2000 Baltimore Ravens Defense Dominates

2000 Baltimore Ravens Defense Dominates

Around the time of the 2000 NFL season, defenses were primarily built to defend the pass, and rarely was there an emphasis on stopping the run first. The Baltimore Ravens defense, using a mixture of 3-4 and 46 defensive principles, proved to be one of the best defenses in NFL history.

A Historic Defensive Unit

Middle linebacker Ray Lewis was the heart and soul of the 2000 Baltimore Ravens defense, racking up 107 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 3 fumble recoveries. Free safety Rod Woodson had 67 tackles, 4 interceptions, forced 2 fumbles, and recovered 3 fumbles. Cornerback Duane Starks had 45 tackles and 6 interceptions for 125 yards. Cornerback Chris McAlister had 4 interceptions for 165 yards and 1 touchdown. Strong safety Kim Herring had 3 interceptions for 74 yards. Outside linebacker Jamie Sharper had 59 tackles, 1 interception, 2 fumble recoveries, and forced 5 fumbles. Defensive end Rob Burnett had 1 interception, 5 fumble recoveries, and forced 3 fumbles.

Balanced Offensive Attack

Quarterback Rotation

Baltimore’s offense remained steady throughout the season even though two quarterbacks split time as the starter. Quarterback Tony Banks went 5-3 as a starter, completing 150 of 274 pass attempts for 1,578 yards and 8 touchdowns. Trent Dilfer replaced Banks and started the last 8 regular season games, going 7-1. Dilfer completed 134 of 226 pass attempts for 1,502 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Running Back Tandem

In the 2000 NFL Draft, the Ravens selected University of Tennessee running back Jamal Lewis with the 5th pick in the 1st round, and then selected University of Florida wide receiver Travis Taylor with the 10th pick. Lewis immediately proved to be a stud, rushing for 1,364 yards on 309 attempts and scoring 6 rushing touchdowns. Lewis also had 27 receptions for 296 yards. Running back Priest Holmes was also a reliable option on the ground, gaining 588 yards on 137 rushing attempts and scoring 2 rushing touchdowns. Holmes also had 32 receptions for 221 yards.

Receiving Corps

Tight end Shannon Sharpe had 67 receptions for 810 yards and 5 touchdowns. Wide receiver Qadry Ismail had 49 receptions for 655 yards and 5 touchdowns. Travis Taylor had 28 receptions for 276 yards and 3 touchdowns. Brandon Stokley had 11 receptions for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jermaine Lewis had 19 receptions for 161 yards and 1 touchdown. Patrick Johnson had 12 receptions for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns. Running back Obafemi Ayanbadejo served as a better receiving option, adding 23 receptions for 168 yards and 1 touchdown.

Road to Super Bowl XXXV

The Ravens went 12-4 in 2000, finishing only 1 game behind the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Central Division. That record was enough to send Baltimore into the playoffs, where the Baltimore Ravens defense would carry the team through four straight postseason wins.

Wild Card Round: Ravens 21, Broncos 3

In the Wild Card Round on December 31, 2000, the Ravens defeated the Denver Broncos 21-3. Jamal Lewis had 110 yards on 30 rushing attempts and scored 2 rushing touchdowns. Shannon Sharpe had 3 receptions for 73 yards and 1 touchdown. Qadry Ismail had 4 receptions for 35 yards. Ray Lewis had 1 interception.

Jamal Lewis had a 1-yard touchdown run in the 1st quarter to put the Ravens up 7-0, and then Broncos kicker Jason Elam kicked a 31-yard field goal in the 2nd quarter to cut Baltimore’s lead to 7-3. Trent Dilfer then completed a 58-yard touchdown pass to Shannon Sharpe to extend the lead back to 14-3. With 3:39 remaining in the 3rd quarter, Jamal Lewis put the Broncos away with a 27-yard touchdown run to seal the victory for the Ravens.

Divisional Round: Ravens 24, Titans 10

The Ravens then faced the Tennessee Titans in the Divisional Round on January 7, 2001, emerging with a 24-10 win. Jamal Lewis had 47 yards on 17 rushing attempts and scored 1 touchdown. Qadry Ismail had 3 receptions for 53 yards. Even in a losing effort, Titans quarterback Steve McNair completed 24 of 46 pass attempts for 176 yards. Titans running back Eddie George had 91 yards on 27 rushing attempts and scored 1 touchdown. George had a 2-yard touchdown run in the 1st quarter to give the Titans an early 7-0 lead. Jamal Lewis responded with his own 1-yard touchdown run in the 2nd quarter to tie the game at 7-7. The Ravens and Titans then traded field goals in the 3rd quarter, as Tennessee’s Al Del Greco kicked a 21-yard field goal and Baltimore’s Matt Stover answered with a 38-yard field goal.

In the 4th quarter, Del Greco attempted another field goal for the Titans, but his 37-yard attempt was blocked, and defensive back Anthony Mitchell returned the ball for a Ravens touchdown to give Baltimore a 17-10 lead. Steve McNair then threw a costly interception to Ray Lewis, who returned it 50 yards for a touchdown to eliminate the Titans from the playoffs.

AFC Championship: Ravens 16, Raiders 3

The Ravens then took on the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship Game on January 14 and won 16-3. Jamal Lewis had 79 yards on 29 rushing attempts, while Trent Dilfer went 9 for 18 in pass attempts for 190 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Shannon Sharpe had a 96-yard touchdown reception in the 2nd quarter. Jamie Sharper and defensive back Robert Bailey both had 1 interception, while Duane Starks had 2 interceptions. Matt Stover kicked three field goals: a 31-yard field goal in the 2nd quarter, and a 24-yard field goal and a 28-yard field goal in the 3rd quarter.

Super Bowl XXXV: Ravens 34, Giants 7

Super Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, between the Baltimore Ravens and the NFC Champion New York Giants, and the Ravens dominated from start to finish. Jamal Lewis had 102 yards on 27 rushing attempts and scored 1 touchdown. Trent Dilfer went 12 for 25 in pass attempts for 153 yards. Brandon Stokley had 3 receptions for 52 yards and caught 1 touchdown pass. Dilfer threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Stokley in the 1st quarter. Matt Stover then kicked a 47-yard field goal in the 2nd quarter to give the Ravens a 10-0 lead going into halftime.

In the 3rd quarter, Giants quarterback Kerry Collins threw an interception to Duane Starks, who returned the ball 49 yards for a touchdown to extend the Baltimore lead to 17-0. On the very next kickoff, Giants wide receiver Ron Dixon returned the ball 67 yards for a touchdown to get the Giants on the board. On the next kickoff after that, Jermaine Lewis returned the ball 54 yards for a touchdown to give the Ravens a 24-7 lead. Baltimore further cemented its case for a championship in the 4th quarter as Jamal Lewis punched the ball into the end zone with a 3-yard run, and then, with 5:33 remaining, Matt Stover kicked a 34-yard field goal to end the scoring.

The Baltimore Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV, and Ray Lewis was named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, capping off a season defined by the Baltimore Ravens defense.