To this day, tenacious defense is part of the Baltimore Ravens‘ calling card.
Even if they have the versatile Lamar Jackson on offense, they also have stalwarts on the defensive unit like Calais Campbell, Tyus Bowser, Odafe Oweh, Marcus Peters, and Marlon Humphrey.
They also prioritized that side of the ball during the 2022 NFL draft by selecting safety Kyle Hamilton with the 14th overall pick.
Since Baltimore has a run-heavy offense, preventing opponents from scoring in volume helps them succeed.
The team’s identity never wavered since Ray Lewis was the franchise’s undisputed leader.
The two-time Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl XXXV Most Valuable Player was the anchor of an elite crew that might be the best of all time.
More than two decades after the team’s first Super Bowl victory, Ravens fans will have an opportunity to reminisce the brilliance of their 2000 squad.
ESPN Films announced it has started a 30-for-30 documentary on the 2000 Ravens.
Not only did that Ravens team boast one of the greatest defenses in NFL history, I would put that group of personalities against any other team as well.
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) May 17, 2022
ESPN’s Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley tweeted, “ESPN Films announced it has started a 30-for-30 documentary on the 2000 Ravens. Not only did that Ravens team boast one of the greatest defenses in NFL history, I would put that group of personalities against any other team as well.”
The key personalities on that championship squad are Trent Dilfer, Jamal Lewis, Qadry Ismail, Shannon Sharpe, and Jonathan Ogden.
However, it’s their defense that made the most noise throughout the season.
A Defense For The Ages
Lewis led a tough-nosed defensive crew that allowed teams to score 10.3 points per game throughout the regular season.
They held opponents to single-digit scoring nine times, including four shutouts.
By giving up the fewest points in a 16-game regular season, the Ravens entered the playoffs with a 12-4 record.
Baltimore continued their dominance in the postseason, allowing 23 points in four games en route to the Super Bowl victory.
Aside from Lewis, the likes of Tony Siragusa, Sam Adams, Jamie Sharper, Peter Boulware, and Rod Woodson made key contributions to the defense.
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