The Ravens are celebrating 25 years of playing at M&T Bank Stadium, and what better way to do so than by bathing in the memories that have made the stadium come to life over the course of its existence?
To honor the “echoes” that reverberate throughout the Bank and on couches across Ravens Nation, the team is holding a contest on their website to determine the singular most memorable moment in the iconic stadium’s history.
What is the most memorable moment at @MandT_Bank Stadium?
Cast your vote ➡️https://t.co/Zn7D0rT3ve pic.twitter.com/ES7mYvflnx
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 20, 2023
My initial reaction was the snow game against the Vikings in 2013. To recap briefly, the Ravens were topping the visitors 7-6 heading into a fourth quarter that saw the field covered in snow, and points hard to come by. But then, a wild fourth quarter entered the picture, and the Ravens ended up winning 29-26 after Joe Flacco hit Marlon Brown for the winning touchdown with :09 left in the game. There were five touchdowns scored in the final 2:07 of the game, making this a no-brainer, right?
Well…
The first matchup this game has in the brackets is the 2021 comeback against the Colts, when Lamar Jackson had his best passing game of his career, going 37-43 for 442 yards and four touchdowns.
This is not going to be an easy list to choose from, and each game in the bracket is pretty difficult. There is also Ed Reed’s 108-yard interception return, the celebration at the Bank after the 2012 Super Bowl victory, Jamal Lewis running for 295 yards against the Browns, Mike Tomlin’s “accidental” attempt to trip Jacoby Jones, Torrey Smith’s emotional night against the Patriots following the loss of his brother and so on and so on and so on.
You know, we’ve been pretty spoiled by this franchise over the years.
Running backs have been int he news quite a bit lately as the discussion over the position’s economic value has taken center stage, and the Ravens’ own JK Dobbins has been somewhat vocal about his own expiring contract. But that hasn’t stopped him from taking on new adventures during the offseason.
EL TORO VA A MEXICO! @Jkdobbins22 went to Mexico to experience the people, the culture, the food and to practice speaking Spanish. @MarkWJZ has an inside look at Dobbins' trip south of the border. #Ravens #RavensFlock @wjz https://t.co/nSHGDmMmYD
— WJZ Sports (@WJZ13sports) July 20, 2023
WJZ’s Mark Viviano penned a cool story on the talented running back’s journey to Mexico, and his goal of fully immersing himself in the culture, language and food of Guadalajara. Dobbins is an interesting cat, and this is a really good story of a guy just looking to expand his horizons and explore the world around him.
It’s a fun read.
Speaking of fun reads, one of the articles I look most forward to popping up on my feed is The Athletic’s AFC North Whiparound, where reporters from each team in the division have a bit of a roundtable discussion on what’s going on in their respective beats. The Ravens are represented by Jeff Zrebiec, who always does a great job offering level-headed takes.
Start your Thursday with a pre-training camp stroll around the AFC North with the Whiparound, featuring @pauldehnerjr, @MarkKaboly, @AkronJackson and myself. Offseason assessment, scrutinized players, dethroning Bengals. https://t.co/V8pzgPGd5j
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) July 20, 2023
One discussion this week was about was describing the team they cover’s offseason in one word. Zrebiec chose “Recovery.”
Things were looking bleak for Eric DeCosta and the Ravens early in free agency. Unhappy with the Ravens’ contract offers, Lamar Jackson asked for a trade. Running back J.K. Dobbins and inside linebacker Patrick Queen weren’t thrilled with their contract situations. The Ravens didn’t sign an outside free agent for nearly the first two weeks of free agency. Their wide receiver depth chart was not befitting of an NFL team. It doesn’t feel like an overstatement to suggest that they were having one of the worst offseasons in team history. But the Odell Beckham Jr. signing, which broke on Easter and followed the addition of veteran Nelson Agholor, changed the narrative. Jackson and the Ravens mercifully found common ground on an extension. The team selected Zay Flowers in the first round of the draft. DeCosta added quality veteran depth at relatively cheap prices to fill other holes. The Ravens still have questions, particularly at cornerback and edge rusher, but DeCosta recovered after a rough start and still has the cap flexibility to do a little more.
It wasn’t the only topic they discussed this week, but it was a solid answer from Zrebiec. Again.
Want to see a little video on rookie receiver Zay Flowers? Well, have at it, courtesy of the Ravens.
.@ZayFlowers is set to have an ⚡️ rookie year! pic.twitter.com/XhcoSAXhp8
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 19, 2023
