Editing (section) Baltimore Ravens 0 You are not logged in. The rich text editor does not work with JavaScript switched off. Please either enable it in your browser options, or visit your preferences to switch to the old MediaWiki editor <h2>History</h2> <div class="placeholder placeholder-double-brackets" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22double-brackets%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%7B%7Bdetails3%7C%5B%5BHistory%20of%20the%20Baltimore%20Ravens%5D%5D%20and%20%5B%5BCleveland%20Browns%20relocation%20controversy%5D%5D%7D%7D%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%221%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22details3%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22spacesafter%22%3A%22%22%7D" contenteditable="false">​ <div data-rte-washtml="1" data-rte-line-start="true" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable boilerplate seealso" data-rte-attribs=" role=note class=hatnote navigation-not-searchable boilerplate seealso">For more details on this topic, see <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22History%20of%20the%20Baltimore%20Ravens%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22History%20of%20the%20Baltimore%20Ravens%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BHistory%20of%20the%20Baltimore%20Ravens%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/History_of_the_Baltimore_Ravens" title="History of the Baltimore Ravens">History of the Baltimore Ravens</a> and <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Cleveland%20Browns%20relocation%20controversy%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Cleveland%20Browns%20relocation%20controversy%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BCleveland%20Browns%20relocation%20controversy%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Cleveland_Browns_relocation_controversy" title="Cleveland Browns relocation controversy">Cleveland Browns relocation controversy</a>.</div>​</div> <h3 data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">1995<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>1999</h3> <p data-rte-fromparser="true">The Baltimore Ravens came into existence in 1995 when <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Art%20Modell%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Art%20Modell%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BArt%20Modell%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Art_Modell" title="Art Modell">Art Modell</a>, then owner of the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Cleveland%20Browns%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Cleveland%20Browns%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BCleveland%20Browns%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Cleveland_Browns" title="Cleveland Browns">Cleveland Browns</a>, announced his intention to relocate his team from <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Cleveland%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Cleveland%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BCleveland%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Cleveland" title="Cleveland">Cleveland</a> to <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Baltimore%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Baltimore%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BBaltimore%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Baltimore" title="Baltimore">Baltimore</a>. The resulting <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22controversy%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Cleveland%20Browns%20relocation%20controversy%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BCleveland%20Browns%20relocation%20controversy%7Ccontroversy%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Cleveland_Browns_relocation_controversy" title="Cleveland Browns relocation controversy">controversy</a> ended when representatives of Cleveland and the NFL reached a settlement on February 8, 1996. The agreement stipulated that the Browns' name, colors, uniform design and franchise records would remain in Cleveland. The franchise history included Browns club records and connections with <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Pro%20Football%20Hall%20of%20Fame%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Pro%20Football%20Hall%20of%20Fame%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BPro%20Football%20Hall%20of%20Fame%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Pro_Football_Hall_of_Fame" title="Pro Football Hall of Fame">Pro Football Hall of Fame</a> 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 <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22expansion%20team%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22expansion%20team%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5Bexpansion%20team%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Expansion_team" title="Expansion team">expansion team</a>, a "new franchise."<span data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3EMorgan%2C%20Jon.%20%5Bhttp%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.baltimoresun.com%5C%2Fsports%5C%2Ffootball%5C%2Fbal-modell020996%2C1%2C1050941.story%20Deal%20clears%20NFL%20path%20to%20Baltimore%5D%2C%20%27%27%5B%5BThe%20Baltimore%20Sun%5D%5D%27%27%2C%20February%209%2C%201996.%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-0" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-0 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2224816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ1f7cc8e8498a4240-nowiki-00000001-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E1%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2224816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ1f7cc8e8498a4240-nowiki-00000002-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-0%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-0%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%22179%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E1%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%22180%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="#cite_note-0"><span data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[​</span>1<span data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]​</span></a></sup>​</span> Not all players, staff or front office would make the move to Baltimore, however. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">After relocation Modell hired Ted Marchibroda as the head coach for his new team in Baltimore. Marchibroda was already well known because of his work as head coach of the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Baltimore%20Colts%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22History%20of%20the%20Indianapolis%20Colts%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BHistory%20of%20the%20Indianapolis%20Colts%7CBaltimore%20Colts%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/History_of_the_Indianapolis_Colts" title="History of the Indianapolis Colts">Baltimore Colts</a> during the 1970s and the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Indianapolis%20Colts%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Indianapolis%20Colts%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BIndianapolis%20Colts%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Indianapolis_Colts" title="Indianapolis Colts">Indianapolis Colts</a> during the early 1990s. <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Ozzie%20Newsome%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Ozzie%20Newsome%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BOzzie%20Newsome%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Ozzie_Newsome" title="Ozzie Newsome">Ozzie Newsome</a>, 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. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">The home stadium for the Ravens first two seasons was Baltimore's <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Memorial%20Stadium%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Memorial%20Stadium%20%28Baltimore%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMemorial%20Stadium%20%28Baltimore%29%7CMemorial%20Stadium%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Memorial_Stadium_(Baltimore)" title="Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)">Memorial Stadium</a>, home field of the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Baltimore%20Colts%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22History%20of%20the%20Indianapolis%20Colts%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BHistory%20of%20the%20Indianapolis%20Colts%7CBaltimore%20Colts%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/History_of_the_Indianapolis_Colts" title="History of the Indianapolis Colts">Baltimore Colts</a> years before. The Ravens moved to their own new stadium at Camden Yards in 1998. Raven Stadium would subsequently wear the names <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22PSI%20Net%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22PSINet%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BPSINet%7CPSI%20Net%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="PSINet (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvUFNJTmV0P2FjdGlvbj1lZGl0JnJlZGxpbms9MQ==">PSI Net</a> Stadium and then <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22M%26T%20Bank%20Stadium%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22M%26T%20Bank%20Stadium%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BM%26T%20Bank%20Stadium%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/M%26T_Bank_Stadium" title="M&T Bank Stadium">M&T Bank Stadium</a>. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">In the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%221996%20NFL%20Draft%22%2C%22link%22%3A%221996%20NFL%20Draft%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B1996%20NFL%20Draft%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/1996_NFL_Draft" title="1996 NFL Draft">1996 NFL Draft</a>, the Ravens, with two picks in the first round, drafted offensive tackle <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Jonathan%20Ogden%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Jonathan%20Ogden%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BJonathan%20Ogden%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Jonathan_Ogden" title="Jonathan Ogden">Jonathan Ogden</a> at #4 overall and linebacker <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Ray%20Lewis%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Ray%20Lewis%20%28American%20football%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRay%20Lewis%20%28American%20football%29%7CRay%20Lewis%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Ray_Lewis_(American_football)" title="Ray Lewis (American football)" class="mw-redirect">Ray Lewis</a> at #26 overall. Both players would go on to have <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Hall%20of%20Fame%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Hall%20of%20Fame%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BHall%20of%20Fame%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Hall_of_Fame" title="Hall of Fame">Hall of Fame</a>-caliber careers for the Ravens. