As has been the case since, well, the Ravens relocated from Cleveland back in '96, this team is only as good as its defense. That was never more evident than during the 2000 Super Bowl run. Eight years later, Baltimore is 60 minutes away from the championship game thanks largely to its defense. Shocking, I know. Unlike the '00 team, this year's version has some semblance of an offense. Trent Dilfer was game-manager-tastic, and one of Brian Billick's biggest mistakes as head coach was releasing Dilfer to bring in Elvis Grbac. But new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has done a fabulous job of protecting Joe Flacco (did you know he's the first rookie to ever win TWO playoff games!?) with a punishing running game and play-action passes.
Flacco isn't easily rattled, and that quality has served him well. But he's also benefited from the knowledge that the Ravens can score 14 points a game and win. The defense held opponents to fewer than two touchdowns 10 times during the regular season, and have allowed just nine and 10 points in two playoff games. Not too shabby.
In 2000, they held opponents to fewer than 14 points 11 times, and then allowed just 23 points in four postseason contests. That works out to two field goals a game.
So how similar are these two units? Well, for starters, they're two different schemes. Marvin Lewis was the defensive coordinator in '00, and Baltimore primarily ran the 4-3. This season, Rex Ryan features, well, everything ... and has been wildly successful. Pre-snap formations aside, the results are, eerily, almost indistinguishable.
According to Football Outsiders, the '00 squad had the league's best defense (duh), ranking sixth against the pass and first against the rush. This season, the Ravens were the second-best defense behind the Steelers, but ranked second against the pass and first against the run.
The major difference between the 2000 and 2008 clubs? Special teams. The offenses were similarly ranked (21st vs. 18th, respectively), but the Super Bowl champs were third in special teams, while this year's team ranks just 17th. Which, invariably means next week's conference championship will be decided by a Matt Stover field goal.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-11-2009 @ 12:26AM
BIG JIM said...
As for the Ravens, when did stepping out of the back of the end zone not become an automatic safety. In the 4th quarter, Flacco and Ravens were pinned at the half yard line and on 3rd down he rolled back into the end zone and stepped out of the back of the end zone with one foot. This is a safety that wasn't called. I'd say the fix was in for the Ravens.
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1-11-2009 @ 11:28AM
BtRavens said...
I guess Big Jim has not seen the replays... Flacco did NOT step out in the back of the endzone.... Check your facts before posting....
1-11-2009 @ 12:15PM
Big Joe said...
Big Jim must be a Titans fan. He wishes he had stepped out of bounds. Reguardless sloppy football lost the game for the Titans. Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda Jim, It's all about points on the board. The Titans didn't score enough. Have a nice off season.
1-12-2009 @ 10:44AM
Pete said...
If you watch the replays it shows conclusively that he did not step out of the endzone. He knew where he was and did a good job.
1-11-2009 @ 1:24AM
jeff said...
try opening your eye s flaccos foot never went out.
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1-11-2009 @ 1:49AM
Plasma said...
Big Jim, are you kidding me. This is a team of destiny. You won the 1st match-up w/ a phantom roughing the passer call. Collins is rattled when he plays the Ravens. Who doesn't want to see a 3rd rematch between Baltimore & Pittsburgh next week. Who? Chargers fans! When they get the AFC North reality check, they will be watching the game too.
East Coast Super Bowl.
Ravens - Giants or
Ravens - Eagles
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1-11-2009 @ 11:36AM
wizard said...
you mean the Steelers VS Giants/Eagles. Ravens fans please stop dreaming. You'll falter against the Steelers.
1-11-2009 @ 2:02AM
YouFaceTheTick said...
Not a titans fan and I picked the Ravens to win this game. Still their defense looked horrible today against a mediocre QB, nothing WRs and a rookie RB. Had Johnson not left injured, this game was all Titans. The Titans with their cruddy WRs and White marched up and down the field all day.
The Ravens got lucky with 3 turnovers inside of the redzone. Had one of those not occurred, people would be talking about a listless Titans team going to the Championship.
Consider the Ravens gave up almost 400 yards. That wasn't championship defense. And they weren't playing against a great offense. The Titans ranked 21st in total offense in 2008. Ravens fans should be worried...
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1-11-2009 @ 3:06AM
Steve said...
More sour grapes from losers. Flacco did NOT step out of the end zone as dozens of replays have clearly shown. Luck along with being a great team equals victories.
See you in Tampa loser!!!
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1-11-2009 @ 3:53AM
JB said...
Lets make sure Ray Lewis makes it to the Super Bowl we know how much fun he had the last time he was there...so do the families of the people his 'friends' killed
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1-11-2009 @ 9:19AM
jvsiii3 said...
His pass is his pass. Even though he's on Defense.
1-11-2009 @ 7:56AM
treia said...
JB Get with the topic.Ray Lewis pass is truly the pass and not footbalsl concern any longer. There is nothing more sad than a bitching man about the wrong subject.Not your favorite team cool,but that other crap is bull.
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1-11-2009 @ 8:23AM
Ron said...
It was more like Tennessee losing as opposed to Baltimore winning (the game). No way Tenn. should've lost this game and I'm fairly certain that changes will be made and not only with players. Cannot see owner Bud Adams or the season ticket holders tolerating this any longer. Tenn. doesn't need another Mart Schottenheimer as head coach and enough is enough is enough.
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1-11-2009 @ 9:10AM
Randy said...
Dominating Defense, you gotta be kidding me! Tenn moved the ball up and down the field all game! How about Tenn's self-destructing offense, that better describes this game. Titan spanked them in every category except score. If this had been a college game, the BCS would have still ranked the Titans above the Ravens for all those 'STYLE STATISTICS"! Sorry, the best team lost this game.
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1-11-2009 @ 9:19AM
MW said...
Great TEAMS find a way to win.The Ravens were "beaten" in every category except 2. HEART and the FINAL score.
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1-11-2009 @ 9:41AM
Plasma said...
What kind of philosophical Kool-aid are you people thinking. The "better" team did not win. The Titans used to play in this Division. Remember when you ran for 2 yards a play. Punted 7 times, & tried not to choke. You choked! You lost the game. News Flash!!! If Tenn. wants to lose, Balto. Wins. You played not to lose the first game and almost lost. You played this game the same way. Move the ball 80 yards, turn it over, score nothing, Please, drink. Next week watch Pitts. do the same thing.
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1-11-2009 @ 9:46AM
TG said...
Don't Dilute the beer with your tears. Face the end fact----Final score Baltimore 13, Tenn 10.
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1-11-2009 @ 9:48AM
frank said...
Ravens D won this flat-out . its not luck when you force turnovers and the White fumble was clearly all about going for the ball . But , Fisher lost the game when Balt. had the ball on their own 25 yd. line and the play clock ran out . No RED FLAG , No REPLAY ! When Fox showed it on replay , it had to be at least 1.2 seconds b4 the ball was snapped . The pass went for 15 yds. and a 1st down w/ like 4 min. left to play . If Jeff did'nt want to risk losing a timeout , its sad cause He left it in his back pocket when the game ended .
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1-11-2009 @ 9:52AM
Griff said...
Where was the delay of game flag when time ran out?
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1-11-2009 @ 9:59AM
frank g said...
Lendale White goes down w/ an arm tackle . Running off takle , the hole (right side) opened like The Red Sea . White looked like He'd tear off at least 10 yds. . # 37 for Tenn. , must've been on a blitz , stuck out his arm and took White off his feet . No speed , no vision , no cut , no power . Chris Johnson must've been in tears watching that play .
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