The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They compete in the AFC North Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL)
The Ravens have won one Super Bowl title, Super Bowl XXXV, in the 2000 season against the New York Giants.
The team name is a reference to the poem "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe, who lived and worked in Baltimore at various points during his life and is buried in the city.
History
For more details on this topic, see History of the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns relocation controversy.The Baltimore Ravens came into existence in 1996 when Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his intention to relocate his team from Cleveland to Baltimore. The controversy ended when representatives of Cleveland and the NFL reached a settlement on February 8, 1996. with Pro Football Hall of Fame players. A new team to begin play in 1999 would be regarded as the "reactivated" Cleveland Browns. Modell's Baltimore team, while retaining all current player contracts, would officially be the expansion team, a "new franchise." Not all players, staff or front office would make the move to Baltimore, however.
Modell relocated the team and hired Ted Marchibroda as head coach. Marchibroda was already well known because of his work as head coach of the Baltimore Colts during the 1970s and the Indianapolis Colts during the early 1990s. Ozzie Newsome, the Browns' tight end for many seasons, joined Modell in Baltimore as director of football operations. He was later promoted to Vice President/General Manager.
The home stadium for the Ravens first two seasons was Baltimore's Memorial Stadium, home field of the Baltimore Colts years before. The Ravens moved to their own new stadium at Camden Yards in 1998. Raven Stadium would subsequently wear the names PSI Net Stadium and then M&T Bank Stadium.
In the 1996 NFL Draft, the Ravens, with two picks in the first round, drafted offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden at #4 overall and linebacker Ray Lewis at #26 overall. Both players would go on to have Hall of Fame-caliber careers for the Ravens.
The 1996 Ravens won their opening game against the Oakland Raiders. However, they would not keep this momentum for long, and they finished 4-12. One other highlight of the season was their trip to Indianapolis to play the Colts (who won 26-21). This game was aired on TNT, and was the first such game following the closure of the acquisition of TNT parent Turner Broadcasting System by Time Warner, only three days earlier.
The 1997 Ravens started 3–1. Peter Boulware, a rookie defender from Florida State, recorded 11.5 sacks and was named AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year. The team finished 6–9–1. On October 26, the team made its first trip to Landover, Maryland to play their new regional rivals, the Washington Redskins, for the first time in the regular season, at the new Jack Kent Cooke Stadium (replacing the still-standing RFK Stadium in Washington, DC). The Ravens won the game 20-17.
Quarterback Vinny Testaverde left for the New York Jets before the 1998 season and was replaced by former Indianapolis Colt Jim Harbaugh, and later Eric Zeier. Cornerback 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. The Ravens finished 1998 with a 6–10 record. On November 29, the Ravens welcomed the Colts back to Baltimore for the first time in 15 years. Amidst a shower of negative cheers towards the Colts, the Ravens won 38-31.
Three consecutive losing seasons under Marchibroda led to a change in the head coach. Brian Billick took over as head coach in 1999. Billick had been offensive coordinator for the record-setting Minnesota Vikings the season before. 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 managed to finish with an 8–8 record.
Due to continual financial hardships, the NFL directed Modell to initiate the sale of his franchise. On March 27, 2000, NFL owners approved the sale of 49% of the Ravens to Bisciotti. In the deal, Bisciotti had an option to purchase the remaining 51% for $325 million in 2004 from Art Modell. On April 9, 2004 the NFL approved Steve Bisciotti's purchase of the majority stake in the club.
2000 season — Super Bowl champions
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 1986 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 5–1 record. Banks began the 2000 season as the starting quarterback, but was replaced by Trent Dilfer mid-season. Dilfer provided a steady hand at quarterback. The 1,364-yard rushing season by rookie running back Jamal Lewis combined with the stout Ravens defense to keep 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 2 wins during that stretch. The team regrouped and won each of their last seven games, finishing 12–4. The Ravens had 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. They dominated the Denver Broncos 21–3 in their first game. In the divisional playoff, 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. The game was barely in doubt. Shannon Sharpe's 96-yard touchdown catch early in the second quarter, followed by an injury to Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon, was crucial as the Ravens won easily, 16–3.
