The Suck Bowl (Worst Ravens Seasons)

[stampedehero]

The 96/97 teams hands down worse than the others. The team

That came from Cleveland was hot garbage. Only time the Ravens have had to do a total rebuild in their history.

That ESPN "Browns 95" explains what happened. Great coaches left and the players were completely despondent. Bellichick was the head coach of the Browns before they moved here.

[ravensdan]

That ESPN "Browns 95" explains what happened. Great coaches left and the players were completely despondent. Bellichick was the head coach of the Browns before they moved here.

I never watched that. But I remember all the ignorant statements at the time about the players suddenly playing like crap because they were upset about leaving cleveland. That's tital nonsense. No ones ever been upset about getting out of cleveland ever.

[stampedehero]

I never watched that. But I remember all the ignorant statements at the time about the players suddenly playing like crap because they were upset about leaving cleveland. That's tital nonsense. No ones ever been upset about getting out of cleveland ever.

They didn't play like crap.  They did not have another season to call a future. Instead of despondent you can use the word bummer.  

[ravensdfan]

While 2007 was bad - it was just bad.

 

2013 sticks out to me because first the league steals our opening and makes us go on the road then, the injuries begin on offense. Watching all the drops that season and old and slow Clark - painful. Then to still have a chance at the end and ...well, yeah, has to be 2013.

[redrum52]

While 2007 was bad - it was just bad.

2013 sticks out to me because first the league steals our opening and makes us go on the road then, the injuries begin on offense. Watching all the drops that season and old and slow Clark - painful. Then to still have a chance at the end and ...well, yeah, has to be 2013.

Can't blame the league, but agree with the other stuff.

[beasy2487]

I spy, with my little eye, something that rhymes with sphinx.

[Nightman]

That ESPN "Browns 95" explains what happened. Great coaches left and the players were completely despondent. Bellichick was the head coach of the Browns before they moved here.

I thought it was part of the NFL Network's America's Game series, it was called "Cleveland 95". 

ESPN's 30 for 30 had "The Band that wouldn't die" which was more of the Baltimore perspective.  Both are on YouTube.  The person to credit for reviving the NFL here was actually John Moag, head of the Maryland Stadium Authority.  The Buccaneers and the Cardinals were also interested at about the same time about moving here, Moag went with Modell because of his track record.

 

[stampedehero]

I thought it was part of the NFL Network's America's Game series, it was called "Cleveland 95". 

ESPN's 30 for 30 had "The Band that wouldn't die" which was more of the Baltimore perspective.  Both are on YouTube.  The person to credit for reviving the NFL here was actually John Moag, head of the Maryland Stadium Authority.  The Buccaneers and the Cardinals were also interested at about the same time about moving here, Moag went with Modell because of his track record.

 

+> Good info   Thanks

[Nightman]

There is a book called from Colts to Ravens which you can get dirt cheap on Amazon written by the late sportswriter John Steadman who covered the first Colts team in the AAFC which became the green and silver version in the NFL before folding, the second one, the Stars and the Stallions, I got some of the info there.

[JEEPercreepermd]

To answer some of the questions. .I was thinking in terms of best of the worst.

For me the most gut curdling seasons to watch were 07 and 13.

I remember in 06 when we had McNair, the offense climbed up to middle of the pack somewhwere, and that compared to what we had earlier with Boller seemed like we were setting the world on fire.

Then in 07 it was painfully obvious from the start that McNair was out of gas, John Ogden had that career ending toe injury..Ed Reed went down on that cheap shot by Hines Ward..then that 9 game losing streak..NASTY.

13 was also painful..although we were. 500 it was painful because the team just wasn't playing anywhere near the level that they needed to play at on offense or defense. It was also a shame that an overweight,out of shape, slow as molasses Ray Rice was out last memory of him in a Ravens uniform. Watching Joe get thrown to the Wolves over the last month..on one leg was also painful to watch. Before each game I actually crossed my fingers and prayed that he didn't get seriously hurt.

Others that stick out in my mind..2005. Our defense was nasty, but the offense was just THAT bad.

The 96-98 teams weren't much of a disappointment, because there was no expectation of winning yet. If they won a game it was great, when they lost it wasn't a big deal.

2002 was also a no expectation season, after the 2001 team failed,we lost a ton of talent in that salary dump..yet the team actually performed better than expected and was in the WC race until week 17.

I figured to make the criteria .500 or lower as to not re hash the most painful memory of all...I won't mention it.

[K-Dog]

13 was also painful..although we were. 500 it was painful because the team just wasn't playing anywhere near the level that they needed to play at on offense or defense. It was also a shame that an overweight,out of shape, slow as molasses Ray Rice was out last memory of him in a Ravens uniform. Watching Joe get thrown to the Wolves over the last month..on one leg was also painful to watch. Before each game I actually crossed my fingers and prayed that he didn't get seriously hurt.

 

 

Ya know...  After watching that last game.  Joe was walking with a limp.  He was almost always under pressure.  I had never been so glad for a season to end.  Not only that I was actually glad we didnt make the playoffs.

I just wanted to wash off the stench of a horrible horrible ( albeit not bad by virtually any other standard ) season. 

[JEEPercreepermd]

Ya know... After watching that last game. Joe was walking with a limp. He was almost always under pressure. I had never been so glad for a season to end. Not only that I was actually glad we didnt make the playoffs.

I just wanted to wash off the stench of a horrible horrible ( albeit not bad by virtually any other standard ) season.

Same here, missing the playoffs for the first time since 07 was a disappointment, but there was a sense of relief when it was over.

I think that season was a wake up call of sorts for the organization, that a complete fundamental change on offense needed to be made.

[K-Dog]

Joe was hurt.

We would not have made it past the first round.

It ended well for me.

[redrum52]

Joe was hurt.

We would not have made it past the first round.

It ended well for me.

Helped us get CJ and Timmy. Worth it to me.

[52520Andrew]

Joe was hurt.

We would not have made it past the first round.

It ended well for me.

Yeah I did not want to see Flacco behind that O-line for another game

[BmoreSports09]

Anyone who argues that the 2013 Ravens are the "worst Ravens team ever" is a clown. Clearly hasn't been along for the whole ride. They are easily the worst of the Flacco/Harbaugh era, and the run defense was historically bad, but come on... They were a week 17 win away from making the playoffs, and even went into week 16 having a chance to clinch. Disappointing and EXTREMELY flawed rushing attack? Yes. Worst Ravens team ever? Come on...