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">The 1996 Ravens won their opening game against the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Oakland%20Raiders%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Oakland%20Raiders%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BOakland%20Raiders%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Oakland_Raiders" title="Oakland Raiders" class="mw-redirect">Oakland Raiders</a>. However, they would not keep this momentum for long, and they finished 4-12 despite receiver Michael Jackson leading the league with 14 touchdown catches. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">The 1997 Ravens started 3<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>1. <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Peter%20Boulware%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Peter%20Boulware%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BPeter%20Boulware%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Peter_Boulware" title="Peter Boulware">Peter Boulware</a>, a rookie defender from <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Florida%20State%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Florida%20State%20University%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BFlorida%20State%20University%7CFlorida%20State%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Florida_State_University" title="Florida State University" class="mw-redirect">Florida State</a>, recorded 11.5 sacks and was named AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year. The team finished 6<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>9<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>1. On October 26, the team made its first trip to <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Landover%2C%20Maryland%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Landover%2C%20Maryland%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BLandover%2C%20Maryland%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Landover,_Maryland" title="Landover, Maryland">Landover, Maryland</a> to play their new <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22regional%20rivals%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Baltimore-Washington%20Metropolitan%20Area%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BBaltimore-Washington%20Metropolitan%20Area%7Cregional%20rivals%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvQmFsdGltb3JlLVdhc2hpbmd0b25fTWV0cm9wb2xpdGFuX0FyZWE/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">regional rivals</a>, the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Washington%20Redskins%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Washington%20Redskins%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BWashington%20Redskins%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Washington_Redskins" title="Washington Redskins">Washington Redskins</a>, for the first time in the regular season, at the new <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Jack%20Kent%20Cooke%20Stadium%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22FedEx%20Field%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BFedEx%20Field%7CJack%20Kent%20Cooke%20Stadium%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/FedEx_Field" title="FedEx Field">Jack Kent Cooke Stadium</a> (replacing the still-standing <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22RFK%20Stadium%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22RFK%20Stadium%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRFK%20Stadium%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/RFK_Stadium" title="RFK Stadium">RFK Stadium</a> in <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Washington%2C%20DC%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Washington%2C%20D.C.%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BWashington%2C%20D.C.%7CWashington%2C%20DC%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Washington,_D.C." title="Washington, D.C.">Washington, DC</a>). The Ravens won the game 20-17. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">Quarterback <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Vinny%20Testaverde%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Vinny%20Testaverde%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BVinny%20Testaverde%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Vinny_Testaverde" title="Vinny Testaverde">Vinny Testaverde</a> left for the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22New%20York%20Jets%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22New%20York%20Jets%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BNew%20York%20Jets%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/New_York_Jets" title="New York Jets">New York Jets</a> before the 1998 season, and was replaced by former Indianapolis Colt <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Jim%20Harbaugh%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Jim%20Harbaugh%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BJim%20Harbaugh%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Jim_Harbaugh" title="Jim Harbaugh">Jim Harbaugh</a>, and later <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Eric%20Zeier%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Eric%20Zeier%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BEric%20Zeier%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Eric_Zeier" title="Eric Zeier">Eric Zeier</a>. Cornerback <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Rod%20Woodson%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Rod%20Woodson%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRod%20Woodson%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Rod_Woodson" title="Rod Woodson">Rod Woodson</a> joined the team after a successful stint with the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Pittsburgh%20Steelers%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Pittsburgh%20Steelers%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BPittsburgh%20Steelers%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Steelers" title="Pittsburgh Steelers">Pittsburgh Steelers</a>, and <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Priest%20Holmes%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Priest%20Holmes%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BPriest%20Holmes%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Priest_Holmes" title="Priest Holmes">Priest Holmes</a> started getting the first playing time of his career and ran for 1,000 yards. The Ravens finished 1998 with a 6<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>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. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">Three consecutive losing seasons under Marchibroda led to a change in the head coach. <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Brian%20Billick%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Brian%20Billick%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BBrian%20Billick%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Brian_Billick" title="Brian Billick">Brian Billick</a> took over as head coach in 1999. Billick, a self described offensive genius, had been offensive coordinator for the record-setting <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Minnesota%20Vikings%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Minnesota%20Vikings%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMinnesota%20Vikings%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Minnesota_Vikings" title="Minnesota Vikings">Minnesota Vikings</a> the season before. Quarterback <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Tony%20Banks%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Tony%20Banks%20%28quarterback%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BTony%20Banks%20%28quarterback%29%7CTony%20Banks%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="Tony Banks (quarterback) (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvVG9ueV9CYW5rc18ocXVhcnRlcmJhY2spP2FjdGlvbj1lZGl0JnJlZGxpbms9MQ==">Tony Banks</a> came to Baltimore from the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22St.%20Louis%20Rams%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22St.%20Louis%20Rams%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSt.%20Louis%20Rams%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/St._Louis_Rams" title="St. Louis Rams" class="mw-redirect">St. Louis Rams</a> and had the best season of his career with 17 touchdown passes and an 81.2 <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22pass%20rating%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22pass%20rating%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5Bpass%20rating%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="Pass rating (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvUGFzc19yYXRpbmc/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">pass rating</a>. He was joined by receiver <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Qadry%20Ismail%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Qadry%20Ismail%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BQadry%20Ismail%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Qadry_Ismail" title="Qadry Ismail">Qadry Ismail</a>, who posted a 1,000-yard season. The Ravens initially struggled with a record of 4-7 but managed to finish with an 8<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>8 record. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">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 <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Steve%20Bisciotti%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Steve%20Bisciotti%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSteve%20Bisciotti%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Steve_Bisciotti" title="Steve Bisciotti">Steve Bisciotti</a>. 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. </p> <h3 data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">2000 season — Super Bowl champions</h3> <p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">The 2000 season saw the Ravens defense, led by defensive coordinator <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Marvin%20Lewis%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Marvin%20Lewis%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMarvin%20Lewis%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Marvin_Lewis" title="Marvin Lewis">Marvin Lewis</a>, 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 <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%221986%20Chicago%20Bears%22%2C%22link%22%3A%221985%20Chicago%20Bears%20season%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B1985%20Chicago%20Bears%20season%7C1986%20Chicago%20Bears%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/1985_Chicago_Bears_season" title="1985 Chicago Bears season">1986 Chicago Bears</a> of 187 points for a 16 game season. Linebacker <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Ray%20Lewis%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Ray%20Lewis%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRay%20Lewis%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Ray_Lewis" title="Ray Lewis">Ray Lewis</a> was named Defensive Player of the year and, with two of his defensive teammates, <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Sam%20Adams%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Sam%20Adams%20%28football%20player%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSam%20Adams%20%28football%20player%29%7CSam%20Adams%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="Sam Adams (football player) (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvU2FtX0FkYW1zXyhmb290YmFsbF9wbGF5ZXIpP2FjdGlvbj1lZGl0JnJlZGxpbms9MQ==">Sam Adams</a> and <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Rod%20Woodson%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Rod%20Woodson%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRod%20Woodson%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Rod_Woodson" title="Rod Woodson">Rod Woodson</a>, made the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Pro%20Bowl%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Pro%20Bowl%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BPro%20Bowl%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Pro_Bowl" title="Pro Bowl">Pro Bowl</a>. