Learn about Genius Baltimore Ravens since 1996 , their formation , two Super Bowl wins, their famous players, such as Ray Lewis and Lamar Jackson and their history as an NFL powerhouse defense.
Origins and Formation
- In 1996, when Cleveland Browns re-located to Baltimore, the Baltimore Ravens were formed. The move was preceded by years of strong negotiations with the city of Cleveland and NFL. The name, colors and history of the Browns stayed in Cleveland, the new franchise in Baltimore became the Ravens.
- The selection of the name of the company, Ravens, was the result of a fan contest, based on the popular poem of Edgar Allan Poe, titled The Raven. The name is a historically important one, as Poe lived and died in Baltimore.
Early Years (1996–1999)
- Ted Marchibroda was the first head coach of the Ravens. Their first season (1996) was a 412 record which indicated the pains of a new franchise.
- Brian Billick was recruited in the year 1998 to head coach, which would prove to be a turning point in the success of the team.
- In 1996, the team selected a budding Hall of Fame OT, Jonathan Ogden, and a future Hall of Fame linebacker, Ray Lewis, and it formed the basis of a powerful defense.
Rise to Prominence (2000s)
- The Ravens were renowned to have a dense defense especially during the early 2000s.
- Super Bowl XXXV (2000 season): Ravens emerged the winners of Super Bowl defeating New York Giants by a margin of 34-7. They had a historically dominant defense topped by Ray Lewis, and the defense only gave up 165 points during the regular season, the least in the NFL since 1970.
- So, the initial years of 2000s Ravens remained powerful in defense but failed to be consistently successful in the playoffs, following their first Super Bowl win.
Mid-2000s-2010s
- Another turning point was that Brian Billick was replaced by John Harbaugh in 2008. Harbaugh placed an emphasis on the strength of special teams and a balanced team together with offensive innovation and defense.
- In 2008 the Ravens took in Joe Flacco as quarterback who made himself a core part of their offense.
- Super Bowl XLVII (2012 season): Ravens won the second Super Bowl by beating the 49ers of Los Angeles 34-31 in an exciting game that was disrupted by a power blackout. Joe Flacco became a Super Bowl MVP.
- During this period the team had the reputation of having a hard nosed defense and running game.
Recent History (2015–Present)
- With the retirement of the defensive legends of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, the Ravens changed.
- Another key change in the offense was the drafting of Lamar Jackson in 2018 as quarterback with a dynamic-dual threat style.
- Lamar Jackson, who won the NFL MVP in 2019, and the Ravens became the leaders in the number of rushing yards in one season (QB and RB).
- The team remains at the top of the AFC North that has good drafting, creative offensive strategies, and physical defense.
Key Achievements
- Super Bowl Championships: 2 (2000, 2012)
- AFC Championships: 2 (2000, 2012)
- Division Titles: 6 (2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012)
- Famous Hall of Famers: Ray Lewis, Jonathan Ogden, Ed Reed.
Legacy
The Baltimore Ravens are known as one of the most defensive franchises in the NFL and they have a culture of being tough, resilient, and innovative. They boast of a strong following and association with the history and culture of Baltimore.
Summary
Baltimore Ravens is one of the strongest football teams in the NFL that is built and established in the year 1996 after the team, Cleveland Browns, moved out. Baltimore Ravens is a team with a solid defense and tough gameplay.
It was based on the poem by Edgar Allan Poe titled The Raven that the team rapidly elevated itself to the pinnacle of achievements with Ray Lewis, Jonathan Ogden and Ed Reed among the legends.
The Ravens were able to win two Super Bowls (2000, 2012) and several division titles under coaches Brian Billick and John Harbaugh. Nowadays, with such stars as Lamar Jackson, Ravens still find a way to innovate in offense, but they still possess their classic defensive power and it serves as the heart and spirit of Baltimore.
Conclusion
The Baltimore Ravens since their inception in 1996 have established their own niche in the NFL as a team that is characterized by defense domination, a strong culture and intelligent innovation. The Ravens were formed as a product of the controversial move of the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore and took the name The Raven of Edgar Allan Poe, which was immediately identified with the city as its name and its history.
Since the time they had signed Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis during their first season, the Ravens had laid the grounds to one of the most powerful defenses in football history. That punitive, fierce approach took them to the first Super Bowl Championship in 2000, when Ray Lewis and a historically stingy defense unit conceded only 165 points in the whole season, even now one of the most dominant defensive performances of the past 33 years. Baltimore was known as a home to hard-hitting mistake-forcing football under head coach Brian Billick.
The development of the franchise proceeded with the entrance of John Harbaugh (2008) who combined that defensive tradition with balanced and creative approaches. Once more with Joe Flacco at the helm the Ravens won their second Super Bowl in 2012 which has solidified the Ravens as one of the best organizations in the league. The Ravens were not going to rebuild in the traditional meaning even when the likes of Lewis and Ed Reed retired. They instead repackaged, bringing a new explosive quarterback, Lamar Jackson, who followed his 2019 MVP year with the advent of a new wave of dynamic offense, yet retained the tradition of physicality of the team.
The Ravens are considered to be a paradigm of stability and versatility today. It can be the bone crashing defense of the 2000s or the record breaking rushing of the Lamar Jackson era, as the franchise has time and again demonstrated its power to dominate as it adapts itself to the modern game. Two Super Bowls, several division championships, and a reputation of being rough and innovative, the Baltimore Ravens is an example of how a young franchise can become an automatic contender, always bearing a touch of Baltimore and Poe and his raven.
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