2000 Ravens Defense vs. 2007 Patriots Offense

[flynismo]

Who sends who home crying to their mamas?

[MKdave]

No contest. The '07 Pats got shut down by what I think we can all agree was a lesser defense than the '00 Ravens. Case closed.

[flynismo]

[quote name='MKdave' date='03 October 2009 - 05:13 PM' timestamp='1254604418' post='246469']
No contest. The '07 Pats got shut down by what I think we can all agree was a lesser defense than the '00 Ravens. Case closed.


[/quote]

I dunno, ye with thee pink sig!

They did drop 27 points on us.

[theFRANCHISE]

Hard to say, but really good question.

My gut just tells me the '07 Pats would fare better, but only slightly. The way I settled it? The '07 Patriots offense won 18 games, the '00 Ravens defense won 16 games, including the postseason. And even though the Patriots had a defense that occasionally kept them in games, and the Ravens had an offense that capitalized on the defense's turnovers, the Pats O and the Ravens D still carried those respective teams to each victory, hence why I attributed 18 wins and 16 wins to each team's strength.

[BaltimoreRavens88]

Hmm but the 2000 defense was way better than the '07 defense, and the 07 squad only allowed NE 27 points so that's somewhat of a win, so who knows? Maybe give the Ravens the edge, since I am after all, a Ravens fan lol(I am having way too much fun with these emoticons.)

[flynismo]

[quote name='BaltimoreRavens88' date='03 October 2009 - 05:24 PM' timestamp='1254605097' post='246474']
Hmm but the 2000 defense was way better than the '07 defense, and the 07 squad only allowed NE 27 points so that's somewhat of a win, so who knows? Maybe give the Ravens the edge, since I am after all, a Ravens fan lol(I am having way too much fun with these emoticons.)
[/quote]

Nice smiley, lol...

Anyway, I'm not sure that surrendering 27 points can be considered success in any way, shape or form. Especially when we consider the accomplishments of our '00 defense.

Let's take the focus off of the '07 game and just compare those two units.

[BaltimoreRavens88]

Well how many records did the 07 pats break? Just about every category, right? Kind of hard to defend that, even with what some people call "the greatest defense of all time."

In fact, does the number of pro bowlers on each squad count too? Current/future hall of famers? This is a tough question, I think it comes down to Ray Lewis vs. Brady. It's a stalemate?

[RavensClaw52]

I would have to take our 2000 defense because we only allowed 248 yds/game and 10 points/game and forced quite a bit of turnovers. Also, our O was good at scoring on those turnovers. IF we had played that year I would predict a score of 20-13 in favor of us.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='RavensClaw52' date='03 October 2009 - 05:41 PM' timestamp='1254606109' post='246478']
Also, our O was good at scoring on those turnovers.
[/quote]
I realize that, and made note of it in my response as well. In making my pick, though, I looked at it as just strength-vs-strength only, and didn't factor in the other side of the ball for each team.

[Ed_Reed20]

Does anyone know the nickelback was for the 2000 Ravens defense? If he could keep Welker in check, the 2000 Ravens D would embarrass the '07 Patriots offense.

[flynismo]

With an absurd total of 9 games in which it allowed [b]9 points or less[/b], four of which were shutouts, and a couple other games where we allowed only 10 points, it was nearly impossible to score on us. In other words, our opponents had a [b]31% chance[/b] of doing anything more than scoring a td and kicking a FG. No surprise then that we set the record for allowing the fewest amount of points in a season (we also set the record for least rushing yards given up, with a total of 970).
Baltimore went on to annihilate the NYG in the SB, 35-7.

On the flip side, NE's offense set records of their own. Tom Brady broke the single season record for TD passes in a season, with 50. Randy Moss broke Jerry Rice's record for TD receptions (totaling 23-- although I should note here that Moss required an additional four games to break the record. Rice previously set the record during a strike shortened 12 game season).
Also, no surprise then that NE also set records for most TD and points scored.
NE lost to (ironically) the NYG in the SB.

So that's the general background of the units, for those who aren't familiar.


I think that the individual matchups favor us convincingly, and that would reveal itself in an actual game.

[flynismo]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='03 October 2009 - 05:46 PM' timestamp='1254606380' post='246481']
Does anyone know the nickelback was for the 2000 Ravens defense? If he could keep Welker in check, the 2000 Ravens D would embarrass the '07 Patriots offense.
[/quote]

Welker is NE's #2, so either Starks or C-Mac would have been assigned to him. Either one would have done a good job containing Welker, not to take anything away from him.

[flynismo]

When I compare the two units, I see one tremendous defensive line (Burnett, Adams, Goose and McCrary) going up against a very good, but not dominant New England OL. That is strike one for NE.
Strike two is generating a very good 5 man pass rush (the DL + Boulware) would allow us to double up on Moss and thus eliminating him (and when C-Mac AND someone else in that secondary are sticking you, you are for all intents and purposes no longer in the game), and leaving Brady with much less dangerous weapons to beat us with (Welker, Maroney, etc....anybody still scared?).

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='flynismo' date='03 October 2009 - 05:53 PM' timestamp='1254606836' post='246483']
Welker is NE's #2, so either Starks or C-Mac would have been assigned to him. Either one would have done a good job containing Welker, not to take anything away from him.
[/quote]

Welker is their slot receiver. In '07, Stallworth was the #2 receiver and this year, Galloway is the #2 receiver.