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">Baltimore's season started strong with a 5-1 record. Tony Banks began the 2000 season as the starting quarterback and was replaced by <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Trent%20Dilfer%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Trent%20Dilfer%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BTrent%20Dilfer%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Trent_Dilfer" title="Trent Dilfer">Trent Dilfer</a> when the Ravens fell to 5-4. Coach <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Brian%20Billick%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Brian%20Billick%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BBrian%20Billick%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Brian_Billick" title="Brian Billick">Brian Billick</a> announced that the change at quarterback would be for the rest of the season. The 1,364-yard rushing season by rookie running back <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Jamal%20Lewis%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Jamal%20Lewis%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BJamal%20Lewis%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Jamal_Lewis" title="Jamal Lewis">Jamal Lewis</a> combined with the stout Ravens defense kept 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<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>4. The Ravens had made the playoffs for the first time. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">Since the divisional rival <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Tennessee%20Titans%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Tennessee%20Titans%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BTennessee%20Titans%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Tennessee_Titans" title="Tennessee Titans">Tennessee Titans</a> had a record of 13<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>3, Baltimore had to play in the wild card round. In their first ever playoff game, they dominated the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Denver%20Broncos%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Denver%20Broncos%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BDenver%20Broncos%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Denver_Broncos" title="Denver Broncos">Denver Broncos</a> 21<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>3 in front of a then record-crowd of 69,638 at then called <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22PSINet%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22PSINet%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BPSINet%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="PSINet (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvUFNJTmV0P2FjdGlvbj1lZGl0JnJlZGxpbms9MQ==">PSINet</a> Stadium. In the divisional playoffs, they went on the road to Tennessee. Tied 10<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>10 in the fourth quarter, an <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Al%20Del%20Greco%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Al%20Del%20Greco%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BAl%20Del%20Greco%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Al_Del_Greco" title="Al Del Greco">Al Del Greco</a> field goal attempt was blocked and returned for a touchdown by <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Anthony%20Mitchell%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Anthony%20Mitchell%20%28American%20football%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BAnthony%20Mitchell%20%28American%20football%29%7CAnthony%20Mitchell%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Anthony_Mitchell_(American_football)" title="Anthony Mitchell (American football)">Anthony Mitchell</a>, and a Ray Lewis interception return for a score put the game squarely in Baltimore's favor. The 24<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>10 win put the Ravens in the AFC Championship against the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Oakland%20Raiders%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Oakland%20Raiders%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BOakland%20Raiders%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Oakland_Raiders" title="Oakland Raiders" class="mw-redirect">Oakland Raiders</a>. <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Shannon%20Sharpe%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Shannon%20Sharpe%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BShannon%20Sharpe%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Shannon_Sharpe" title="Shannon Sharpe">Shannon Sharpe</a>'s 96-yard touchdown catch early in the second quarter, followed by an injury to Raiders quarterback <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Rich%20Gannon%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Rich%20Gannon%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRich%20Gannon%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Rich_Gannon" title="Rich Gannon">Rich Gannon</a>, highlighted the Ravens' 16<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>3 victory. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">Baltimore then went to Tampa for <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Super%20Bowl%20XXXV%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Super%20Bowl%20XXXV%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSuper%20Bowl%20XXXV%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXXV" title="Super Bowl XXXV">Super Bowl XXXV</a> against the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22New%20York%20Giants%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22New%20York%20Giants%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BNew%20York%20Giants%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/New_York_Giants" title="New York Giants">New York Giants</a>, cruising to a 34<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>7 win for their first championship in franchise history. The Ravens recorded four sacks, forced five turnovers, one of which was a <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Kerry%20Collins%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Kerry%20Collins%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BKerry%20Collins%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Kerry_Collins" title="Kerry Collins">Kerry Collins</a> interception returned for a touchdown by <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Duane%20Starks%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Duane%20Starks%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BDuane%20Starks%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Duane_Starks" title="Duane Starks">Duane Starks</a>. The Giants' only score was a <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Ron%20Dixon%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Ron%20Dixon%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRon%20Dixon%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Ron_Dixon" title="Ron Dixon">Ron Dixon</a> kickoff return for another touchdown (after Starks' interception return); however, Baltimore immediately countered with a TD return by <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Jermaine%20Lewis%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Jermaine%20Lewis%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BJermaine%20Lewis%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Jermaine_Lewis" title="Jermaine Lewis">Jermaine Lewis</a>. The Ravens became only the third wild card team (and fourth non-division champion) 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. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">The title made the Ravens the fourth Baltimore-based pro football team to win a league championship. They were preceded by the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22NFL%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22National%20Football%20League%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BNational%20Football%20League%7CNFL%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/National_Football_League" title="National Football League">NFL</a> <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Colts%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Indianapolis%20Colts%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BIndianapolis%20Colts%7CColts%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Indianapolis_Colts" title="Indianapolis Colts">Colts</a> in <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%221958%22%2C%22link%22%3A%221958%20NFL%20Championship%20Game%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B1958%20NFL%20Championship%20Game%7C1958%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/1958_NFL_Championship_Game" title="1958 NFL Championship Game">1958</a>, <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%221959%22%2C%22link%22%3A%221959%20NFL%20season%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B1959%20NFL%20season%7C1959%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/1959_NFL_season" title="1959 NFL season">1959</a> and <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%221970%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Super%20Bowl%20V%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSuper%20Bowl%20V%7C1970%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_V" title="Super Bowl V">1970</a>, the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22USFL%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22United%20States%20Football%20League%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUnited%20States%20Football%20League%7CUSFL%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/United_States_Football_League" title="United States Football League">USFL</a> <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Stars%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Baltimore%20Stars%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BBaltimore%20Stars%7CStars%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="Baltimore Stars (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvQmFsdGltb3JlX1N0YXJzP2FjdGlvbj1lZGl0JnJlZGxpbms9MQ==">Stars</a> in <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%221985%22%2C%22link%22%3A%221985%20USFL%20season%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B1985%20USFL%20season%7C1985%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/1985_USFL_season" title="1985 