Ravens Top 20: Ray Lewis Strips Eddie George in 2000 Playoffs

Jess Mayhugh — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 12:31:00 +0000

#11: Ray Lewis Strips Eddie George in 2000 Playoffs
January 7, 2001

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

Pregame Platter: Titans at Ravens

Jess Mayhugh — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 10:38:00 +0000

Titans at Ravens, Sunday Nov. 9, 1 p.m., M&T Bank Stadium, CBS

The Tennessee Titans are one of the NFL’s four alliterative teams, and also one of the 32-team league’s four worst. At 2-6, the tiny Titans are just the type of sacrificial lamb the suddenly struggling Ravens need to feast on to turn their fortunes around. I could tell you how Tennessee’s opponents have outscored them by 65 points (by comparison, the Ravens have outscored theirs by 66), or how the Titans have won just one game on the road. I could tell you how they’re ranked 27th in offense and 23rd in defense, or how Vegas oddsmakers think so little of them that they’ve installed Baltimore as a huge, 10-point favorite. But really, all you need to know is this: Three weeks ago the Titans lost to the Washington Redskins. That tells the whole story.

What to Eat: The Titans are based in Nashville, a rapidly-growing vibrant city of musical and increasingly culinary acclaim. Seventy-five miles south of the country music capital sits Lynchburg, home to the Jack Daniel’s distillery. Mind-bogglingly, the town is located in a dry county, meaning the whiskey is not available for consumption at stores or restaurants there. Luckily, it is here.

I’ll be using it to make Oven BBQ Tennessee Pork Tenderloin:

¼ cup Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup ketchup
½ cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon garlic powder
2 pounds pork tenderloin

Directions:
Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Combine all ingredients except the pork tenderloin in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer until slightly thickened, about five minutes. Place the tenderloin on a foil-lined baking or roasting pan. Brush with the sauce. Roast for about 30 minutes until the internal temperature is 150 degrees. Remove from the oven and let the meat rest about 10 minutes before slicing. Makes six servings.

Nashville’s Monell’s fries some seriously delicious chicken in its legendary skillets. While I generally prefer to consume my fried chicken behind drawn blinds in the privacy of my own home, I make an exception for the Cardinal Tavern (901 S. Clinton St.), which serves some of the best golden, crispy chicken I’ve found in Baltimore. It also has a nice whiskey selection and some big TVs to watch the game.

What to Drink: There is seemingly no limit to the number of ways one can self-administer a Jack Daniel’s-induced hangover. I will be choosing Tennessee Tea as my delivery method.

Combine two ounces of Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7, one ounce of triple sec, one ounce of sweet and sour mix, and an ounce or so of Coke. Pour into a rocks glass filled with ice, garnish with a lemon or lime if you so wish, and enjoy.

Source

Tennessee Titans – Baltimore Magazine

Ravens Top 20: Ray Lewis Strips Eddie George in 2000 Playoffs

Pregame Platter: Titans at Ravens