stover kicked a zillion field goals—a league leading 35 of 39, to be exact.

The bottom line is that our boys in purple went all the way in just their fifth season. And, really, they’ve been fantastic ever since—playing great defense and hard-nosed football every season. They even made us proud with their effort, if not always the results, during this past injury-plagued year. We totally expect to add a new “Top 20” moment or two to this list with a healthy squad in 2016.

All season long, we counted down the Ravens top moments
in franchise history to celebrate the team’s 20th season in Baltimore. Take a
look back at what moments we’ve chronicled.

#20: Naming the Team
#19: Testaverde Throws for 429 Yards
#18: First Ring of Honor
#17: Terrell Suggs Becomes Thigh Master
#16: The Insane Final Minutes of the
Vikings Snow Game
#15: Torrey Smith’s Emotional Win Over
Patriots
#14: Peter Boulware Gets Four Sacks in a
Single Game
#13: Justin Tucker Nails a 61-Yard Field
Goal to Beat Detroit
#12: Flacco Connects With Ray Rice on
Fourth and 29
#11: Ray Lewis Strips Eddie George in 2000
Playoffs
#10: Ed Reed’s 106-yard Interception
Return Against the Browns
#9: Jamal Lewis Rushes For 295 Yards Against
the Browns
#8: First Game in (New) Franchise History
#7: Ray Lewis’s Last Dance
#6: Ravens Beat Steelers in Playoffs For
First Time in Franchise History
#5: Mile High Miracle
#4: Draft Day ’96
#3: Art Modell Announces He’s Moving
Browns to Baltimore
#2: Winning Super Bowl XLVII

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How it happened: Not very easily. What was so magical about this Super Bowl victory was just how many obstacles the team went through to get there. We may be biased, but it felt like a movie script was playing out during the 2012-2013 season.

Before the roller-coaster season even began, the Ravens franchise lost its beloved founder, Art Modell. Then, the team suffered more losses, on and off the field: There was the Eagles upset in week two, a 43-13 whooping at the hands of the Texans, and three straight losses that led to the firing of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. Not to mention the crippling injuries, like Ray Lewis’s triceps and Lardarius Webb’s ACL.

But some of those losses led to uplifting moments, too, like how Lewis’s retirement announcement served to galvanize the team or when Torrey Smith played the game of his life in New England following his brother’s passing. And, of course, the team had plenty of plays to fill the highlight reel: beating the Raiders 55-20, Ray Rice’s 4th and 29 run in San Diego, and Jacoby Jones’s Hail-Mary reception in Denver.

With all this in mind, it’s no wonder the Ravens had a downright cinematic Super Bowl. Between the two Harbaugh brothers battling it out until the bitter end, a 33-minute power outage (which, some say, was caused by Beyonce’s incredible halftime performance), and a no-call for holding (yes, the refs got it right!) that will live in infamy, the Ravens capped off a dramatic season with an equal amount of flair.

We know it’s just a game and all, but when the purple, gold, and white confetti came raining down in the Superdome that February, it felt like nothing short of destiny. Two days later, the Ravens came home to an electrifying parade—where tens of thousands of fans filled up the streets, sang “Seven Nation Army” in front of City Hall, and packed themselves like sardines into M&T Bank Stadium.

Coach John Harbaugh probably summarized the storybook season best: “How could it be any other way? It’s never pretty. It’s never perfect. But it’s us.”

All season long, we’ll be counting down the Ravens top moments in franchise history to celebrate the team’s 20th season in Baltimore. Take a look back at what moments we’ve chronicled so far.

