Which was the best, the 2000 or the 2012 SB run?

[esmd]

I heard some people talking about it on the radio and they basically described my feeling.

This one was a LOT better IMHO.

I love that 2000 team as I don't think we'll ever see the level of swag and one side of the ball dominating like that again...watching that defense shut offenses down and then hearing the opposing offense try and claim that we weren't that good after getting their ass kicked was incredibly satisfying.

But that team was full of "hired guns", guys that came from other cities/teams and spent just a few years here...Goose, Sam Adams, Rod, Sharpe, Dilfer, a lot of our best players were here for just a blink of an eye. That team never had any playoff experience so they didn't really have to go through much adversity on the field prior to 2000.

This one seems a lot more personal, almost all of our best players have spent their careers here...Joe, Ray Rice, Yanda, Torrey, Pitta, Suggs, Reed, Ray Lewis, Ellerbe, Webb, Ngata...they all know nothing but the Baltimore Ravens and we only know them as homegrown Ravens. The only top player who wasn't from here is Boldin, and I don't think there was ever a player more meant to be a Raven than him.

So we have all this homegrown talent, all these pro bowl level guys who have suffered multiple...failures to be frank...in the playoffs for each of the last 4 years, and every loss except one was excruciating, and heartbreaking losses where when we needed someone to make a play, none of our players could. They all went through the frustrations and disappointments...the questions on if we'd ever make it to and win the big show with our guys. We worried about wasting the prime of 2 first ballot HOF's in Ray and Reed...wondered if Ray would ever get that second one he was holding on for and if Ed would ever get one that frankly, I and I believe most of us felt he deserved.

The 2000 team never went through any of that. It was a perfect storm...a category 5 hurricane that kind of came out of nowhere, destroyed everything in it's path, and then was torn apart shortly after it's damage was done.

Also, don't forget that while we had a very good, passionate fanbase in 2000, it in noway compares to what we have now...that outpouring of love and appreciation on Tuesday confirmed that.

I'll just add that I think many fans, myself included, appreciate this second championship more than the first one. In '00, I was very confident that they'd win it all by mid-late November. I even said as much after Thanksgiving at my hunting club and caught all kind of flack and ridicule. But I knew that our defense would not yield. This years team, obviously that was not the case. Shoot, I thought we would lose to Denver, and right before the Mile High Miracle I was starting to think that they gave it a helluva shot against heavy odds, and I was proud of their effort in a tough loss. Then Flacco and Jones changed everything. They just kept us on that roller coaster all season long.

It's hard for me to say one is better than the other, but they're certainly different. I definitely appreciate it more with this one because of what you mentioned in your post- the heartbreak of the previous four years. I guess in '00 I didn't really appreciate just how hard it is to win the SB. The last 4 years taught us that, so maybe that's why this one is especially sweet.

[NCRAVEN]

I'll just add that I think many fans, myself included, appreciate this second championship more than the first one. In '00, I was very confident that they'd win it all by mid-late November. I even said as much after Thanksgiving at my hunting club and caught all kind of flack and ridicule. But I knew that our defense would not yield. This years team, obviously that was not the case. Shoot, I thought we would lose to Denver, and right before the Mile High Miracle I was starting to think that they gave it a helluva shot against heavy odds, and I was proud of their effort in a tough loss. Then Flacco and Jones changed everything. They just kept us on that roller coaster all season long.

It's hard for me to say one is better than the other, but they're certainly different. I definitely appreciate it more with this one because of what you mentioned in your post- the heartbreak of the previous four years. I guess in '00 I didn't really appreciate just how hard it is to win the SB. The last 4 years taught us that, so maybe that's why this one is especially sweet.

I said the same when they beat the Titans and Dilfer was giving an interview somewhat crying. Then Sharpe ran by jumped on his shoulders and said "Trent Dilfer for President" I said right there, They're going to win the Superbowl. And as soon as we took the lead in any game you could relax.

Since then the parity in the league is unreal and makes winning a SB really tough. So to me, I enjoyed this one more because of how hard it is to win.

[bt12483]

I would like to reiterate something Dick Cass said in the season closer (paraphrasing) - that this second ring legitimizes the franchise and expands its legacy.

As Michael Jordan famously told Ray Allen after the Boston Celtics won the NBA title in 2008, “One is lucky, it’s only when you win two you start establishing yourself.”

That is why this second championship means more to me. Our first was lucky. It was a record setting defense that rendered having an offense almost moot. That normally doesn't happen.

This second one, we built towards over a 5 year period of growing pains and heartbreak, with a ton of home-grown players, and it puts the Ravens in the upper tier of franchises in NFL history (even though we were already there to begin with).

