In light of the NFL Network’s embarrassment of listing the 2000 Ravens as the 7th best Defense of all time, I feel this matter must be addressed as my first missive into the blog world.
This accusation (and that’s what it must be called since it’s a slap in the face to the team) cannot stand on its own. Here are the facts:
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No RB managed to run for over 100 yards against the 2000 Ravens D: This stat is amazing on face value alone. Now throw in the Ravens stopped the likes of the leagues third best RB in Eddie George (three times) and Jerome Bettis (twice) for fewer than 100. In the playoffs, they easily handled the leagues third best RB in Mike Anderson and did not allow a 100 yard rusher the rest of the way, including the Super Bowl. That’s 20 straight games in one season.
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Four shut outs: One shut out is hard enough but this defense managed 4 of them. Here is where the NFL Network seems to be focusing since the shut outs came against the Steelers, Browns, Bengals and Cowboys. This is the only Achilles heel for the 2000 Ravens. All four of those teams combined to form the bottom four of the league in offense that year.
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Least amount of points ever surrendered in a 16 game season: This stat alone puts the 2000 Ravens defense in the top three. This is a record that stands even today.
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Handled some of the leagues best QB’s: The NFL Network makes the argument that since the Ravens did not play a pro-bowl caliber QB that season. While true on the service, the Ravens did play and demolish the leagues number 2 and 3 offenses during the playoffs — the Broncos and Raiders respectfully. Now nobody would make the argument that the Bronco’s Gus Ferotte was a barn burner of a QB, but Rich Gannon was a pro bowler and all pro that year. The reason he didn’t play in the pro bowl? Goose. Not to mention the hindsight of NFLN’s stance. I would argue that Steve McNair was not a pro bowl QB that year BECAUSE of the Ravens having their way with him three times in one season
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Super Bowl Ring: The Ravens got to the big dance on defense. Plain and simple. Once there, they did not allow one offensive touchdown, held Tiki Barber to only 49 yards rushing, held Kerry Collins to 112 yards, picking him off 4 times. Had it not been for Ron Dixon’s 97 yard kick off return for a TD, this game would have been a shut out as well. The 2000 Ravens managed to do something that the 1976 Steelers team could not; win the Super Bowl.
An objective person can easily make the case that the 2000 Ravens defense was in the top two. But number 7? Sounds like some biased Bravo Sierra to me.
My personal feeling this puts them solid in the number two spot – behind the 1985 Chicago Bears and in front of the 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers. What say you the suits at NFLN to this list?
Note: Thanks to those who have pointed out that we initially reported erroneously that it was not the 1979 Steelers who failed to win a the Super Bowl, but the 1976 Steelers.
