2000 Baltimore Ravens season
Encyclopedia
The Baltimore Ravens
concluded the 2000 NFL season
with a 12–4 record, good for second place in the AFC central
, and earning them a spot in the playoffs
as a wild card entrant. The Ravens won three straight games in the AFC playoffs, culminating in a trip to Tampa
for the Super Bowl
, where they defeated the New York Giants
, 34–7, to win their first championship.
Ray Lewis, who along with two other acquaintances, was arrested and charged with murder after an incident outside of an Atlanta nightclub on January 31, 2000. On June 5, a plea bargain was struck, and murder and aggravated assault charges were dropped in exchange for testimony against his companions. Lewis pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice and was sentenced to a year of probation.
, the Ravens would not score a touchdown
for five consecutive games. The Ravens won the first two of these games thanks to their defense, but lost the next three, including a critical division loss at home to the Titans
. During this game, quarterback
Tony Banks
was benched in favor of Trent Dilfer
, who would take over for the rest of the season. After a loss at home to Pittsburgh
, the Ravens broke both their touchdown-less streak and losing streak against the Bengals the next week. It would be the first of seven straight wins to end the season.
The Ravens finished one game behind the Tennessee Titans in the AFC central, so the Ravens had to begin their playoff run at home in the wild card round against the Broncos
. The team cruised to a 21–3 victory, setting up a date with the Titans the following week in Nashville
. The Ravens prevailed 24–10, thanks to linebacker Ray Lewis' 50 yard interception return for a touchdown that put the game away. The team then traveled to Oakland to meet the Raiders
for the right to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, and the Ravens advanced to their first, 16–3, as the defense held Oakland, the league's top rushing offense during the season, to just 24 yards rushing. The Ravens easily defeated the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV
, 34–7, as Ray Lewis led another dominant performance by the defense and was named most valuable player of the game for his efforts.
The Ravens relied heavily on their defense, which set several records during the 2000 season, including fewest points allowed during a 16-game season (165) and fewest rushing yards allowed (970). The defense finished the season number one overall in points allowed, and Ray Lewis was named defensive player of the year by the Associated Press. Starting cornerback
s Chris McAlister
and Duane Starks
combined to intercept ten passes, and defensive end
Rob Burnett
contributed with 10.5 sacks
. The defense is one of the greatest ever. Offensively, the Ravens relied heavily on the running game. Rookie
running back
Jamal Lewis
led the way with 1364 yards and veteran Priest Holmes
added 588 yards. The passing game was rather pedestrian (23rd in yards passing), but Trent Dilfer brought stability to the position when he took over for Tony Banks mid-season. Tight end
Shannon Sharpe
, acquired as an unrestricted free agent from Denver during the offseason, was the team's leading pass receiver with 67 catches for 810 yards. Punt returner Jermaine Lewis
scored two touchdowns on punt returns during the season, and ran back a kickoff in the Super Bowl, while placekicker
Matt Stover
made 35 field goals
on 39 attempts.
Page 2 list ranked the 2000 Ravens defense at #3 in NFL history. Baltimore gave up only 970 rushing yards (60.6 per game) all year, 186 fewer yards than the next lowest team, Baltimore's Super Bowl XXXV
opponent, the New York Giants
. Baltimore gave up only five rushing touchdowns all season, and allowed a paltry 2.7 yards per rush, both league bests. Furthermore, the Ravens recovered an astronomical 26 fumbles during the season, double the total the second-ranked team.
Statistical site Football Outsiders
noted, "One more interesting note on the Baltimore defense: it was the only dominant defense of the past few years to be based on stopping the run instead of controlling the pass. For all the cliches about the need to stop the run, in general the best defenses are ranked the highest because they have the best ratings against the pass, not against the run – just like the best offenses are ranked the highest because they are the best through the air, not on the ground. The 2000 Ravens only rank seventh in defense against the pass, but their rushing defense ... is far and away the best of the past six seasons."
