Baltimore Ravens Tickets : The Ravens Are Known To Be Worst Enemies With The Steelers

The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League (NFL).

The team's name is a reference to the poem "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe, who lived and worked in Baltimore at various points during his life and is buried in the city. The Baltimore Ravens are known to be worst enemies with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are also in the North Division.

The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his intention to relocate the team to Baltimore.

Modell's team was named the "Baltimore Ravens" after a fan contest and began play in the 1996 season.The Ravens' triumph over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV at the conclusion of the 2000 season remains their best season. The Ravens are currently one of only four teams to win in their lone Super Bowl appearance, along with the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

During the 2009-2010 offseason, the Ravens made some key additions to their offense by acquiring WR Anquan Boldin from the Arizona Cardinals and free agent T. J. Houshmandzadeh, released after the preseason by the Seattle Seahawks. They also added Donte' Stallworth, who most recently played for the Cleveland Browns, but was suspended for the 2009 season, and signed back-up quarterback Mark Bulger who was released by the St. Louis Rams after the 1-15 2009 season. Stallworth broke his foot in the third preseason game and came back later in the season.

They also drafted tight ends Dennis Pitta, Ed Dickson, defensive tackle Terrence Cody, Arthur Jones, linebacker Sergio Kindle, wide receiver David Reed and offensive tackle Ramon Harewood in the 2010 NFL Draft. On July 25, Sergio Kindle 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.

The Ravens finishing the season at 12-4 but with a marginally better divisional record. 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.

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.