Greatest team in Ravens history

[msufan]

With it being kind of slow and I see a bunch of people bringing up stats about different teams that we have had over the years it got me thinking which team was the best.

2000 was the greatest defense, and last year we won the Super Bowl for the second time. To me though I think the best team that the ravens had was the 2011 team. Which to me is why the drop pass and missed kicked were so bad.

[Cville-Raven]

I agree, I think that 2011 team was the most complete Ravens team. If only we had Caldwell, we probably would have went 15-1.

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

This gives me an idea....

[redrum52]

Gotta go 11. Healthy offense and defense with Pagano leading a hungry defense. Evans holds on I'm 99.9% sure they beat the Giants. This 13 team though might be VERY dangerous. Can't wait til TC to see the wr battles. 06 might be close as well but for whatever reason the offense couldn't come ariund when needed.

[The Raven]

1. 2011 - Most complete team. Should have won it all but y'all know what happened.

 

2. 2012 - Very resilient team. Pulled together and killed it in the post season.

 

3. 2000 - Greatest defense of all time with a punishing RB in Jamal.

 

4. 2006 - Air McNair and a great defense got close.

 

5. 2010 - Not well remembered, but we had a solid roster in 2010. Should have beat Pittsburgh in the divisional round.

[1/28/01]

1. 2011 - Most complete team. Should have won it all but y'all know what happened.

2. 2012 - Very resilient team. Pulled together and killed it in the post season.

3. 2000 - Greatest defense of all time with a punishing RB in Jamal.

4. 2006 - Great defense.

5. 2010 - Not well remembered, but we had a solid roster in 2010. Should have beat Pittsburgh in the divisional round.

Had to change 2006 for ya ;)

[berad]

2006 is really underrated. That team was loaded with talent, especially on defense, but our offense let us down big time in the playoffs. Put Flacco and/or Rice on that roster and I don't know if we lose a game.

 

I agree with the other teams mentioned, too.

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

2006 is really underrated. That team was loaded with talent, especially on defense, but our offense let us down big time in the playoffs. Put Flacco and/or Rice on that roster and I don't know if we lose a game.

 

I agree with the other teams mentioned, too.

 

Agreed, 2006 was the all time greatest waste of a top defense. 

[hawkprey]

In 2010 our O-line was garbage and we had no rushing attack. We also had a bad pass defense that couldn't get off the field because of Mattison's classic prevent D. Still, we had a 4th quarter lead in every game. All we had going for us was a passing game that we never used in the 2nd halves of games.

[AsianRice]

2014....

[flaccopoe]

The Ravens have been a pretty lethal team since 2010. A handful of mistakes in the playoffs kept them from reaching the Promised Land until this last season.

[Bltravens]

2006 is really underrated. That team was loaded with talent, especially on defense, but our offense let us down big time in the playoffs. Put Flacco and/or Rice on that roster and I don't know if we lose a game.

 

I agree with the other teams mentioned, too.

I don't even know if that team would need Rice, Flacco alone would have been enough to pull defenses away from the LOS to give Lewis more running room.

 

The 2006 defense was the best assortment of pure athletes I've seen on a Ravens defense.

[Yatagarasu]

Last year, we won the whole thing with a less-perfect roster.

 

We lost Webb, Lewis for couple months, and Suggs for the first 6 weeks.

 

Top Five Roster:

 

2000 Roster was a defensive-studded roster. (12-4)

2006 Roster was another talented defensive-oriented roster (13-3)

2011 Roster, I believe was one of the best, since we had a healthy defensive and a serviceable offense (12-4)

2012 Roster, I must say one of the most resilient roster due to the fact the team had to overcome mutiny, disappointment, injuries, coaching change, and a lot, but showed up for the playoffs. (10-6)

2010 Roster, Another talented roster, but kind of played second fiddle to the Steelers (12-4).

 

2013 Roster - Pretty excited due to the draft picks and free agent signing. This group will be the changing of the guards with Lewis and Reed gone and Joe Flacco taking the helm.

 

I feel our team can be even better than the 2000 Ravens. That team survived with a tough running game and one of the most stingest defense ever. Of course, Trent Dilfer helped as a game manager.

 

Now we got a franchise QB in Flacco, and potent offense, and a rebuilding defense that should get back to its top ten status.