Interestingly, for all its fanfare, the Ravens defensive statistics were very comparable to their division rivals, the Tennessee Titans
in 2000
. The Titans gave up fewer total yards (3813 to 3967), passing yards (2423 to 2621), fewer yards per play (4.3 to 4.2) and net yards per passing attempt (4.7 to 5.3). However, Baltimore won nearly as many games as Tennessee, despite a significantly worse offense. Tennessee's passing offense was statistically better than Baltimore's, passing for 3266 yards to Baltimore's 2815, as well as 6.7 net yards per attempt to Baltimore's 5.1. In fact, Tennessee's overall offense gained 5.2 passing yards-per-attempt, a half-yard more than Baltimore's 4.7 YPA.
at their turf. In a game where the Ravens had 336 yards of total offense, they first scored points with a field goal kick from Matt Stover. Later in the first quarter, Qadry Ismail would complete a pass from Tony Banks for seven more points. After another field goal kick, the Steelers were being shut out by the end of halftime, 13–0. The final score in the game resulted from another field goal from Stover, and the final score resulted with the Ravens winning 16–0. With this win, the Ravens began their season at 1–0.
for the majority of the game, where the home team gained another 300+ yard total offense. The first quarter was dominated by Jacksonville, where the time period ended with 2 field goals from Mike Hollis and a touchdown pass from Mark Brunell to Jimmy Smith (13–0). Baltimore put up their first points in the second quarter with a touchdown pass from Tony Banks to Travis Taylor. However, the first half ended with two more field goals from the Jaguars. The third quarter began with the Ravens trailing 23–7. Two further touchdowns by the Ravens (one which was for two extra points) and a field goal from Jaguars put the home team with less than a touchdown differential. In the continuing scoring shootout, the Ravens scored first in the fourth quarter with a touchdown to lead for the first time during the entire game, 29–26. By the later portion of the quarter, the Jaguars had surpassed Baltimore once more at 36–32. In the last scoring drive of the game, Shannon Sharpe completed a 29 yard pass from Banks to defeat Jacksonville, 39–36. With this win, Baltimore's record elevated to 2–0.
gained little offense in a defensive struggle for both teams. The first half was dominated by the Dolphin's placekicker Olindo Mare with two field goals. The Ravens attacked back during the second half, with two field goals of their own by Matt Stover; however, with a touchdown pass from Jay Fiedler to Lamar Smith and a rushing touchdown from the latter player, the Dolphins overcame Baltimore 19–6. In a game where the Ravens got just above 250 yards of total offense, Baltimore ultimately fell to a 2–1 record.
. In a complete shut out, the Ravens gained a near 400 yards (391 yards exact) in a game where the defense shut down the Bengals for only 94 yards of offense. During the first half, the Ravens scored three touchdowns (two passes from Tony Banks to Travis Taylor and Shannon Sharpe, and a rush by Jamal Lewis) and a field goal by Matt Stover. The second half ended with two more field goals and a rushing touchdown from Obafemi Ayanbadejo to finish with a score of 37–0. With this win, Baltimore's record elevated to 3–1.
. In a game dominated by both defenses, the Ravens allowed just under 250 offensive yards. The first half ended with three field goals from kicker Matt Stover, with the longest being from 45 yards in order to advance the Ravens to the locker room at 9–0. The final scoring in the game came during the third quarter when Stover kicked another field goal from 22 yards. In a shutout for the Browns, the Ravens improved their record to 4–1.
, for their third straight road game. In a defensive struggle, both teams allowed under 250 yards of total offense. Halftime ended with both teams tied at 3–3 as a result of two field goals: one from the Redskins (37 yards by Kris Heppner) and the Ravens (Matt Stover from 51 yards). That field goal from Stover would be the only score that the Ravens put up in this game, where in the fourth quarter, James Thrash ran for a 33 yard touchdown that put Washington 10–3 over the Ravens. With this final score, the Ravens suffered their second loss and fell to 5–2.
. The Ravens continued their touchdown-less streak, where Matt Stover produced the only score for Baltimore with two field goals (from the 21 and 38 yard lines). In the second quarter, Titans quarterback Steve McNair threw a 9 yard pass to Rodney Thomas to go ahead of the home team. Just under one point, the Ravens sought to get ahead of Tennessee, however, Tony Banks produced a game high of 3 interceptions, with the last one being the game winner for the Titans as they won 14–6. With this loss, the Ravens fell to 5–3.