#20: Naming the Team
#19: Testaverde Throws for 429 Yards
#18: First Ring of Honor
#17: Terrell Suggs Becomes Thigh Master
#16: The Insane Final Minutes of the Vikings Snow Game
#15: Torrey Smith’s Emotional Win Over Patriots
#14: Peter Boulware Gets Four Sacks in a Single Game
#13: Justin Tucker Nails a 61-Yard Field Goal to Beat Detroit
#12: Flacco Connects With Ray Rice on Fourth and 29
#11: Ray Lewis Strips Eddie George in 2000 Playoffs
#10: Ed Reed’s 106-yard Interception Return Against the Browns
#9: Jamal Lewis Rushes For 295 Yards Against the Browns
#8: First Game in (New) Franchise History
#7: Ray Lewis’s Last Dance
#6: Ravens Beat Steelers in Playoffs For First Time in Franchise History
#5: Mile High Miracle
#4: Draft Day ’96
#3: Art Modell Announces He’s Moving Browns to Baltimore

Source

How it happened: On November 6, 1995—after 12 years of licking our wounds and living in an NFL wasteland—Art Modell announced at Camden Yards that he would be bringing the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore.

The reason, of course, was money: The Indians had left Cleveland Stadium, which Modell operated, for Jacobs Field, leaving him with one less tenant in his aging stadium. He requested a new state-of-the-art football stadium to be built by the city, but couldn’t reach an agreement in time.

For a community that had watched helplessly as our own beloved Colts had moved to Indianapolis—bringing its colors, its mascot, and its storied history with it—Baltimoreans were heartened by the fact that we would not be taking those things from Cleveland. While the Browns and all its personnel would come to Baltimore, Cleveland would get to keep the Browns name, uniform, and traditions, like the Dawg Pound. (Baltimore held a fan vote and ultimately chose the name The Ravens.)

“I am happy for the people of Cleveland. I am happy for the people of Baltimore, and I am happy most of all for the Modell family,” Modell said at the time.

The Browns fans, however, were not that happy—and resented Modell for making them start from scratch and wait four years for their “new” Browns—an expansion team—to be activated. Lingering resentment over Modell’s move likely kept him out of the Football Hall of Fame, a shame as he was truly one of the architects of the modern NFL. Modell, who was a major philanthropist and a pillar of the Baltimore community, died September 6, 2012.

Since coming to Baltimore, the Ravens have won two Super Bowls and are one of the most successful franchises in the NFL. Since 1999, the Browns have only had two winnings seasons.

All season long, we’ll be counting down the Ravens top moments in franchise history to celebrate the team’s 20th season in Baltimore. Take a look back at what moments we’ve chronicled so far.

#20: Naming the Team
#19: Testaverde Throws for 429 Yards
#18: First Ring of Honor
#17: Terrell Suggs Becomes Thigh Master
#16: The Insane Final Minutes of the Vikings Snow Game
#15: Torrey Smith’s Emotional Win Over Patriots
#14: Peter Boulware Gets Four Sacks in a Single Game
#13: Justin Tucker Nails a 61-Yard Field Goal to Beat Detroit
#12: Flacco Connects With Ray Rice on Fourth and 29
#11: Ray Lewis Strips Eddie George in 2000 Playoffs
#10: Ed Reed’s 106-yard Interception Return Against the Browns
#9: Jamal Lewis Rushes For 295 Yards Against the Browns
#8: First Game in (New) Franchise History
#7: Ray Lewis’s Last Dance
#6: Ravens Beat Steelers in Playoffs For First Time in Franchise History
#5: Mile High Miracle
#4: Draft Day ’96

Source

How it happened: The ball seemed to hang in the thin, frigid Colorado air forever. With 38 seconds left in an AFC Divisional Playoff game that had a little bit of everything, Joe Flacco launched a bomb in the direction of wide receiver Jacoby Jones—and the football world held its collective breath.

Heading into the game, few gave the Ravens a shot to win against the Peyton Manning-led Broncos, who were 9-1/2 point favorites. Denver was on an 11-game winning streak, which included an easy win in Baltimore. But this game was a shootout from the start. Unfortunately for the Ravens, the Broncos held a seven-point lead with the clock ticking down and the Ravens 70 yards from the end zone.

The situation looked bleak. The New York Times would later report that, at one point in the final two minutes, according to the AdvancedNFLstats.com probability graph for the game, Baltimore had only a one percent chance of winning the game. With no timeouts remaining and so many yards to cover, there was no way the Broncos would allow a Ravens receiver to slip behind its defense, right? 