Baltimore then went to Tampa for Super Bowl XXXV against 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); 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 return 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 Colts in 1958, 1959 and 1970.
2001–2002
In 2001, the Ravens attempted to defend its title with Elvis Grbac as its new starting quarterback, but a season-ending injury to Jamal Lewis on the first day of training camp and poor offensive performances 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 divisional playoff the Ravens played the Pittsburgh Steelers. Three interceptions by Grbac ended the Ravens' season, as they lost 27–10. Baltimore ran into salary cap problems entering the 2002 season and was forced to part with a number of impact players. The Ravens stayed somewhat competitive, until a losing streak in December eliminated any chances of a post-season berth.
2003 draft
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 2nd round pick and 2004 1st round pick to the New England Patriots for the 19th overall selection. The Ravens used it to draft Cal quarterback Kyle Boller. The Patriots eventually used the Ravens' 2004 1st round selection to take defensive tackle Vince Wilfork.
2003–2005
After the 2003 season, Art Modell officially transferred his remaining 51% ownership to Bisciotti, ending over 40 years of tenure as an NFL franchise owner. Modell still has an office at the Ravens' headquarters in Owings Mills, Maryland, and acts as a consultant.
The Ravens named Boller their starting QB just prior to the start of the 2003 season, but he was injured midway through the season and was replaced by Anthony Wright. Jamal Lewis ran for 2,066 yards (including 295 yards in one game against the Cleveland Browns on September 14 ). The Ravens held a 5–5 record until, in a home game against the Seattle Seahawks, wiped out a 41–24 gap in the final seven minutes of regulation, then won on a Matt Stover field goal in overti
Baltimore Ravens | Home
Official Team Store Gift Certificates. Gift Certificates make a perfect present for friends, family, and business associates. Shop Now »
Baltimore Ravens Football Team Home Page - FOX Sports on MSN
Baltimore Ravens team center, home page for Baltimore Ravens news, videos, NFL team reports, roster depth charts, results, stats, schedule and more.
Baltimore Ravens Football & NFL Breaking News, Schedule, Scores ...
Baltimore Ravens news, schedule, scores, ticket information; NFL team rankings, news and scores
Baltimore Ravens News, Schedule, Photos, Stats, Players, NFL Football ...
Baltimore Ravens news, scores, photos, blogs, stats, injuries, transactions, schedule, tickets as well as truth and rumors and Fantasy news from around the web at SI.com.
Baltimore Ravens NFL Football Front Page
Ravens Insider is the place for complete Baltimore Ravens Football news, Ravens message boards, Ravens discussion boards, Ravens forums and information since 1999.
Baltimore Ravens, Ravens News, Ravens Schedule, Ravens Radio - WBAL ...
Baltimore Ravens News, Ravens Schedule, Ravens Radio on Maryland's NEWS TALK SPORTS Station - WBAL ... NFL / Ravens MLB / Orioles College Hoops Towson Tigers Golf College Football Other ...
Baltimore Ravens :: Baltimore.org
Baltimore Ravens Football. The Ravens, Baltimore's NFL football team, are in the North Division of the AFC. Bringing pro football back to Baltimore in 1996, after a 13-year void ...
Baltimore Ravens | Ravenstown | Youth Football
During halftime of every home game this season, the Toyota Quarterback Challenge showcases two standout Maryland high school quarterbacks who are chosen in conjunction with the ...
Baltimore Ravens Trivia
The Baltimore Ravens have yet to complete their first decade of football since abandoning Cleveland and their Browns heritage, but that relatively short period of time has produced ...
Baltimore Restaurants, Museums, Inner Harbor, Ravens football, Orioles ...
Baltimore Restaurants, Museums, Bars, Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore Orioles, Black History sight seeing and more provided by the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association.