. Five players represented the Ravens in the Pro Bowl
: Lewis joined defensive tackle Sam Adams
, safety Rod Woodson
, offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden
, and kicker
Matt Stover
. Kicker Matt Stover joined Lewis and Ogden on the associated press' All-Pro first team. Defensive end Rob Burnett joined Adams and Woodson on the AP All-Pro second team.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
concluded the 2000 NFL season
2000 NFL season
The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXXV when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants.Week 1 of the season reverted to Labor Day weekend in 2000...
with a 12–4 record, good for second place in the AFC central
AFC North
The American Football Conference North Division, or AFC North, is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. It was created prior to the 1967 season as the NFL Century Division when the NFL split into four divisions...
, and earning them a spot in the playoffs
NFL playoffs, 2000-01
The NFL playoffs following the 2000 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXV.This would be the last time that playoff games would be played at the accustomed times of 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST...
as a wild card entrant. The Ravens won three straight games in the AFC playoffs, culminating in a trip to Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
for the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
, where they defeated the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 34–7, to win their first championship.
Offseason
The Ravens spent most of the off-season concerned with the status of their star linebackerLinebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Ray Lewis, who along with two other acquaintances, was arrested and charged with murder after an incident outside of an Atlanta nightclub on January 31, 2000. On June 5, a plea bargain was struck, and murder and aggravated assault charges were dropped in exchange for testimony against his companions. Lewis pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice and was sentenced to a year of probation.
Season summary
The Ravens started the season with a 5–1 start, with three of their victories coming by shutout. Despite the great play of the defense, the offense hit a major swoon after the first month of the season. Following a 37–0 victory over the Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
, the Ravens would not score a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
for five consecutive games. The Ravens won the first two of these games thanks to their defense, but lost the next three, including a critical division loss at home to the Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
. During this game, quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Tony Banks
Tony Banks (quarterback)
Anthony "Tony" Lamar Banks is a former professional American football quarterback.-High school years:...
was benched in favor of Trent Dilfer
Trent Dilfer
Trent Farris Dilfer is a former football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sixth overall in the 1994 NFL Draft and went on to play for the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football...
, who would take over for the rest of the season. After a loss at home to Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, the Ravens broke both their touchdown-less streak and losing streak against the Bengals the next week. It would be the first of seven straight wins to end the season.
The Ravens finished one game behind the Tennessee Titans in the AFC central, so the Ravens had to begin their playoff run at home in the wild card round against the Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The team cruised to a 21–3 victory, setting up a date with the Titans the following week in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. The Ravens prevailed 24–10, thanks to linebacker Ray Lewis' 50 yard interception return for a touchdown that put the game away. The team then traveled to Oakland to meet the Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for the right to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, and the Ravens advanced to their first, 16–3, as the defense held Oakland, the league's top rushing offense during the season, to just 24 yards rushing. The Ravens easily defeated the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 2000 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Baltimore Ravens defeated the National Football Conference champion New York...
, 34–7, as Ray Lewis led another dominant performance by the defense and was named most valuable player of the game for his efforts.
The Ravens relied heavily on their defense, which set several records during the 2000 season, including fewest points allowed during a 16-game season (165) and fewest rushing yards allowed (970). The defense finished the season number one overall in points allowed, and Ray Lewis was named defensive player of the year by the Associated Press. Starting cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
s Chris McAlister
Chris McAlister
Christopher James McAlister is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona....
and Duane Starks
Duane Starks
Duane Lonell Starks is a former American football cornerback. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens 10th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft...
combined to intercept ten passes, and defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Rob Burnett
Rob Burnett
Robert Barry Burnett is a former defensive end who played in the NFL for 14 seasons.-High school and college:Burnett attended Newfield High School located in Long Island, New York...
contributed with 10.5 sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
. The defense is one of the greatest ever. Offensively, the Ravens relied heavily on the running game. Rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Jamal Lewis
Jamal Lewis
Jamal Lafitte Lewis is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens fifth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft...
led the way with 1364 yards and veteran Priest Holmes
Priest Holmes
Priest Anthony Holmes is a former American football running back of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 1997. He played college football at Texas.Holmes earned a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV...
added 588 yards. The passing game was rather pedestrian (23rd in yards passing), but Trent Dilfer brought stability to the position when he took over for Tony Banks mid-season. Tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
Shannon Sharpe
Shannon Sharpe
Shannon Sharpe is a former American Football tight end who played for the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. Sharpe is known for his creative commentary and trash talking. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and inducted on August 6, 2011...