USFL season">1985</a> and the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22CFL%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Canadian%20Football%20League%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BCanadian%20Football%20League%7CCFL%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Canadian_Football_League" title="Canadian Football League">CFL</a> <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Stallions%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Baltimore%20Stallions%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BBaltimore%20Stallions%7CStallions%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Baltimore_Stallions" title="Baltimore Stallions">Stallions</a> in <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%221995%22%2C%22link%22%3A%2283rd%20Grey%20Cup%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B83rd%20Grey%20Cup%7C1995%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/83rd_Grey_Cup" title="83rd Grey Cup">1995</a>. </p> <h3 data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">2001<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>2002</h3> <p data-rte-fromparser="true">In 2001, the Ravens attempted to defend its title with <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Elvis%20Grbac%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Elvis%20Grbac%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BElvis%20Grbac%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Elvis_Grbac" title="Elvis Grbac">Elvis Grbac</a> as its new starting quarterback, but a season-ending injury to <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Jamal%20Lewis%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Jamal%20Lewis%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BJamal%20Lewis%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Jamal_Lewis" title="Jamal Lewis">Jamal Lewis</a> on the first day of training camp and poor offensive performances stymied the team. After a 3<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>3 start, the Ravens defeated the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Minnesota%20Vikings%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Minnesota%20Vikings%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMinnesota%20Vikings%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Minnesota_Vikings" title="Minnesota Vikings">Minnesota Vikings</a> in the final week to clinch a wild card berth at 10<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>6. In the first round the Ravens showed flashes of their previous year with a 20<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>3 blowout over the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Miami%20Dolphins%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Miami%20Dolphins%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMiami%20Dolphins%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Miami_Dolphins" title="Miami Dolphins">Miami Dolphins</a>, in which the team forced three turnovers and outgained the Dolphins 347 yards to 151. In the divisional playoff the Ravens played the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Pittsburgh%20Steelers%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Pittsburgh%20Steelers%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BPittsburgh%20Steelers%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Steelers" title="Pittsburgh Steelers">Pittsburgh Steelers</a>. Three interceptions by Grbac ended the Ravens' season, as they lost 27<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>10. <!-- RTE::{"spaces":0,"type":"LINE_BREAK"} -->Baltimore ran into <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22salary%20cap%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22salary%20cap%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5Bsalary%20cap%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Salary_cap" title="Salary cap">salary cap</a> 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. </p> <h3 data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">2003 draft</h3> <p data-rte-fromparser="true">The Ravens needed a quarterback but, drafting after all the top quarterbacks were gone, used their 10th pick to select <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Arizona%20State%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Arizona%20State%20University%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BArizona%20State%20University%7CArizona%20State%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Arizona_State_University" title="Arizona State University">Arizona State</a> defensive end <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Terrell%20Suggs%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Terrell%20Suggs%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BTerrell%20Suggs%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Terrell_Suggs" title="Terrell Suggs">Terrell Suggs</a>. They then traded their 2003 2nd round pick and 2004 1st round pick to the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22New%20England%20Patriots%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22New%20England%20Patriots%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BNew%20England%20Patriots%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/New_England_Patriots" title="New England Patriots">New England Patriots</a> for the 19th overall selection which they used to draft <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Cal%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22University%20of%20California%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUniversity%20of%20California%7CCal%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/University_of_California" title="University of California">Cal</a> quarterback <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Kyle%20Boller%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Kyle%20Boller%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BKyle%20Boller%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Kyle_Boller" title="Kyle Boller">Kyle Boller</a>. The Patriots eventually used the Ravens' 2004 1st round selection to take defensive tackle <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Vince%20Wilfork%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Vince%20Wilfork%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BVince%20Wilfork%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Vince_Wilfork" title="Vince Wilfork">Vince Wilfork</a>. </p> <h3 data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">2003<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>2005</h3> <p data-rte-fromparser="true">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. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">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 <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Anthony%20Wright%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Anthony%20Wright%20%28quarterback%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BAnthony%20Wright%20%28quarterback%29%7CAnthony%20Wright%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="Anthony Wright (quarterback) (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvQW50aG9ueV9XcmlnaHRfKHF1YXJ0ZXJiYWNrKT9hY3Rpb249ZWRpdCZyZWRsaW5rPTE=">Anthony Wright</a>. 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<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>5 record until, in a home game against the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Seattle%20Seahawks%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Seattle%20Seahawks%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSeattle%20Seahawks%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Seattle_Seahawks" title="Seattle Seahawks">Seattle Seahawks</a>, they wiped out a 41<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>24 gap in the final seven minutes of regulation, then won on a <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Matt%20Stover%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Matt%20Stover%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMatt%20Stover%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Matt_Stover" title="Matt Stover">Matt Stover</a> field goal in overtime for a 44<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>41 triumph. From there the Ravens won five of their last six games. With a 10<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>6 record, Baltimore won their first AFC North division title. Their first playoff game, at home against the Tennessee Titans, went back and forth, with the Ravens being held to only 54 yards total rushing. The Titans won 20-17 on a late field goal, and Baltimore's season ended early. Ray Lewis was named <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Defensive%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Defensive%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BDefensive%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="Defensive Player of the Year (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvRGVmZW5zaXZlX1BsYXllcl9vZl90aGVfWWVhcj9hY3Rpb249ZWRpdCZyZWRsaW5rPTE=">Defensive Player of the Year</a> for the second time in his career. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">The Ravens did not make the playoffs in 2004 and finished the season with a record of 9-7 with Kyle Boller finishing the season at QB. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">In the 2005 offseason the Ravens looked to augment their receiving corps (which was second-worst in the NFL in 2004) by signing <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Derrick%20Mason%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Derrick%20Mason%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BDerrick%20Mason%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Derrick_Mason" title="Derrick Mason">Derrick Mason</a> from the Titans and drafting star Oklahoma wide receiver <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Mark%20Clayton%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Mark%20J.%20Clayton%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMark%20J.%20Clayton%7CMark%20Clayton%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Mark_J._Clayton" title="Mark J. Clayton" class="mw-redirect">Mark Clayton</a> in the first round of the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%222005%20NFL%20Draft%22%2C%22link%22%3A%222005%20NFL%20Draft%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B2005%20NFL%20Draft%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/2005_NFL_Draft" title="2005 NFL Draft">2005 NFL Draft</a>. However, the Ravens ended their season 6-10. </p> <h3 data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">2006 season</h3> <div class="placeholder placeholder-double-brackets" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22double-brackets%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%7B%7Bmain%7C2006%20Baltimore%20Ravens%20season%7D%7D%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%221%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22main%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22spacesafter%22%3A%22%22%7D" contenteditable="false">​ <div data-rte-washtml="1" data-rte-line-start="true" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable" data-rte-attribs=" role=note class=hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22wikitextIdx%22%3Anull%2C%22text%22%3A%222006%20Baltimore%20Ravens%20season%22%2C%22link%22%3A%222006%20Baltimore%20Ravens%20season%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Afalse%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/2006_Baltimore_Ravens_season" title="2006 Baltimore Ravens season">2006 Baltimore Ravens season</a></div>​</div> <p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">The 2006 Baltimore Ravens season began with the team trying to improve on their 6<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>10 record of 2005. The Ravens, for the first time in franchise history, started 4<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>0, under the leadership of former Titans quarterback <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Steve%20McNair%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Steve%20McNair%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSteve%20McNair%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Steve_McNair" title="Steve McNair">Steve McNair</a>. