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The Baltimore Ravens, in their 23-year history, have been a fairly well-off NFL franchise, winning two Super Bowl titles.
The Ravens' franchise history is not as long and storied as other organizations, but a few teams stand out as the best for Baltimore football. Here are three of the best teams in Ravens history.
3. 2019 Ravens
The most recent season for the Baltimore Ravens was also their most successful regular-season campaign, going 14-2 under the leadership of second-year quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson was the league MVP, too, and broke the quarterback rushing-yards record last set by Michael Vick.
After sustaining back-to-back early-season losses at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns, the Ravens went on an incredible 12-game winning streak through October to December, earning the top seed in the conference and a first-round bye.
Nobody knows what would have happened if Baltimore didn't have that week off, or perhaps it was a wrong matchup against the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round, the upstart AFC South club that took down the mighty New England Patriots in the wild card.
But, nevertheless, what's done is done, and the Titans indeed took down the Ravens this past winter in what was arguably one of their best seasons. Now imagine what can happen to this Baltimore team with upgrades for Jackson at wide receiver.
2. 2012 Ravens
The 2012-13 Ravens season culminated in a…lights-out Super Bowl performance and victory. Head coach John Harbaugh, in his fifth year in charge of the team, defeated his brother's, Jim, team, the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII in a strange but memorable performance that saw Joe Flacco throw 287 passing yards and three touchdowns, earning MVP honors in the title game.
Rewinding a bit, in 2012 the Ravens entered their campaign with four consecutive postseason appearances under their belt, most recently in 2011-12 losing in the AFC Championship Game to the eventual Super Bowl loser New England Patriots by three points. Reloading in the offseason by signing Houston Texans free agent wideout Jacoby Jones, who would prove to be an invaluable asset to the squad down the road.
During the regular season, the Ravens weren't particularly off-the-wall impressive as a top team in the AFC, only going 10-6, including a late-season three-game losing streak and losing four of their last five games. Entering the postseason, however, Baltimore turned up the dial—torching the Indianapolis Colts in the wild card game before winning an overtime shootout on the road in Denver against Peyton Manning and the Broncos. The Ravens won in Foxborough against the Patriots in a game capped off by a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to Anquan Boldin.
The “Blackout Bowl,” named due to a power outrage occurring in New Orleans' Superdome in the big game in the third quarter, saw the 49ers score 17 points without retribution. The Ravens staved off comeback with a huge defensive stop at the goal line and won the franchise's second Super Bowl.
1. 2000 Ravens
The 2000-01 Ravens, so far, are the best team in franchise history. It was truly a magical season for the franchise, then in its fifth year of existence following Art Modell's controversial relocation and brand alteration, as the 12-4 team had a winning record for the first time—and entered the postseason for the first time, too.
Quarterbacked by Trent Dilfer, who took over from Tony Banks mid-season, and coached by second-year Brian Billick, the Ravens completely changed gears with Dilfer and were spurred on by what is considered possibly the greatest defensive unit ever assembled: Ray Lewis, Rod Woodson, Rob Burnett, and Peter Boulware were among the standouts of the 2000 squad. Baltimore saw five players selected to the Pro Bowl team, and after losing three consecutive games early in the season, including one against a future postseason opponent, Dilfer and the Ravens won seven straight regular-season games to earn a wild card berth.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Ravens dispatched the Denver Broncos, only giving up three points, and beat the Titans by two scores in the divisional round. The 2000 AFC Championship Game was a low-scoring affair, but again the Ravens' defense was way too much, even on the road, for the Raiders.
Baltimore capped off their remarkable run and first playoff appearance by winning their first Super Bowl, 34-7, against the New York Giants, with Ray Lewis earning MVP honors.