, acquired as an unrestricted free agent from Denver during the offseason, was the team's leading pass receiver with 67 catches for 810 yards. Punt returner Jermaine Lewis
Jermaine Lewis
Jermaine Edward Lewis is a retired American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was originally drafted in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, who he played for until 2001...
scored two touchdowns on punt returns during the season, and ran back a kickoff in the Super Bowl, while placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
Matt Stover
Matt Stover
John Matthew "Matt" Stover is a former American Football placekicker. As of the start of the 2009 NFL season, he was the third most accurate kicker in the history of the National Football League. He is of Greek origin. He has played for the New York Giants, the Cleveland Browns, and the Baltimore...
made 35 field goals
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
on 39 attempts.
Defensive legacy
The Ravens defense in 2000 is often named among the greatest NFL defenses of all time. A 2007 ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
Page 2 list ranked the 2000 Ravens defense at #3 in NFL history. Baltimore gave up only 970 rushing yards (60.6 per game) all year, 186 fewer yards than the next lowest team, Baltimore's Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 2000 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Baltimore Ravens defeated the National Football Conference champion New York...
opponent, the New York Giants
2000 New York Giants season
The 2000 New York Giants season was the 76th season for the club in the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Preseason:-Regular season:The giants began the 2000 season hoping to get over the hump of coming short the past two seasons....
. Baltimore gave up only five rushing touchdowns all season, and allowed a paltry 2.7 yards per rush, both league bests. Furthermore, the Ravens recovered an astronomical 26 fumbles during the season, double the total the second-ranked team.
Statistical site Football Outsiders
Football Outsiders
Football Outsiders is a website started in July 2003 which focuses on advanced statistical analysis of the NFL. The site is run by a staff of regular writers, who produce a series of weekly columns using both the site's in-house statistics and their personal analyses of NFL games.In 2005 and 2006,...
noted, "One more interesting note on the Baltimore defense: it was the only dominant defense of the past few years to be based on stopping the run instead of controlling the pass. For all the cliches about the need to stop the run, in general the best defenses are ranked the highest because they have the best ratings against the pass, not against the run – just like the best offenses are ranked the highest because they are the best through the air, not on the ground. The 2000 Ravens only rank seventh in defense against the pass, but their rushing defense ... is far and away the best of the past six seasons."
Interestingly, for all its fanfare, the Ravens defensive statistics were very comparable to their division rivals, the Tennessee Titans
2000 Tennessee Titans season
The 2000 Tennessee Titans season was the Titans' 41st season and their 31st in the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Standings:-AFC Divisional Playoff:...
in 2000
2000 NFL season
The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXXV when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants.Week 1 of the season reverted to Labor Day weekend in 2000...
. The Titans gave up fewer total yards (3813 to 3967), passing yards (2423 to 2621), fewer yards per play (4.3 to 4.2) and net yards per passing attempt (4.7 to 5.3). However, Baltimore won nearly as many games as Tennessee, despite a significantly worse offense. Tennessee's passing offense was statistically better than Baltimore's, passing for 3266 yards to Baltimore's 2815, as well as 6.7 net yards per attempt to Baltimore's 5.1. In fact, Tennessee's overall offense gained 5.2 passing yards-per-attempt, a half-yard more than Baltimore's 4.7 YPA.