 

If our WR Corps live up to its potential, I feel our offense and defense could make this team a compete contender. Not a one-sided trick pony like New England.

[Raven07]

2008....... rookie head coach, rookie QB, Rookie Running back......made to the AFC Championship game.

2000....... One of the greatest defenses of all time

2006.......our best regular season record to date

2011.......im still deadlocked that was a catch. idc what anyone says. if the call was ruled a TD we might have 3 Trophies not just 2 haha.

 

and of course...

 

2012...... Faith, deadication, determination, will power. togetherness..... as Harbaugh stated " TEAM.TEAM...TEAM"

[Ravenseconbeast]

2012

 

just look @ the opponents in playoffs:   Colts, Broncos, Patriots, 49ers.    

 

Couldn't get any tougher than that.

[Tiz]

2008....... rookie head coach, rookie QB, Rookie Running back......made to the AFC Championship game.
2000....... One of the greatest defenses of all time
2006.......our best regular season record to date
2011.......im still deadlocked that was a catch. idc what anyone says. if the call was ruled a TD we might have 3 Trophies not just 2 haha.
 
and of course...
 
2012...... Faith, deadication, determination, will power. togetherness..... as Harbaugh stated " TEAM.TEAM...TEAM"

Dangerous ground playing the what if game...only because it ticks me off thinking about how close we were to two other sb visits under harbaugh. Glad we got over the hump and got one so far tho

[mgridda]

2006 is really underrated. That team was loaded with talent, especially on defense, but our offense let us down big time in the playoffs. Put Flacco and/or Rice on that roster and I don't know if we lose a game.

 

I agree with the other teams mentioned, too.

 

Came to say this. I forget exactly how many, but the 2006 defense broke a record for being #1 in like 13 or 15 different defensive categories. That was a scary defense. In fact, I'd even say it was a better defense than the 2000 defense. Jamal Lewis had a 3.6 YPC avg that year, and McNair only an 82 QB rating (which seemed good, considering Boller) and that team still did remarkably well. 

 

Ed Reed

Dawan Landry

Chris McAlister

Samari Rolle

Adalius Thomas

Ray Lewis

Bart Scott

Terrell Suggs

Trevor Pryce

Kelly Gregg

Haloti Ngata

 

what a fearsome 3-4. And with Adalius and Trevor it could also be a 4-3, or a 46. That defense was so versatile. Rex Ryan was back there. Definitely at least my favourite defense of all time.

 

Imagine if we didn't trade up to draft Kyle Boller in 2003. Instead, we waited and drafted Anquan Boldin in the 2nd round. And then in 2005 instead of drafting Mark Clayton, we took Aaron Rodgers. Or, (and I don't like this one at all) drafted Drew Brees instead of Todd Heap back in 2001 (Brees was taken right after Heap with the 1st pick of the 2nd round). Those defenses between 2003 and 2007 could have really gone to use. That era peaked in 06. Then the 2007 decline. Then the start of the Harbaugh era. 

 

Then again, just one of those "hindsight is 20/20 draft moves" would have probably had a butterfly that changed so much. 

[mgridda]

Oh, and now I feel like the Bears Superfans from SNL...

 

but who do you think would have won a match between the 2013 Superbowl Ravens (on Superbowl game day) or the 2000 Ravens (on their own Superbowl game day)

 

?

[HomeoftheBRAVENS]

1.2012(When ever we were anywhere near healthy we was unbeatable!)
2.2011
3.2000
4.2008
5.2006

We shouldve been repeat champions these past 2 years.

[ratedr]

1. 2011
2. 2006
3. 2000
4. 2012
5. 2008

I honestly thought our window was closed after we lost to title game last year, because that team was just SO GOOD, as evidenced by not losing to any over .500 team until that point.

Glad others aren't overlooking the 2006 team. That Colts loss is still the most devastating loss in franchise history imo.

[ratedr]

2010 was a good team too, but that offense couldn't score after halftime and that defense couldn't hold a lead.

[Purple Punishment]

2006...not even a question!

[Gordo52]

I'd have to say 2011 was the most complete, dangerous team.

2000 - best defense. 2006, runner up.