But that’s exactly what Jones did when he raced past safety Rahim Moore. Flacco took the shotgun snap, stepped up in the pocket and used every ounce of his superhuman arm strength to get the ball to Jones, who caught it over the stumbling Moore and raced into the end zone to improbably tie the game.     

“I give all praise to Joe for making that play,” Jones said. “I just ran and was at the right place at the right time and it fell right in my hands.”

Moore was more succinct in his analysis of the play: “It was my fault. It was pathetic.”

The game, however, was not over. It remained tied until the second overtime, when Justin Tucker booted a 47-year field goal to give Baltimore a 38-35 win that is forever implanted in NFL playoff lore and known simply as the Mile High Miracle.

All season long, we’ll be counting down the Ravens top moments in franchise history to celebrate the team’s 20th season in Baltimore. Take a look back at what moments we’ve chronicled so far.

#20: Naming the Team

#19: Testaverde Throws for 429 Yards

#18: First Ring of Honor

#17: Terrell Suggs Becomes Thigh Master

#16: The Insane Final Minutes of the Vikings Snow Game

#15: Torrey Smith’s Emotional Win Over Patriots

#14: Peter Boulware Gets Four Sacks in a Single Game

#13: Justin Tucker Nails a 61-Yard Field Goal to Beat Detroit

#12: Flacco Connects With Ray Rice on Fourth and 29

#11: Ray Lewis Strips Eddie George in 2000 Playoffs

#10: Ed Reed’s 106-yard Interception Return Against the Browns

#9: Jamal Lewis Rushes For 295 Yards Against the Browns

#8: First Game in (New) Franchise History

#7: Ray Lewis’s Last Dance

#6: Ravens Beat Steelers in Playoffs For First Time in Franchise History

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The other day, just out of the blue, I blurted out, “I miss Ed Reed.” It’s not just because our secondary has been, shall we say, less than impressive this season. I miss the excitement of knowing that every single time safety Reed was on the field, something electric could happen—a dazzling interception, a tip-toeing-down-the-sidelines kick-off return, a lateral pass that shouldn’t have worked but somehow did. The man was the most exciting defensive player I—or any of us really—have ever seen. But perhaps his greatest moment came on November 7, 2004 in a game against the Cleveland Browns.

How It Happened: With the Ravens ahead 20-13 and a minute to go in the fourth quarter, the game hardly felt secure as Browns QB Jeff Garcia was methodically driving his team down the field. Ravens coach Brian Billick was already wondering if the Browns would be nervy enough to go for the two-point conversation and the win if they scored a touchdown. Garcia threw his ball to wide receiver Aaron Shea deep in the end zone. None other than linebacker Ray Lewis hit Shea just as the ball arrived and it popped up and landed in Reed’s extended hands. A lesser player would taken a knee, happy to regain possession, but Reed had other ideas: He sprinted out of the end zone and skipped down the sidelines . . . and just kept going and going and going. Final score, Ravens 27, Browns 13. At the time, Reed’s 106-yard, game-clinching interception return set an NFL record.

“He seems to always be around when you need it,” Coach Billick told ESPN after the play.

Of course, the nine-time pro bowler wasn’t done. Four years later, he broke his own record with a 107-yard interception return against the Eagles.

All season long, we’ll be counting down the Ravens top moments in franchise history to celebrate the team’s 20th season in Baltimore. Take a look back at what moments we’ve chronicled so far.

#20: Naming the Team

#19: Testaverde Throws for 429 Yards

#18: Ring of Honor

#17: Terrell Suggs Becomes Thigh Master

#16: The Insane Final Minutes of the Vikings Snow Game

#15: Torrey Smith’s Emotional Win Over Patriots

#14: Peter Boulware Gets Four Sacks in a Single Game

#13: Justin Tucker Nails a 61-Yard Field Goal to Beat Detroit

#12: Flacco Connects With Ray Rice on Fourth and 29

#11: Ray Lewis Strips Eddie George in 2000 Playoffs

Source

How it happened: Ray Lewis has been in the news a lot these past two weeks, due to controversial remarks he made about the infamous double homicide in Atlanta, which he chronicled in his new memoir I Feel Like Going On: Life, Game, and Glory. But, something that is not up for debate is how crucial Lewis was in getting the Baltimore Ravens team its first Super Bowl ring. Between his sheer will, monstrous strength, and defensive leadership, Lewis almost single-handedly marched his team toward the Lombardi Trophy in 2001.