2000 NFL Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Jamal Lewis Jamal Lewis Jamal Lafitte Lewis is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens fifth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft... |
Running Back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... |
Tennessee University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States... |
| 1 | 10 | Travis Taylor | Wide Receiver Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
Florida University of Florida The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906... |
| 3 | 75 | Chris Redman Chris Redman Chris James Redman is an American football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Louisville.Redman earned a Super Bowl ring with the... |
Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
Louisville University of Louisville The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General... |
| 5 | 148 | Richard Mercier | Offensive Guard | Miami (FL) University of Miami The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12... |
| 6 | 186 | Adalius Thomas Adalius Thomas Adalius Donquail Thomas is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern Mississippi.-Early years:... |
Linebacker Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
Southern Mississippi |
| 6 | 191 | Cedric Woodard Cedric Woodard Cedric Darnell Woodard is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the 6th round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas.Woodards cousin, Quentin Jammer, plays cornerback for the San Diego Chargers.... |
Defensive Tackle | Texas |
Roster
| Baltimore Ravens 2000 final roster | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Peter Boulware Peter Nicholas Boulware , is a former American football linebacker who played his whole NFL career for the Baltimore Ravens. He was a Republican candidate for the Florida House of Representatives, District 9. His younger brother, Michael Boulware, a strong safety is currently a free agent.-Early... O. J. Brigance O. J. Brigance is a former championship football player in the Canadian Football League and the National Football League.-Football career:... Cornell Brown Cornell Desmond Brown is the outside linebackers and assistant defensive line coach for Virginia Tech, and a former American football linebacker who played for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League from 1997-2004... Anthony Davis (linebacker) Anthony Darvise Davis is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League who played from 1993-2000. He played college football at the University of Utah. In 2008, Anthony joined the coaching staff at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas to coach the... Brad Jackson Bradley Michael Jackson and grew up in and is a former linebacker in the National Football League. He played six seasons in the NFL, from 1998–2003, for the Baltimore Ravens and the Carolina Panthers... Jamie Sharper Harry James Sharper, Jr. is a former American football player who played in the NFL from 1997 through 2005. He played college football at the University of Virginia. He is the older brother of safety Darren Sharper.-Professional career:The Baltimore Ravens selected Sharper with the 34th overall... Defensive Backs
|
Special Teams
Kyle Richardson Kyle Davis Richardson is a former National Football League punter. He played college football at Arkansas State University and went on to have a ten-year professional career... Matt Stover John Matthew "Matt" Stover is a former American Football placekicker. As of the start of the 2009 NFL season, he was the third most accurate kicker in the history of the National Football League. He is of Greek origin. He has played for the New York Giants, the Cleveland Browns, and the Baltimore... |
|||||
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 3, 2000 | Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
W 16–0 | 1–0–0 | Three Rivers Stadium Three Rivers Stadium Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to... |
CBS 1:00pm | |
| 2 | September 10, 2000 | Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 39–36 | 2–0–0 | PSINet Stadium M&T Bank Stadium M&T Bank Stadium is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the home of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. The stadium is immediately adjacent to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the home of the Baltimore Orioles. Served by the Hamburg Street station of... |
CBS 1:00pm | |
| 3 | September 17, 2000 | Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 6–19 | 2–1–0 | Pro Player Stadium | ESPN 8:30pm | |
| 4 | September 24, 2000 | Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... |
W 37–0 | 3–1–0 | PSINet Stadium | CBS 1:00pm | |
| 5 | October 1, 2000 | Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 12–0 | 4–1–0 | Cleveland Browns Stadium Cleveland Browns Stadium -See also:* List of current National Football League stadiums* Chronology of home stadiums for current National Football League teams* List of American football stadiums by capacity* List of U.S. stadiums by capacity* List of North American stadiums by capacity... |
CBS 1:00pm | |
| 6 | October 8, 2000 | Jacksonville Jaguars | W 15–10 | 5–1–0 | ALLTEL Stadium | ESPN 8:30pm | |
| 7 | October 15, 2000 | Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... |
L 3–10 | 5–2–0 | FedEx Field | CBS 1:00pm | |
| 8 | October 22, 2000 | Tennessee Titans Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
L 6–14 | 5–3–0 | PSINet Stadium | CBS 1:00pm | |
| 9 | October 29, 2000 | Pittsburgh Steelers | L 6–9 | 5–4–0 | PSINet Stadium | CBS 1:00pm | |
| 10 | November 5, 2000 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 27–7 | 6–4–0 | Paul Brown Stadium Paul Brown Stadium Paul Brown Stadium is an American sports stadium located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the home venue of the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. It opened on August 19, 2000. The stadium was named after Bengals' founder Paul Brown. The stadium is located on approximately of land and... |
