Baltimore Ravens Tickets : Ravens Became The Third Wild Card Team To Win A Super Bowl Championship

The 2000 season saw the Ravens defense, led by defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis, develop into a rock-solid unit that emerged as one of the most formidable defenses in NFL history. The Ravens defense set a new NFL record in holding opposing teams to 165 total points; the feat eclipsed the mark set previously by the 1986 Chicago Bears of 187 points for a 16 game season. Linebacker Ray Lewis was named Defensive Player of the year and, with two of his defensive teammates, Sam Adams and Rod Woodson, made the Pro Bowl.

Baltimore's season started strong with a 5-1 record. Tony Banks began the 2000 season as the starting quarterback and was replaced by Trent Dilfer when the Ravens fell to 5-4. Coach Brian Billick announced that the change at quarterback would be for the rest of the season. The 1,364-yard rushing season by rookie running back Jamal Lewis 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 12/4. The Ravens had made the playoffs for the first time.Since the divisional rival Tennessee Titans had a record of 13/3, Baltimore had to play in the wild card round. In their first ever playoff game, they dominated the Denver Broncos 21/3 in front of a then record-crowd of 69,638 at then called PSINet Stadium.

In the divisional playoffs, they went on the road to Tennessee. Tied 10/10 in the fourth quarter, an Al Del Greco field goal attempt was blocked and returned for a touchdown by Anthony Mitchell, and a Ray Lewis interception return for a score put the game squarely in Baltimore's favor. The 24/10 win put the Ravens in the AFC Championship against the Oakland Raiders. Shannon Sharpe's 96-yard touchdown catch early in the second quarter, followed by an injury to Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon, highlighted the Ravens' 16/3 victory.

Baltimore then went to Tampa for Super Bowl XXXV against the New York Giants, cruising to a 34/7 win for their first championship in franchise history. The Ravens recorded four sacks, forced five turnovers, one of which was a Kerry Collins interception returned for a touchdown by Duane Starks. The Giants' only score was a Ron Dixon kickoff return for another touchdown (after Starks' interception return), making the 2000 Ravens the only Superbowl team whose defense did not allow an opponent's offensive score; however, Baltimore immediately countered with a TD return by Jermaine Lewis.

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.The title made the Ravens the fourth Baltimore-based pro football team to win a league championship. They were preceded by the NFL Colts in 1958, 1959 and 1970, the USFL Stars in 1985 and the CFL Stallions in 1995.Due to the Ravens' relatively short existence, the team has not established many rivalries to date.

By far, the team's biggest rival is the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two teams are both known for their hard-hitting physical style of play, and the rivalry is considered one of the best in the NFL today. In Baltimore (which is only a five-hour drive from Pittsburgh along Interstate 70), there is the added element of many former Colts fans in the area becoming Steeler fans after the Colts move, then retaining their affiliation with the Steelers after the arrival of the Ravens.

Although the Steelers rivalry is based on mutual respect and hatred for each other, the Ravens' rivalry with the Indianapolis Colts is directed to the organization, and is more fan-based than between the players. During Ravens home games the scoreboard lists the away team simply as "Indy" rather than the team name that is traditionally used for the visiting opponent.The Ravens also have a rivalry with Washington Redskins, though due to the current scheduling formula, the two teams meet only once every four years. However, the two do meet annually in the preseason.