[esmd]

I remember at halftime of SB XXXV when we were up 10-0, I looked around the room and said that it was over. The other guys were nervous and weren't sure, but there was no way we were giving up that lead. The defense was that good. I'm still kind of pissed that the kickoff team screwed up and cost us the shutout. Pitching a shutout in the SB would've been epic, just epic. I guess we'll just to settle for no offensive points surrendered.

[helloharv]

I was at both and the 1st one was better for me ---- It is hard to describe but actually walking into the Tampa Stadium and seeing OUR TEAM PLAYING IN THE SUPER BOWL was like a dream. When we scored the 1st TD---grown men were hugging each other and tears in their eyes.

This time was more unexpected and still awesome but it felt like to me that we belonged as one of the top teams in the NFL. Back in 2000, it was us against the world.

[AirFlacco]

What a question.

How can one SB be better than another? Is the Colts 59 Championship better than the 58? They're both
the same even though 58 was the first one in Bmore.

Both of these SBs are the same even though the old timers had to wait 30 years for the last one, but
we had to wait another 12 years for this one and might have to wait another 12 years for the next one.
Some of us might not even be here for that.

We're enjoying all of them.

[Gatorman82]

I really think many people have made great points in support of both teams. I loved the 2012 playoffs because it got Flacco the validation he deserves. And I agree that the 2012 team was definitely more exciting. But my favorite was the 2000 team. I KNEW going into the playoffs before the first play of the first game that nobody could beat that defense. It was just amazing - I could sit back and just enjoy the games without worry and watch the greatest defense I have EVER seen tear up the best teams in the NFL. I have never enjoyed an NFL post season so much. I'll take domination over excitement every time.

[camdenyard]

I gotta go with 2012. As someone said, 2000 came so fast and unexpectedly. This one has been building for years. After the AFCCG heartbreak last year, to be able to see this unfold was incredibly satisfying.

[The Excellector]

Most impressive run? 2000
Most Exciting run? 2012
Who would win in a game? 2000

2000 was more impressive. Anytime you can have a team where their offense barely existed, but didn't even need to in order to guarantee victory. Man, watching teams try to score on this defense after it even got a 3 point lead was like watching some guy dressed up as Bruce Lee screaming and trying to kick through a brick wall. Being that I was so young at the time, I was nervous. However, had I watched that run at the age I'm at now, I might not have even broke a sweat once we got the lead in Tennessee.

This one was more exciting and improbable. Double overtime, on the road against Denver led by the QB they'd never beat in the playoffs. A return trip to the place where hearts were broken last year. The Harbowl.

[rla20cpa]

A healthy 2012 team, without Cameron, was an awesome sight to behold. OL was tweaked and voilà, we're an NFL champ. Thank Ozzie for gathering the 3 amigos ... Jones, Leach & Pollard. Actually each 2012 playoff game had the potential for a Ravens blowout. Broncos were in the game due to special teams; the "D" shut down Brady and some goofy sh*t had to happen for the 49ers game to be close. Once we "got past" the Broncos, who I thought were the best team in the playoffs, I felt we were unbeatable.

I agree with previous posters who have indicated that each title meant something different. 2000 brought back our pride as a football town, while 2012 was for the veterans possibly playing together for the last time. Maybe now I can stop hating Lee Evans.

[RavensQB]

Maybe now I can stop hating Lee Evans.

FUCK NO... He cost us ring #2 and this would have been #3.

[Raveninwoodlawn]

Most impressive run? 2000
Most Exciting run? 2012
Who would win in a game? 2000

.

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I agree with this.

I'd add that I appreciate this one a lot more than 2000 due to going 12 years between them, and having multiple other teams that we thought had great chances to win it all continually coming up short.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[mistergq]

I'll just add that I think many fans, myself included, appreciate this second championship more than the first one. In '00, I was very confident that they'd win it all by mid-late November.

I feel the same way. Maybe because of '06, '08, and '11, we watched other teams snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. This year, we had to overcome so much to get back into the hunt. We went from arguably one of the best teams, to why were we bothering playing the final four games of the season. Then to we would be the team that loses to a rookie in the playoffs, to why bother showing up to this years Super Bowl MVP - Peyton Manning, to the best QB, to the new age QB that is going to eat us alive. Its been a special year and I don't think you can compare 2000 to 2012. But that is me.

[AirFlacco]

Even Ray said this SB was one of the most exciting and it was. So which ring does he wear, the first one or second one?
Someone on the Squeelers said all his rings meant the same to him but it's like sex, you never forget the first time you
do it.

[PerpetuallyBored74]

They were both incredibly special.

Because our guys won.