The moment that epitomizes Lewis’s command over the sport came during the Divisional Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans. Long before Terrible Towels made our blood boil, the Titans were Baltimore’s primary arch rival and the game remained a contentious one until Lewis crushed the hopes of Tennessee fans everywhere in the fourth quarter.

Knowing full-well that the Titans’ main offensive weapon at the time was running back Eddie George, Lewis bodied up against him in man-to-main coverage and, when George bobbled a pass from quarterback Steve McNair, Lewis grabbed the ball in midair and ran the interception back 50 yards for the first touchdown of the game. With just under seven minutes to go, this sealed the deal and brought the Ravens up a commanding 24-10.

After the game, Lewis discussed the play against George, who is a close friend.

”He’s their offensive cornerstone, and I am our defensive cornerstone,” he said. ”We went at it good today. It was just a great war. We are great friends off the field, but when we are on the field, it is just two gladiators going after one another.”

Of course, we all know the rest, as the Ravens went onto defeat the Raiders in the AFC Championship and completely manhandle the Giants in the Super Bowl, getting the organization a ring while it was still in its infancy. Despite an inconsistent offense lead by QB Trent Dilfer, Lewis and his defensive team stopping people like the talented George made all the difference.

”We don’t believe that one man can come in and pound us and pound us and pound us and win the game and gain 150 yards,” he said at the time. “I’m not being boastful. It’s against our religion.”

All season long, we’ll be counting down the Ravens top moments in franchise history to celebrate the team’s 20th season in Baltimore. Take a look back at what moments we’ve chronicled so far.

#20: Naming the Team

#19: Testaverde Throws for 429 Yards

#18: Ring of Honor

#17: Terrell Suggs Becomes Thigh Master

#16: The Insane Final Minutes of the Vikings Snow Game

#15: Torrey Smith’s Emotional Win Over Patriots

#14: Peter Boulware Gets Four Sacks in a Single Game

#13: Justin Tucker Nails a 61-Yard Field Goal to Beat Detroit

#12: Flacco Connects With Ray Rice on Fourth and 29

Source

How It Happened: If
the Ravens weren’t yet buried, they had one foot in the grave. With less than
two minutes left, they trailed the San Diego Chargers by three, and faced a
nearly impossible fourth down and 29 yards to go.

If you think fourth-and-29 sounds like a mile (it’s almost
a third of the entire field!), check out CBS’s replay of it.
From cameras near the top of Qualcomm Stadium it looks unfathomably far to the
naked eye.

But not to Ray Rice’s, thankfully.

After receiving the snap, quarterback Joe Flacco had plenty
of time to find a receiver downfield. Only none were open. So at the last
moment he flipped a little one-yard pass to little Ray Rice, who used every
ounce of his leverage, speed, and power to elude seemingly the entire Chargers
defense for a 30-yard gain.

The Ravens benefitted from a generous spot, and after a lengthy
official replay review, the first down call was upheld. Six plays later kicker
Justin Tucker knocked in the tying field goal, and he went on to win it in
overtime. The victory was an important one for Baltimore, which, of course, was
destined to take home its second Super Bowl title.

Just how miraculous was this play? According to ESPN Stats
& Info, at the time it was the longest fourth-down conversion since 2001,
when the Buffalo Bills converted a fourth-and-34 against the Indianapolis
Colts.

It’s just a shame that after the running back’s off-field behavior, this spectacular play is no longer the first thing Ravens fans think of when they hear Ray Rice’s name.

All season long, we’ll be counting down the Ravens top moments in
franchise history to celebrate the team’s 20th season in Baltimore. Take a look
back at what moments we’ve chronicled so far.