CBS 1:00pm | |
| 11 | November 12, 2000 | Tennessee Titans | W 24–23 | 7–4–0 | Adelphia Coliseum LP Field LP Field is a football stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, owned by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.... |
CBS 1:00pm | |
| 12 | November 19, 2000 | Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... |
W 27–0 | 8–4–0 | PSINet Stadium | FOX 4:15pm | |
| 13 | November 26, 2000 | Cleveland Browns | W 44–7 | 9–4–0 | PSINet Stadium | CBS 1:00pm | |
| 14 | Bye | ||||||
| 15 | December 10, 2000 | San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 24–3 | 10–4–0 | PSINet Stadium | CBS 1:00pm | |
| 16 | December 17, 2000 | Arizona Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 13–7 | 11–4–0 | Sun Devil Stadium Sun Devil Stadium Sun Devil Stadium is an outdoor football stadium, located on the campus of Arizona State University, in Tempe, Arizona, United States. The stadium's current seating capacity is 71,706 and the playing surface is natural grass... |
CBS 4:15pm | |
| 17 | December 24, 2000 | New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 34–20 | 12–4–0 | PSINet Stadium | CBS 1:00pm | |
Standings
| AFC Central | ||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) Tennessee Titans 2000 Tennessee Titans season The 2000 Tennessee Titans season was the Titans' 41st season and their 31st in the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Standings:-AFC Divisional Playoff:... |
13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 346 | 191 |
| (4) Baltimore Ravens | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 333 | 165 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers 2000 Pittsburgh Steelers season The 2000 Pittsburgh Steelers season began with the team trying to improve on their 6–10 record from 1999 in which they failed to qualify for the playoffs. While Pittsburgh did improve to 9–7 and had their first winning season since 1997, it was not enough for the team to qualify for the playoffs... |
9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 321 | 255 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars 2000 Jacksonville Jaguars season The 2000 Jacksonville Jaguars season was the team's sixth year in the National Football League. They finished with a record of 7–9.-Staff:-Schedule: -Schedule:-Standings:-Awards and records:... |
7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 367 | 327 |
| Cincinnati Bengals 2000 Cincinnati Bengals season The 2000 Cincinnati Bengals season was the team's 33rd year in professional football and its 31st with the National Football League. Corey Dillon would rank fifth in the NFL with 1,435 rushing yards and set a franchise record for most rushing yards in one season... |
4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 185 | 359 |
| Cleveland Browns 2000 Cleveland Browns season The 2000 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 48th season with the National Football League. Phil Dawson was the Browns leading scorer with 59 points. The Browns total offense ranked 31st in the league, while their total defense ranked 26th in the league.... |
3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 161 | 419 |
Week 1: at Pittsburgh Steelers
In the opening game for Baltimore's regular season, they squared off against division rivals Pittsburgh Steelers2000 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 2000 Pittsburgh Steelers season began with the team trying to improve on their 6–10 record from 1999 in which they failed to qualify for the playoffs. While Pittsburgh did improve to 9–7 and had their first winning season since 1997, it was not enough for the team to qualify for the playoffs...
at their turf. In a game where the Ravens had 336 yards of total offense, they first scored points with a field goal kick from Matt Stover. Later in the first quarter, Qadry Ismail would complete a pass from Tony Banks for seven more points. After another field goal kick, the Steelers were being shut out by the end of halftime, 13–0. The final score in the game resulted from another field goal from Stover, and the final score resulted with the Ravens winning 16–0. With this win, the Ravens began their season at 1–0.
Week 2: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
At the Ravens first home game, Baltimore trailed the Jacksonville Jaguars2000 Jacksonville Jaguars season
The 2000 Jacksonville Jaguars season was the team's sixth year in the National Football League. They finished with a record of 7–9.-Staff:-Schedule: -Schedule:-Standings:-Awards and records:...
for the majority of the game, where the home team gained another 300+ yard total offense. The first quarter was dominated by Jacksonville, where the time period ended with 2 field goals from Mike Hollis and a touchdown pass from Mark Brunell to Jimmy Smith (13–0). Baltimore put up their first points in the second quarter with a touchdown pass from Tony Banks to Travis Taylor. However, the first half ended with two more field goals from the Jaguars. The third quarter began with the Ravens trailing 23–7. Two further touchdowns by the Ravens (one which was for two extra points) and a field goal from Jaguars put the home team with less than a touchdown differential. In the continuing scoring shootout, the Ravens scored first in the fourth quarter with a touchdown to lead for the first time during the entire game, 29–26. By the later portion of the quarter, the Jaguars had surpassed Baltimore once more at 36–32. In the last scoring drive of the game, Shannon Sharpe completed a 29 yard pass from Banks to defeat Jacksonville, 39–36. With this win, Baltimore's record elevated to 2–0.