[RavensClaw52]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='03 October 2009 - 05:46 PM' timestamp='1254606380' post='246481']
Does anyone know the nickelback was for the 2000 Ravens defense?
[/quote]

I believe it was either James Trapp or Corey Harris

[XxSizzleXx]

[quote name='flynismo' date='03 October 2009 - 03:50 PM' timestamp='1254606648' post='246482']
With an absurd total of 9 games in which it allowed [b]9 points or less[/b], four of which were shutouts, and a couple other games where we allowed only 10 points, it was nearly impossible to score on us. In other words, our opponents had a [b]31% chance[/b] of doing anything more than scoring a td and kicking a FG. No surprise then that we set the record for allowing the fewest amount of points in a season (we also set the record for least rushing yards given up, with a total of 970).
Baltimore went on to annihilate the NYG in the SB, 35-7.

On the flip side, NE's offense set records of their own. Tom Brady broke the single season record for TD passes in a season, with 50. Randy Moss broke Jerry Rice's record for TD receptions (totaling 23-- although I should note here that Moss required an additional four games to break the record. Rice previously set the record during a strike shortened 12 game season).
Also, no surprise then that NE also set records for most TD and points scored.
NE lost to (ironically) the NYG in the SB.

So that's the general background of the units, for those who aren't familiar.


I think that the individual matchups favor us convincingly, and that would reveal itself in an actual game.
[/quote]

Wow the 00 Ravens D didn't allow more than a 1000 yards on the ground? That is absolutely ridiculous. BTW the Pats would be going home crying 17-14 Ravens.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='RavensClaw52' date='03 October 2009 - 06:18 PM' timestamp='1254608329' post='246490']
I believe it was either James Trapp or Corey Harris
[/quote]

Were either of them any good?

[Purple-Haze]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='03 October 2009 - 06:22 PM' timestamp='1254608577' post='246492']
Were either of them any good?
[/quote]


I always thought harris was a safety. But both Trapp and Harris were more then capable of doing thier jobs!

[H8R]

Bottom line? Who on the Pats D could stop Shannon Sharpe? Not to mention, Jamal Lewis rushed for nealry 1400 yards and Jermaine Lewis was a BEAST! Nobody could stop the 2000 Ravens pass rush. NOBODY!

[PuRock]

2000 Baltimore's front 4 could really get pressure without help from the blitz. That would allow us to double team Moss and play tighter pass coverage.

Dilfer wouldn't have turned the ball over and we would have kicked field goals.

Looking at the team we had play against them in 2007, I think the 2000 Ravens could've stopped the 2007 Pats. But the game would have to be in Baltimore. (Disclaimer: I do realize that the weather in the 2007 game was poor).

[flynismo]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='03 October 2009 - 06:22 PM' timestamp='1254608577' post='246492']
Were either of them any good?
[/quote]

Trapp was a career backup, I think he only started one of his years in Oakland, then came over. The year he did start was as a safety, and played quite well from what I remember.

Harris was a very good backup for us; quite the playmaker....always had a nose for the ball, and looked to score when he got it.

Both very solid players...nothing to write home about, but an asset to any team.

[Bltravens]

Not to sound totally blindfolded by my love for that '00 defense but lets put some things into perspective here. C-Mac was coming into his prime, and his prime shared the best corner in the NFL with Champ Bailey, C-Mac however was 6'1 210 and physical. Sorry to say but Moss wouldnt be simply running past a 23 year old C-Mac because C-Mac still had knees and was a young pup. So although Moss would catch some balls obviously hes not beating C-Mac consistently or for the long ball, no way. Stallworth was the #2 and was not worth his contract, Starks easily blankets him all day and Stallworth maybe has 40 yards receiving. Over the top we had the hall of famer, Rod Woodson who was basically our version of Ed Reed today, ball hawking and smart and knew receivers route tendancys.Welker across the middle is a problem yes, but this was when Boulware and Lewis were straight up ridiculous. Like Lewis and Boulware were both 24 (I believe) and freak linebackers, both over 240 pounds and Boulware was a large person at 6'3 250ish and they could flat out fly. Sharper was no slouch either but not in the same category that Lewis and Boulware were, in all honesty unless Brady had 6 seconds to throw Welker's life may have ended that night if Brady tried to throw timing crossing routes to him. The Patriots run game would literally have been 10 carries for 5 yards. If they even ran the ball that much.

However the Patriots spread offense would cause some concerns, meaning a linebacker would have to come off the field (our strongest unit on the best D of all time) and 1 or 2 corners would come on(not our strong suite) and I seriously dont remember any nickel or dime backs except Anthony Mitchell (blocked FG for a TD chea!) and the other one is Cory Harris but I think he was a Safety? The Pats defense was a shadow of its former self in the 03/04 days, Seau and Bruschi were old, stiff and slow. Harrison exclusively played cover 3 zone except for 3rd and long. Their front 3 was still very good, but remember all we did in '00 was pound the rock and we had a 230 pound back that could run. He would have plowed over Seau and Bruschi when he got to the second level almost to the extent Brandon Jacobs did in the Super bowl.

Having said all that the speed and athleticism of our Defense that year was ridiculous, and we didnt miss tackles which is where Welker succeeds. I think the Pats would realistically score more than the average 10, but no way past 20. '00 Ravens would have won this game barring any Trent Dilfer mishaps lol.

[Steelerkillers]

the 07 pats offense did all that hard work and didnt get (The Reward). Our 2000 Defense won the Superbowl. If i had to choose, it would be wise to choose what will win the trophy. Besides money, thats what they play the game for, right? Nuff Said!!!

[flynismo]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='03 October 2009 - 06:12 PM' timestamp='1254607960' post='246489']
Welker is their slot receiver. In '07, Stallworth was the #2 receiver and this year, Galloway is the #2 receiver.
[/quote]

My bad, I forgot we were talking '07 (and I made the thread )

You are correct, Drunk Driver was the #2 back then.