#20: Naming
the Team

#19: Testaverde
Throws for 429 Yards

#18: Ring
of Honor

#17: Terrell
Suggs Becomes Thigh Master

#16: The
Insane Final Minutes of the Vikings Snow Game

#15: Torrey
Smith’s Emotional Win Over Patriots

#14: Peter Boulware Gets Four Sacks in a Single Game

#13: Justin Tucker Nails a 61-Yard Field Goal to Beat Detroit

Source

How it happened: One of the good things about the Ravens celebrating a mere 20 seasons is that most Baltimoreans have a pretty solid memory of the team’s entire run. Sure, there are some youngins who have no knowledge of Stoney Case (lucky them) or, say, Jonathan Ogden (their loss). But most of us remember the whole wonderful ride.

But just in case weren’t born yet—or were too young to remember—outside linebacker Peter Boulware was good. Like, really good.

Drafted in the first round in 1997 (the Ravens second draft class), Boulware made his mark instantly that year, finishing the season with 66 tackles, 13 sacks, and one forced fumble. He also won a little thing we like to call the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.

He was big (6’4”). He was fast. He was strong. (I half-pity opposing teams who were forced to face both Ray Lewis and Boulware on the same defense. It almost seems unfair.)

Before Terrell Suggs claimed the title in 2011, Boulware was the Ravens all-time sacks leader, with 70. He played for the Ravens for eight years, retiring in 2005, and his career stats are simply eye-popping: 493 tackles, 70 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and one interception. His greatest season, however, was probably 2001, when he racked up 15 sacks—again, a team record until Elvis Dumervil broke it just last year—and got four sacks in a single game against the Minnesota Vikings, a Ravens record only equaled by Michael McCrary (another great Raven you kids should look up.)

It’s no coincidence that Boulware was a key member of the 2000 Super Bowl-winning team’s defense that is considered among the greatest of all time. He was the man.

All season long, we’ll be counting down the Ravens top moments in franchise history to celebrate the team’s 20th season in Baltimore. Take a look back at what moments we’ve chronicled so far.

#20: Naming the Team

#19: Testaverde Throws for 429 Yards

#18: Ring of Honor

#17: Terrell Suggs Becomes Thigh Master

#16: The Insane Final Minutes of the Vikings Snow Game

#15: Torrey Smith’s Emotional Win Over Patriots

Source

How it happened: It’s been a tough start for the Ravens organization—to say the least. For the first time in franchise history, the team has gone 0-3 and, to make matters worse, heads to Pittsburgh on Thursday after a short week (silver lining: Big Ben is out 4-6 weeks). Now more than ever, fans could use this heartwarming sports memory, a story that puts the game of football into perspective.

In the early hours of September 23, 2012, beloved Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith lost his 19-year-old brother, Tevin Jones, in a motorcycle accident in Virginia. That same night, the Ravens were scheduled to play the New England Patriots and, astonishingly, Smith told coach John Harbaugh that he wanted to play.

Even more remarkable was his performance that night. Smith finished the game with six receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-30 win over the New England Patriots. Some of the more poignant moments came when Smith took a knee after a second-quarter touchdown, he passionately hugged linebacker Ray Lewis after the game, and answered questions in an emotional post-game presser.

“That’s for my little brother, man,” Smith told NBC. “We’re just thankful for the support from everybody around the league, and all the fans in general. My family really appreciates it.”

At his side, of course, were his supportive teammates, including quarterback Joe Flacco, who was in awe of Smith’s performance.

“I can’t imagine what he’s going through,” Flacco said. “For him to come out and show up and play is one thing. To come and play the way he did, and for all the guys to rally around him and bring his day up, it was really unbelievable.”

Though Smith is longer with the Ravens organization, he is still firmly connected with the city of Baltimore, whether it’s through charity events or simply cracking some Jimmy’s Seafood crabs. This moment is one of many reasons why No. 82 will always hold a special place in the heart of Ravens fans.