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">The Ravens lost 2 straight games mid-season on offensive troubles, prompting coach Brian Billick to drop their offensive coordinator <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Jim%20Fassel%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Jim%20Fassel%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BJim%20Fassel%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Jim_Fassel" title="Jim Fassel">Jim Fassel</a> in their week 7 bye. After the bye, and with Billick calling the offense, Baltimore would record a five-game win streak before losing to the Bengals in week 13. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">Still ranked second overall to first-place <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22San%20Diego%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22San%20Diego%20Chargers%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSan%20Diego%20Chargers%7CSan%20Diego%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/San_Diego_Chargers" title="San Diego Chargers" class="mw-redirect">San Diego</a>, The Ravens continued on. They defeated the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Chiefs%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Kansas%20City%20Chiefs%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BKansas%20City%20Chiefs%7CChiefs%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Kansas_City_Chiefs" title="Kansas City Chiefs">Chiefs</a>, and held the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers to only one touchdown at Heinz Field, allowing the Ravens to clinch the AFC North. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">The Ravens ended the regular season with a franchise-best 13<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>3 record. Baltimore had secured the AFC North title, the #2 AFC playoff seed, and clinched a 1st-round bye by season's end. The Ravens were slated to face the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the playoffs, in the first meeting of the two teams in the playoffs. Many Baltimore and Indianapolis fans saw this historic meeting as a sort of "Judgment Day" with the new team of Baltimore facing the old team of Baltimore (the former Baltimore Colts having left Baltimore under questionable circumstances in 1984). In one of the most bizarre playoff games in NFL history, both Indianapolis and Baltimore were held to scoring only field goals as the two defenses slugged it out all over M&T Bank Stadium. McNair threw two costly interceptions, including one at the 1-yard line. The eventual Super-Bowl-Champion Colts won 15-6, ending Baltimore's season. </p> <h3 data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">2007 season</h3> <div class="placeholder placeholder-double-brackets" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22double-brackets%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%7B%7Bmain%7C2007%20Baltimore%20Ravens%20season%7D%7D%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%221%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22main%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22spacesafter%22%3A%22%22%7D" contenteditable="false">​ <div data-rte-washtml="1" data-rte-line-start="true" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable" data-rte-attribs=" role=note class=hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22wikitextIdx%22%3Anull%2C%22text%22%3A%222007%20Baltimore%20Ravens%20season%22%2C%22link%22%3A%222007%20Baltimore%20Ravens%20season%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Afalse%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/2007_Baltimore_Ravens_season" title="2007 Baltimore Ravens season">2007 Baltimore Ravens season</a></div>​</div> <p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">After a stellar 2006 season, the Ravens hoped to improve upon its 13-3 record but injuries and poor play plagued the team which finished the 2007 season in the AFC North cellar with a disappointing 5-11 record. A humiliating 22-16 overtime loss to the previously winless <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Miami%20Dolphins%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Miami%20Dolphins%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMiami%20Dolphins%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Miami_Dolphins" title="Miami Dolphins">Miami Dolphins</a> on December 16 ultimately led to Billick's dismissal on New Year's Eve, one day after the end of the regular season. </p> <h3 data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">2008 season</h3> <div class="placeholder placeholder-double-brackets" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22double-brackets%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%7B%7Bmain%7C2008%20Baltimore%20Ravens%20season%20%7D%7D%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%221%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22main%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22spacesafter%22%3A%22%22%7D" contenteditable="false">​ <div data-rte-washtml="1" data-rte-line-start="true" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable" data-rte-attribs=" role=note class=hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22wikitextIdx%22%3Anull%2C%22text%22%3A%222008%20Baltimore%20Ravens%20season%22%2C%22link%22%3A%222008%20Baltimore%20Ravens%20season%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Afalse%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/2008_Baltimore_Ravens_season" title="2008 Baltimore Ravens season">2008 Baltimore Ravens season</a></div>​</div> <p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">With rookies at head coach (<a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22John%20Harbaugh%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22John%20Harbaugh%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BJohn%20Harbaugh%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/John_Harbaugh" title="John Harbaugh">John Harbaugh</a>) and quarterback (<a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Joe%20Flacco%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Joe%20Flacco%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BJoe%20Flacco%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Joe_Flacco" title="Joe Flacco">Joe Flacco</a>), the Ravens entered the 2008 campaign with lots of uncertainty. Its Week 2 contest at the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Houston%20Texans%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Houston%20Texans%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BHouston%20Texans%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Houston_Texans" title="Houston Texans">Houston Texans</a> was postponed until two months later because of <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Hurricane%20Ike%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Hurricane%20Ike%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BHurricane%20Ike%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="Hurricane Ike (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvSHVycmljYW5lX0lrZT9hY3Rpb249ZWRpdCZyZWRsaW5rPTE=">Hurricane Ike</a>, forcing the Ravens to play for what would eventually be eighteen straight weeks. With its record at 2<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>3 after consecutive losses to Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Indianapolis, its triumph over the Dolphins in Week 7 was redemption for what had happened against the same opponent in the previous season. Eight victories in its last ten regular season matches enabled them to clinch the sixth seed in the AFC playoffs. The biggest win during that stretch came in Week 16 with a 33<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>24 humbling of the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Dallas%20Cowboys%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Dallas%20Cowboys%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BDallas%20Cowboys%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Dallas_Cowboys" title="Dallas Cowboys">Dallas Cowboys</a> in the final game at <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Texas%20Stadium%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Texas%20Stadium%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BTexas%20Stadium%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Texas_Stadium" title="Texas Stadium">Texas Stadium</a>. <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Willis%20McGahee%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Willis%20McGahee%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BWillis%20McGahee%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Willis_McGahee" title="Willis McGahee">Willis McGahee</a>'s 77-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter established a new stadium record which would last until <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Le%27Ron%20McClain%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Le%27Ron%20McClain%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BLe%27Ron%20McClain%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Le%27Ron_McClain" title="Le'Ron McClain">Le'Ron McClain</a>, on the very first offensive play of the Ravens' next possession, secured the victory with an 82-yarder.<span data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3E%5Bhttp%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.nfl.com%5C%2Fgamecenter%5C%2F2008122000%5C%2F2008%5C%2FREG16%5C%2Fravens%40cowboys%20NFL%20Game%20Center%3A%20Baltimore%20Ravens%20at%20Dallas%20Cowboys%20%7F-ENTITY-ndash-%7F%202008%20Week%2016.