It's hard to say what year we had our best offense. Week 16 and the whole playoff run under Caldwell our offense was as dangerous as I've ever seen for us.

[arnie_uk]

I think our best season is yet to come, I really think we can be a top d again, only this time have a matching offence. Maybe not this year, but in a year or two, if we can someone manage to get a wideout and or a left tackle, while keeping Suggs and ngata.

[Blackbirds Rule]

I agree with just about every opinion stated about our teams but one I'll make an argument for is our 2001 team. The reason I think it had the potential to be our best team was that we had Grbac and Cunningham as QB's. Before we bash Elvis he helped us gain our best passing offense rank since Vinny and it stood until 2008/2009. Our Offensive line was a good run blocking line and an okay to slightly above average pass protecting line. We had receivers and tight ends able to make plays and our defense was just as good as the championship year. ST, Kicker, and punter were all superb. The problem that sunk us that year was that Jamal Lewis tore his ACL in the first practice of training camp. We let Priest Holmes go as a FA the same offseason. We had  no dominating running game. We put up over 113 a game rushing but that was by committee and no one back scared teams like Jamal. If Jamal was healthy or we were able to keep Holmes for that year. I think we win another 2-3 games that season and repeated as Super Bowl Champions. Either that or we should have played Cunningham against the Steelers in the playoffs and we would've won. Cunningham beat the Steelers earlier in that season for us.

[berad]

I don't even know if that team would need Rice, Flacco alone would have been enough to pull defenses away from the LOS to give Lewis more running room.

 

The 2006 defense was the best assortment of pure athletes I've seen on a Ravens defense.

 

Absolutely, certainly the most dynamic. That was the year AD, Trevor Pryce, and Bart Scott were playing out of their minds.

 

Came to say this. I forget exactly how many, but the 2006 defense broke a record for being #1 in like 13 or 15 different defensive categories. That was a scary defense. In fact, I'd even say it was a better defense than the 2000 defense. Jamal Lewis had a 3.6 YPC avg that year, and McNair only an 82 QB rating (which seemed good, considering Boller) and that team still did remarkably well. 

 

what a fearsome 3-4. And with Adalius and Trevor it could also be a 4-3, or a 46. That defense was so versatile. Rex Ryan was back there. Definitely at least my favourite defense of all time.

 

Imagine if we didn't trade up to draft Kyle Boller in 2003. Instead, we waited and drafted Anquan Boldin in the 2nd round. And then in 2005 instead of drafting Mark Clayton, we took Aaron Rodgers. Or, (and I don't like this one at all) drafted Drew Brees instead of Todd Heap back in 2001 (Brees was taken right after Heap with the 1st pick of the 2nd round). Those defenses between 2003 and 2007 could have really gone to use. That era peaked in 06. Then the 2007 decline. Then the start of the Harbaugh era. 

 

Then again, just one of those "hindsight is 20/20 draft moves" would have probably had a butterfly that changed so much. 

 

Yea, looking back is crazy. Scott, Pryce, Sizzle, and AD combined for 43 sacks that year - we had 60, overall, allowing a QB rating of 63.4 and 3.3 yards/rush. For comparison, in 2012 we had 37 sacks, allowed a QB rating of 80.6, and a 4.0 yard/rush average. Decent numbers but nothing compared to 2006.

[CapoRocky]

Oh, and now I feel like the Bears Superfans from SNL...
 
but who do you think would have won a match between the 2013 Superbowl Ravens (on Superbowl game day) or the 2000 Ravens (on their own Superbowl game day)
 
?

Da 1985 Bears???

[CapoRocky]

I think our best season is yet to come, I really think we can be a top d again, only this time have a matching offence. Maybe not this year, but in a year or two, if we can someone manage to get a wideout and or a left tackle, while keeping Suggs and ngata.

I clearly see us as the favorites in the AFC North.

[flynismo]

No doubt 2011 was our most complete team.

2006 was the most underrated defense ever, but the team as a whole was not as good as the 2000 team.

Our 2012 team, hard to say where it ranks simply because it was not nearly as good as it could have been due to all the lengthy injuries.

 

And that's the scary thought...this team won the SB when they were termed "Walking Wounded" by a lot of fans...

 

Tough choice to make, I just dunno

[ellicottraven]

2013!At least that is my hope and prayer....