The Baltimore Ravens are set to play in their fifth AFC Championship Game since the current iteration of the organization began playing back in 1996. They’ll host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Baltimore’s success during this near 30-year-span is by now well known. That includes two Super Bowl titles and just three head coaches. This team has been consistent contenders under the likes of former coach Brian Billick as well as current head man John Harbaugh.
With the Ravens’ just two wins from their third ever Super Bowl title, we look at the five-best teams in franchise history.
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5. 2006 Baltimore Ravens
Brian Billick’s second-to-final season as the Ravens’ head coach saw the team post a 13-3 record. Its defense ranked No. 1 in the league in points against at 12.6 per game. That unit boasted six Pro Bowl players, including all-time great franchise legends Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. On offense, the late-great Steve McNair led things. Unfortunately, this 2006 Baltimore team fell to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Divisional Playoffs by the score of 15-6. McNair threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in defeat.
4. 2023 Baltimore Ravens
This season’s iteration of the Ravens has to be considered one of the best in franchise history regardless of what happens moving forward. Baltimore finished with a league-best 13 wins, outscoring its opponents during the regular season by an average of nearly 12 points per game. Lamar Jackson put up an MVP-caliber regular season with nearly 4,500 total yards. The defense recorded a franchise-best 60 sacks, including 13 from breakout defensive tackle Justin Madubuike.
3. 2012 Baltimore Ravens
Only one of two Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl teams not making the top-two? There is a perfect reason for this. Baltimore finished with a mere 10-6 record in the regular season, outscoring its opponents by an average of 3.4 per. Joe Flacco threw just 22 touchdown passes. The Ravens also lost four of their final five to conclude the regular season. Despite all of this, brilliant play from Flacco in the playoffs led to the Ravens hoisting the Lombardi. In four postseason games, the quarterback threw 11 touchdowns compared to zero interceptions. That included a 287-yard, three-touchdown performance in a narrow 34-31 win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.
2. 2019 Baltimore Ravens
Ravens fans would actually prefer to forget about this 2019 team. Riding Lamar Jackson’s MVP performance, Baltimore finished with a 14-2 record. It ranked first in scoring and third in points allowed, outscoring its opponents by a resounding 15.6 points per. Jackson and Mark Ingram both went for over 1,000 yards on the ground. Baltimore’s defense boasted five Pro Bowl players. Despite all of this, the Ravens’ season came to an end via an ugly 28-12 loss to the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Divisional Playoffs. That game saw Jackson throw two interceptions while losing another fumble in a humbling performance from the young man.
1. 2000 Baltimore Ravens
This 2000 Baltimore Ravens team left a lot to be desired on offense. Tony Banks and Trent Dilfer combined to throw 20 touchdowns compared to 19 interceptions. That unit finished 14th in the league in scoring. However, it was all about one of the best defenses in NFL history. Led by future Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Rod Woodson, this defense gave up an average of 10.3 points per game. Opposing quarterbacks threw 11 touchdowns against 23 interceptions. Baltimore’s four playoff games saw its defense give up a total of 23 points while forcing 12 turnovers. That included five takeaways against the New York Giants in a 34-7 win in Super Bowl XXXV.