%5D%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-1" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-1 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2224816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ1f7cc8e8498a4240-nowiki-00000004-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E2%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2224816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ1f7cc8e8498a4240-nowiki-00000005-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-1%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-1%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%22191%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E2%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%22192%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="#cite_note-1"><span data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[​</span>2<span data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]​</span></a></sup>​</span> </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">On the strength of four interceptions, one resulting in an <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Ed%20Reed%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Ed%20Reed%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BEd%20Reed%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Ed_Reed" title="Ed Reed">Ed Reed</a> touchdown, the Ravens began its postseason run by winning a rematch over Miami 27<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>9 at <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Dolphin%20Stadium%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Dolphin%20Stadium%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BDolphin%20Stadium%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Dolphin_Stadium" title="Dolphin Stadium" class="mw-redirect">Dolphin Stadium</a> on January 4, 2009 in a wildcard game.<span data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3E%5Bhttp%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fsports.espn.go.com%5C%2Fnfl%5C%2Frecap%3FgameId%3D290104015%26campaign%3Drss%26source%3DESPNHeadlines%20%5C%22Pennington%20throws%20four%20interceptions%20in%20loss%2C%5C%22%20%27%27The%20Associated%20Press%27%27%2C%20Sunday%2C%20January%204%2C%202009.%5D%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-2" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-2 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2224816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ1f7cc8e8498a4240-nowiki-00000007-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E3%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2224816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ1f7cc8e8498a4240-nowiki-00000008-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-2%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-2%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%22197%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E3%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%22198%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="#cite_note-2"><span data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[​</span>3<span data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]​</span></a></sup>​</span> Six days later, they advanced to the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22AFC%20Championship%20Game%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22AFC%20Championship%20Game%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BAFC%20Championship%20Game%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/AFC_Championship_Game" title="AFC Championship Game">AFC Championship Game</a> by avenging a Week 5 loss to the Titans 13<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>10 at <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22LP%20Field%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22LP%20Field%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BLP%20Field%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/LP_Field" title="LP Field">LP Field</a> on a <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Matt%20Stover%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Matt%20Stover%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMatt%20Stover%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Matt_Stover" title="Matt Stover">Matt Stover</a> field goal with 53 seconds left in regulation time.<span data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3E%5Bhttp%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fsports.espn.go.com%5C%2Fnfl%5C%2Frecap%3FgameId%3D290110010%26campaign%3Drss%26source%3DESPNHeadlines%20%5C%22Stover%27s%20FG%20with%2053%20seconds%20left%20boots%20Ravens%20into%20AFC%20Championship%20Game%2C%5C%22%20%27%27The%20Associated%20Press%27%27%2C%20Saturday%2C%20January%2010%2C%202009.%5D%20During%20the%20Steelers%202008%20Championship%20run%2C%20they%20beat%20the%20Ravens%20three%20times%2C%20including%20a%20win%20in%20the%20AFC%20Championship%20game.%20The%20Steelers%20lead%20the%20series%20%28begun%20in%201996%29%2C%2016%5Cu201310.%20The%20two%20teams%20complement%20each%20other%20by%20consistently%20fielding%20strong%20defenses%20in%20their%20division.%20The%20Steelers-Ravens%20Rivalry%20really%20began%20when%20Art%20Modell%20moved%20the%20his%20Franchise%20from%20Cleveland%20to%20Baltimore.%20%5C%22The%20Steelers%20saw%20the%20Ravens%20as%20Modell%27s%20team%2C%20which%20was%20reason%20enough%20to%20want%20to%20beat%20them.%20The%20Steelers%20also%20looked%20at%20Modell%27s%20move%20of%20his%20franchise%20from%20Cleveland%20to%20Baltimore%20as%20taking%20away%20the%20Steelers%20longest%20and%20deepest%20rivalry.%5C%22%5Cn%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-3" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-3 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2224816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ1f7cc8e8498a4240-nowiki-0000000A-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E4%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2224816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ1f7cc8e8498a4240-nowiki-0000000B-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-3%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-3%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%22203%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E4%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%22204%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="#cite_note-3"><span data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[​</span>4<span data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]​</span></a></sup>​</span> The Ravens fell one victory short of Super Bowl XLIII by losing to the Steelers 23<span data-rte-entity="ndash">–</span>14 at <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Heinz%20Field%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Heinz%20Field%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BHeinz%20Field%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Heinz_Field" title="Heinz Field">Heinz Field</a> on January 18, 2009.<span data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3E%5Bhttp%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fsports.espn.go.com%5C%2Fnfl%5C%2Frecap%3FgameId%3D290118023%20%5C%22Polamalu%27s%20INT%20return%20secures%20Steelers%27%20Super%20Bowl%20berth%2C%5C%22%20%27%27The%20Associated%20Press%27%27%2C%20Sunday%2C%20January%2018%2C%202009.%5D%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-4" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-4 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2224816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ1f7cc8e8498a4240-nowiki-0000000D-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E5%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2224816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ1f7cc8e8498a4240-nowiki-0000000E-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-4%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-4%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%22209%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E5%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%22210%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="#cite_note-4"><span data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[​</span>5<span data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]​</span></a></sup>​</span> </p> <h3 data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">2009 season</h3> <div class="placeholder placeholder-double-brackets" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22double-brackets%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%7B%7Bmain%7C2009%20Baltimore%20Ravens%20season%20%7D%7D%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%221%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22main%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22spacesafter%22%3A%22%22%7D" contenteditable="false">​ <div data-rte-washtml="1" data-rte-line-start="true" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable" data-rte-attribs=" role=note class=hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22wikitextIdx%22%3Anull%2C%22text%22%3A%222009%20Baltimore%20Ravens%20season%22%2C%22link%22%3A%222009%20Baltimore%20Ravens%20season%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Afalse%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/2009_Baltimore_Ravens_season" title="2009 Baltimore Ravens season">2009 Baltimore Ravens season</a></div>​</div> <p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">With Jonathan Ogden retiring after the 2007 season and Matt Stover going into free agency, Baltimore's only remaining player from its first season was <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Ray%20Lewis%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Ray%20Lewis%20%28American%20football%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRay%20Lewis%20%28American%20football%29%7CRay%20Lewis%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Ray_Lewis_(American_football)" title="Ray Lewis (American football)" class="mw-redirect">Ray Lewis</a>. The Ravens held the 26th pick in the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%222009%20NFL%20draft%22%2C%22link%22%3A%222009%20NFL%20draft%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B2009%20NFL%20draft%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="2009 NFL draft (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvMjAwOV9ORkxfZHJhZnQ/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">2009 NFL draft</a> but went up to the 23rd pick by trading its 26th pick and a 5th round pick to the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22New%20England%20Patriots%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22New%20England%20Patriots%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BNew%20England%20Patriots%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/New_England_Patriots" title="New England Patriots">New England Patriots</a>. The Ravens selected <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Michael%20Oher%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Michael%20Oher%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMichael%20Oher%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Michael_Oher" title="Michael Oher">Michael Oher</a> (who later had a movie named <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22The%20Blind%20Side%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22The%20Blind%20Side%20%28film%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BThe%20Blind%20Side%20%28film%29%7CThe%20Blind%20Side%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="The Blind Side (film) (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvVGhlX0JsaW5kX1NpZGVfKGZpbG0pP2FjdGlvbj1lZGl0JnJlZGxpbms9MQ==">The Blind Side</a> made after his life during his early years) in the first round of the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22NFL%20Draft%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22NFL%20Draft%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BNFL%20Draft%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/NFL_Draft" title="NFL Draft" class="mw-redirect">NFL Draft</a>. