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Formerly known as the Cleveland Browns, the Baltimore Ravens have already won two Super Bowl titles despite arriving on the scene in 1996. With the team's latest title coming in 2012 with a win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, it was actually the 2000 Ravens that initially defend this revamped franchise both stylistically and in terms of Baltimore's overall identity.
If not for the 2000 Ravens, Baltimore would not still be on its lengthy run of success while the team's Super Bowl title in 2012 might not have even happened if head coach Brian Billick and company didn't pave the way to begin the 21st century. As a result, there is absolutely no doubt that the 2000 Ravens are the best team in franchise history.
Similarly to the 1985 Chicago Bears, another one of the best teams ever assembled, the 2000 Ravens prided themselves on the team's stout defense — a unit that was filled with a wide range of unique personalities. Led by future Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis, the Ravens also featured the likes of fellow linebacker Peter Boulware, defensive tackle Tony Siragusa and plenty more talented players on defense.
On offense, quarterback Trent Dilfer, running back Jamal Lewis and wide receivers Qadry Ismail and Jermaine Lewis did just enough to keep the Ravens in control with the Baltimore defense continually ravaging opponents. Although the Ravens were obviously a defensive minded team, which would become the way of the world in Baltimore for years to come, this squad in particular managed to win in a variety of different ways, something that made the 2000 campaign that much more special.
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Following a perfect and undefeated 4-0 preseason effort in 2000, the Ravens then followed that up with another five wins in six tries to begin the regular season at a stellar 5-1. From there, the Ravens would only lose three more times during the regular season with the team notably recording seven consecutive victories heading into the postseason. In all, the surging Ravens would win 11 consecutive games overall en route to a title.
During the postseason, the Ravens would initially take down the Denver Broncos, rival Tennessee Titans, who Baltimore defeated twice in 2000, and Oakland Raiders before squaring off against the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV. After allowing a total of 16 points through the first three rounds of the 2000 postseason, it would be more of the same come Super Bowl XXXV as the Giants went on to score a single touchdown with the Ravens winning the game by the score of 34-7. Not only would the aforementioned Lewis become the league's Defensive Player of the Year in 2000 but he was also named Super Bowl XXXV MVP.
Now a perennial playoff team and multiple-time Super Bowl winning franchise, the Ravens are 100 percent what they are today because of that 2000 championship team. Even though the 2000 Super Bowl run is not the team's latest championship season, it is still the most vital, a notion that will be hard to change anytime soon.