All season long, we’ll be counting down the Ravens top moments in franchise history to celebrate the team’s 20th season in Baltimore. Take a look back at what moments we’ve chronicled so far.

#20: Naming the Team

#19: Testaverde Throws for 429 Yards

#18: Ring of Honor

#17: Terrell Suggs Becomes Thigh Master

#16: The Insane Final Minutes of the Vikings Snow Game

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How it happened: The bundled-up fans that
braved the snow to cheer on the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 8, 2013,
were treated to 58 minutes of ho-hum, mediocre football—and, then, to 125 of
the most thrilling seconds in NFL history.

“Will we ever see another game like
that again?” John Harbaugh asked
rhetorically after it was all over. “That was about the best team win a
team could ever have.”

With just 2:05 remaining in the
fourth quarter, Baltimore took the lead when Joe Flacco hit tight end Dennis
Pitta for a one-yard touchdown pass. Ravens’ fans were confident: Minnesota got
the ball back with just two minutes left, and the Vikings were without their
injured star running back, Adrian Peterson. But the Vikes struck quickly as
Peterson’s backup, Tony Gerhart, rumbled 41 yards straight up the middle for a
touchdown that put Minnesota back on top with 1:27 left.

A hush fell over the crowd as snow
continued to fall and Minnesota kicked off. Would Flacco have enough time to
lead the Ravens back? Turns out we wouldn’t need to find out—yet. Jacoby Jones
returned the kick 77 yards for a touchdown, once again giving Baltimore the
lead. With just 1:16 left, the vaunted Ravens defense would hold this time,
right?

Wrong. Somehow Vikings quarterback
Matt Cassel was able to connect with Cordarrelle Patterson for a 79-yard score
to put Minnesota up by four with just 45 seconds left. It was a defensive
collapse Ravens’ fans weren’t used to seeing, but on the sideline Flacco didn’t
mope or pout. He knew he had one more shot.

In the last 45 seconds—an eternity in
this game—Flacco methodically marched his team down the field, and with 10
seconds left, he hit rookie Marlon Brown for the game-winning touchdown. Even
on this historic day, Minnesota didn’t have enough time for another comeback.

In the end, the Ravens and Vikings
combined for five touchdowns in the last 2:05 of game time—a new NFL record.
The Ravens came out on top 29-26.

“Besides the Super Bowl,” Terrell Suggs says,
“that’s probably the most special win I’ve ever been a part of.”

The frozen but delirious fans of
Ravens Nation, who stayed to the beautiful-then bitter-then beautiful end,
agreed.

Source

#20: Naming the Team
March 29, 1996

How it happened: Long before hashtags and retweets gauged popularity, the Ravens name was decided the old-school way: focus groups and telephone calls. The process began in earnest in February 1996 after owner Art Modell made the team’s move from Cleveland to Baltimore official. (He tried reasoning with Indianapolis to get the “Colts” name back, but no dice.)

For nearly two months, Modell’s son David met with NFL Properties to whittle the list down from several hundred to 17. From there, a research firm organized focus groups of Maryland citizens (ages 25-35 and 35-45) to answer a questionnaire, listen to play-by-play tapes, and rank their top fives picks. They were asked questions such as, “If Baltimore were a car, what kind would it be?” and “What person would you say most represents the community?” Popular picks were a Jeep and Cal Ripken Jr.

The Modells also partnered with The Baltimore Sun to get more voters and host one last poll. On March 28, readers were asked to call into Sundial (a then-popular telephone poll feature of the newspaper) to pick between five choices: Ravens, Americans, Marauders, Mustangs, and Railers. The next day, Mayor Kurt Schmoke, Governor Parris Glendening, and team officials gathered in the Inner Harbor to announce the name. Ravens won by a landslide.

“It’s a strong nickname that is not common to teams at any level, and it means something historically to this community,” said David Modell, of course referring to Baltimore’s ties with poet Edgar Allan Poe, who famously wrote “The Raven.” In fact, the team continues the legacy of the macabre poet, who lived and died in Baltimore, with its three jubilant mascots: Edgar, Allan, and Poe.

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