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">In the season opener, the offense continued its improvements from the year before as it scored 38 points and accounted for over 500 yards in a 38-24 victory over the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Kansas%20City%20Chiefs%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Kansas%20City%20Chiefs%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BKansas%20City%20Chiefs%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Kansas_City_Chiefs" title="Kansas City Chiefs">Kansas City Chiefs</a>. In week 2, the Ravens defeated the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22San%20Diego%20Chargers%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22San%20Diego%20Chargers%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSan%20Diego%20Chargers%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/San_Diego_Chargers" title="San Diego Chargers" class="mw-redirect">San Diego Chargers</a> 31-26. Although the Ravens secondary struggled, Ray Lewis made a crucial tackle on fourth down of the Chargers' final drive to seal the Baltimore win. In week 3, the Ravens defeated the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Cleveland%20Browns%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Cleveland%20Browns%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BCleveland%20Browns%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Cleveland_Browns" title="Cleveland Browns">Cleveland Browns</a> in a 34-3 blowout while celebrating Derrick Mason's 800th pass reception in his career. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">In week 4, the Ravens lost in heartbreak fashion to the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22New%20England%20Patriots%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22New%20England%20Patriots%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BNew%20England%20Patriots%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/New_England_Patriots" title="New England Patriots">New England Patriots</a>, 27-21, with their final drive ending with a dropped pass by Mark Clayton on 4th down within the 10 yard line with 28 seconds left on the clock. The following week, the Ravens hosted the Cincinnati Bengals, but lost with the Bengals' final drive resulting in a touchdown. The Ravens then played an away game against the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Minnesota%20Vikings%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Minnesota%20Vikings%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMinnesota%20Vikings%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Minnesota_Vikings" title="Minnesota Vikings">Minnesota Vikings</a> and suffered another heartbreaking loss, 33-31, putting them behind both the Bengals and the Steelers in the AFC North. The Ravens had rallied from 17 points down to the Vikings and managed to drive the ball down the field, but <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Steve%20Hauschka%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Steve%20Hauschka%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSteve%20Hauschka%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="Steve Hauschka (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvU3RldmVfSGF1c2Noa2E/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">Steve Hauschka</a> missed a 44 yard field goal as time expired on the clock. Joe Flacco made 28 out of 43 passing attempts and threw for a career high 385 yards, and Ray Rice ran for 117 yards. The very next week they hosted the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Denver%20Broncos%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Denver%20Broncos%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BDenver%20Broncos%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Denver_Broncos" title="Denver Broncos">Denver Broncos</a>, who were undefeated (6-0). After Hauschka kicked a pair of field goals in the 1st and 2nd quarters, the Broncos kicked off at the start of the 3rd quarter and the Ravens immediately returned it for a touchdown, giving the Ravens a 13-0 lead. They finished the game victorious, crushing the Broncos 30-7, handing Denver its first loss of the season. <!-- RTE::{"spaces":1,"type":"LINE_BREAK"} -->The following week, they looked to avenge the week 5 loss to the Bengals. However, they were out-played on both sides of the ball, suffered a crucial miss by Hauschka, and lost 17-7. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">In week 10, the Ravens visited the Cleveland Browns on <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22ESPN%20Monday%20Night%20Football%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22ESPN%20Monday%20Night%20Football%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BESPN%20Monday%20Night%20Football%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="ESPN Monday Night Football (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvRVNQTl9Nb25kYXlfTmlnaHRfRm9vdGJhbGw/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">ESPN Monday Night Football</a> and shut out their divisional rivals 16-0 despite a slow offensive start. Ravens kicker <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Steve%20Hauschka%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Steve%20Hauschka%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSteve%20Hauschka%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="Steve Hauschka (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvU3RldmVfSGF1c2Noa2E/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">Steve Hauschka</a> missed a field goal and had an extra point blocked, costing the Ravens 4 points. This led coach <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22John%20Harbaugh%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22John%20Harbaugh%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BJohn%20Harbaugh%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/John_Harbaugh" title="John Harbaugh">John Harbaugh</a> to release Hauschka and replace him with <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Billy%20Cundiff%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Billy%20Cundiff%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BBilly%20Cundiff%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Billy_Cundiff" title="Billy Cundiff">Billy Cundiff</a>. <!-- RTE::{"spaces":1,"type":"LINE_BREAK"} -->In week 11, the Ravens played their third undefeated opponent, the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Indianapolis%20Colts%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Indianapolis%20Colts%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BIndianapolis%20Colts%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Indianapolis_Colts" title="Indianapolis Colts">Indianapolis Colts</a>, who were (9-0). They lost 17-15, failing to score a single touchdown. Cundiff went 5 for 6 on field goals, scoring the Ravens only points. Joe Flacco threw a late interception and after Ed Reed's fumbled attempt to lateral on a punt return, <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Peyton%20Manning%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Peyton%20Manning%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BPeyton%20Manning%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Peyton_Manning" title="Peyton Manning">Peyton Manning</a> kneeled to seal the Colts' seventh consecutive victory against Baltimore. With this loss, the Ravens record stood at 5-5, ranking third in the AFC North. <!-- RTE::{"spaces":1,"type":"LINE_BREAK"} -->The Ravens then beat the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Pittsburgh%20Steelers%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Pittsburgh%20Steelers%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BPittsburgh%20Steelers%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Steelers" title="Pittsburgh Steelers">Pittsburgh Steelers</a>, who were playing without quarterback <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Ben%20Roethlisberger%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Ben%20Roethlisberger%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BBen%20Roethlisberger%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Ben_Roethlisberger" title="Ben Roethlisberger">Ben Roethlisberger</a> with an overtime field goal on <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Sunday%20Night%20Football%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Sunday%20Night%20Football%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSunday%20Night%20Football%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="Sunday Night Football (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvU3VuZGF5X05pZ2h0X0Zvb3RiYWxsP2FjdGlvbj1lZGl0JnJlZGxpbms9MQ==">Sunday Night Football</a>. The next week, however, the Ravens lost to the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Green%20Bay%20Packers%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Green%20Bay%20Packers%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BGreen%20Bay%20Packers%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Green_Bay_Packers" title="Green Bay Packers">Green Bay Packers</a> on <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22ESPN%20Monday%20Night%20Football%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22ESPN%20Monday%20Night%20Football%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BESPN%20Monday%20Night%20Football%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="ESPN Monday Night Football (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvRVNQTl9Nb25kYXlfTmlnaHRfRm9vdGJhbGw/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">ESPN Monday Night Football</a>. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">The Ravens then crushed two opponents from the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22NFC%20North%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22NFC%20North%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BNFC%20North%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/NFC_North" title="NFC North">NFC North</a> at home, beating the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Detroit%20Lions%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Detroit%20Lions%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BDetroit%20Lions%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Detroit_Lions" title="Detroit Lions">Detroit Lions</a> 48-3 and the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Chicago%20Bears%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Chicago%20Bears%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BChicago%20Bears%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Chicago_Bears" title="Chicago Bears">Chicago Bears</a> 31-7. The Ravens improved to 8-6, second in the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22AFC%20North%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22AFC%20North%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BAFC%20North%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/AFC_North" title="AFC North">AFC North</a>, and in line for the fifth seed. They looked ahead to their division rivals, the Steelers, who were coming off a dramatic last-second win against the Packers. A win would give the Ravens a chance to clinch a playoff spot and would knock the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Pittsburgh%20Steelers%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Pittsburgh%20Steelers%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BPittsburgh%20Steelers%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Steelers" title="Pittsburgh Steelers">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> out of contention. But the Ravens, who committed 11 penalties and blew several chances to put additional points on the board, lost 23-20. The Ravens still had a shot at the playoffs with a week 17 victory, and made it defeating the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Oakland%20Raiders%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Oakland%20Raiders%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BOakland%20Raiders%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Oakland_Raiders" title="Oakland Raiders" class="mw-redirect">Oakland Raiders</a> 21-13. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">In the playoffs, they faced the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22New%20England%20Patriots%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22New%20England%20Patriots%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BNew%20England%20Patriots%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/New_England_Patriots" title="New England Patriots">New England Patriots</a> in the wild card round. The Ravens beat the Patriots 33-14, aided by Ray Rice's 83-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage, helping them to a 24-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Advancing to the AFC Divisional Round, they next played the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Indianapolis%20Colts%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Indianapolis%20Colts%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BIndianapolis%20Colts%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Indianapolis_Colts" title="Indianapolis Colts">Indianapolis Colts</a>. Two touchdowns late in the first half gave the Colts a 17-3 lead at halftime, and Baltimore miscues in the second half ensured the end of their season, by a 20-3 score. </p> <h3 data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">2010 season</h3> <div class="placeholder placeholder-double-brackets" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22double-brackets%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%7B%7Bmain%7C2010%20Baltimore%20Ravens%20season%20%7D%7D%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%221%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22main%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22spacesafter%22%3A%22%22%7D" contenteditable="false">​ <div data-rte-washtml="1" data-rte-line-start="true" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable" data-rte-attribs=" role=note class=hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22wikitextIdx%22%3Anull%2C%22text%22%3A%222010%20Baltimore%20Ravens%20season%22%2C%22link%22%3A%222010%20Baltimore%20Ravens%20season%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Afalse%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/2010_Baltimore_Ravens_season" title="2010 Baltimore Ravens season">2010 Baltimore Ravens season</a></div>​</div> <p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">During the 2009-2010 offseason, the Ravens made some key additions to their offense by acquiring WR <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Anquan%20Boldin%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Anquan%20Boldin%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BAnquan%20Boldin%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Anquan_Boldin" title="Anquan Boldin">Anquan Boldin</a> from the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Arizona%20Cardinals%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Arizona%20Cardinals%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BArizona%20Cardinals%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Arizona_Cardinals" title="Arizona Cardinals">Arizona Cardinals</a> and free agent <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22T.%20J.%20Houshmandzadeh%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22T.%20J.%20Houshmandzadeh%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BT.%20J.%20Houshmandzadeh%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/T._J._Houshmandzadeh" title="T. J. Houshmandzadeh">T. J. Houshmandzadeh</a>, released after the preseason by the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Seattle%20Seahawks%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Seattle%20Seahawks%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSeattle%20Seahawks%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Seattle_Seahawks" title="Seattle Seahawks">Seattle Seahawks</a>. They also added <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Donte%27%20Stallworth%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Donte%27%20Stallworth%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BDonte%27%20Stallworth%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="Donte' Stallworth (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvRG9udGUlMjdfU3RhbGx3b3J0aD9hY3Rpb249ZWRpdCZyZWRsaW5rPTE=">Donte' Stallworth</a>, who most recently played for the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Cleveland%20Browns%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Cleveland%20Browns%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BCleveland%20Browns%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Cleveland_Browns" title="Cleveland Browns">Cleveland Browns</a>, but was suspended for the 2009 season, and signed back-up quarterback <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Mark%20Bulger%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Mark%20Bulger%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMark%20Bulger%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="Mark Bulger (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvTWFya19CdWxnZXI/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">Mark Bulger</a> who was released by the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22St.%20Louis%20Rams%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22St.%20Louis%20Rams%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSt.%20Louis%20Rams%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/St._Louis_Rams" title="St. Louis Rams" class="mw-redirect">St. Louis Rams</a> after the 1-15 2009 season. Stallworth broke his foot in the third preseason game and came back later in the season. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">They also drafted tight ends <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Dennis%20Pitta%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Dennis%20Pitta%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BDennis%20Pitta%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Dennis_Pitta" title="Dennis Pitta">Dennis Pitta</a>, <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Ed%20Dickson%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Ed%20Dickson%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BEd%20Dickson%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Ed_Dickson" title="Ed Dickson">Ed Dickson</a>, defensive tackle <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Terrence%20Cody%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Terrence%20Cody%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BTerrence%20Cody%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Terrence_Cody" title="Terrence Cody">Terrence Cody</a>, <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Arthur%20Jones%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Arthur%20Jones%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BArthur%20Jones%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" class="new" title="Arthur Jones (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvQXJ0aHVyX0pvbmVzP2FjdGlvbj1lZGl0JnJlZGxpbms9MQ==">Arthur Jones</a>, linebacker <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Sergio%20Kindle%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Sergio%20Kindle%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSergio%20Kindle%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Sergio_Kindle" title="Sergio Kindle">Sergio Kindle</a>, wide receiver <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22David%20Reed%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22David%20Reed%20%28American%20football%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BDavid%20Reed%20%28American%20football%29%7CDavid%20Reed%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/David_Reed_(American_football)" title="David Reed (American football)">David Reed</a> and offensive tackle <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Ramon%20Harewood%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Ramon%20Harewood%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRamon%20Harewood%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Ramon_Harewood" title="Ramon Harewood">Ramon Harewood</a> in the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%222010%20NFL%20Draft%22%2C%22link%22%3A%222010%20NFL%20Draft%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B2010%20NFL%20Draft%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/2010_NFL_Draft" title="2010 NFL Draft">2010 NFL Draft</a>. On July 25, <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Sergio%20Kindle%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Sergio%20Kindle%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSergio%20Kindle%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="24816-17246084205f27e6f7ed24d" href="/wiki/Sergio_Kindle" title="Sergio Kindle">Sergio Kindle</a> suffered a head trauma after falling down 2 flights of stairs in a home in Austin, Texas and was lost for the season. The new additions accounted for a combined 37 starts. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">The Ravens finishing the season at 12-4 but with a marginally better divisional record (Steelers 5-1 divisionally versus the Ravens' 4-2). They then went on to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 30-7 in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, running back Ray Rice becoming the first Raven running back to have a receiving touchdown in a playoff game. The Ravens would then lose to the Steelers 31-24 in the Divisional Playoffs. Leading at halftime 21-7, the Ravens then turn the ball over 3 times in the third quarter, in which gave the Steeler 14 points. Baltimore's season ended with a potential touchdown drop by Anqaun Boldin and, later, another drop by T.J. Houshmazadeh on 4th down, surrendering the game 31-24. </p> <br /><strong data-rte-washtml="1" class="error" data-rte-attribs=" class=error">Cite error: <code data-rte-washtml="1"><ref></code> tags exist, but no <code data-rte-washtml="1"><references/></code> tag was found</strong><p /> <!-- Saved in parser cache with key footbal:rte-parser-cache:6111 --> Loading editor Below are some commonly used wiki markup codes. Simply click on what you want to use and it will appear in the edit box above. 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