Week 3: at Miami Dolphins
In week 3, the Ravens and the Miami Dolphins2000 Miami Dolphins season
The 2000 season was the 33rd in franchise history. Dave Wannstedt was named the fourth head coach in franchise history on January 16, 2000.-NFL Draft:-Preseason:-Schedule:-Standings:-Playoffs:-Awards and honors:...
gained little offense in a defensive struggle for both teams. The first half was dominated by the Dolphin's placekicker Olindo Mare with two field goals. The Ravens attacked back during the second half, with two field goals of their own by Matt Stover; however, with a touchdown pass from Jay Fiedler to Lamar Smith and a rushing touchdown from the latter player, the Dolphins overcame Baltimore 19–6. In a game where the Ravens got just above 250 yards of total offense, Baltimore ultimately fell to a 2–1 record.
Week 4: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
In an attempt to redeem their road lost to the Dolphins, the Ravens faced division rivals Cincinnati Bengals2000 Cincinnati Bengals season
The 2000 Cincinnati Bengals season was the team's 33rd year in professional football and its 31st with the National Football League. Corey Dillon would rank fifth in the NFL with 1,435 rushing yards and set a franchise record for most rushing yards in one season...
. In a complete shut out, the Ravens gained a near 400 yards (391 yards exact) in a game where the defense shut down the Bengals for only 94 yards of offense. During the first half, the Ravens scored three touchdowns (two passes from Tony Banks to Travis Taylor and Shannon Sharpe, and a rush by Jamal Lewis) and a field goal by Matt Stover. The second half ended with two more field goals and a rushing touchdown from Obafemi Ayanbadejo to finish with a score of 37–0. With this win, Baltimore's record elevated to 3–1.
Week 5: at Cleveland Browns
The Ravens began a five–game touchdown drought with their matchup against Cleveland2000 Cleveland Browns season
The 2000 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 48th season with the National Football League. Phil Dawson was the Browns leading scorer with 59 points. The Browns total offense ranked 31st in the league, while their total defense ranked 26th in the league....
. In a game dominated by both defenses, the Ravens allowed just under 250 offensive yards. The first half ended with three field goals from kicker Matt Stover, with the longest being from 45 yards in order to advance the Ravens to the locker room at 9–0. The final scoring in the game came during the third quarter when Stover kicked another field goal from 22 yards. In a shutout for the Browns, the Ravens improved their record to 4–1.
Week 6: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Baltimore would travel back to Jacksonville in a Week 2 rematch against the Jaguars at their turf in Jacksonville. The Ravens went with their second consecutive game without a touchdown with their kicker Matt Stover delivering all their points. In the first quarter, Jaguars kicker Steve Lindsey delivered a 49 yard field goal but was answered with a Stover 47 yard field goal to tie up the game. The second quarter ended with another Stover kick that would take the game to halftime with the Ravens winning 6–3. Stover would kick three more consecutive field goals to increase the score to 15–3, but the Jaguars retaliated with the final score of the game: a 1 yard rushing touchdown from Fred Taylor. However, the game was ultimately decided at 15–10 and the Ravens record elevated to 5–1.Week 7: at Washington Redskins
The Ravens traveled to their Capital Beltway neighbors, Washington Redskins2000 Washington Redskins season
The 2000 Washington Redskins season began with the team trying to improve on their 10–6 record from 1999.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Preseason:-Schedule:-Best performances:* Marco Coleman, Week 1, 2.5 Quarterback Sacks vs. Carolina Panthers...
, for their third straight road game. In a defensive struggle, both teams allowed under 250 yards of total offense. Halftime ended with both teams tied at 3–3 as a result of two field goals: one from the Redskins (37 yards by Kris Heppner) and the Ravens (Matt Stover from 51 yards). That field goal from Stover would be the only score that the Ravens put up in this game, where in the fourth quarter, James Thrash ran for a 33 yard touchdown that put Washington 10–3 over the Ravens. With this final score, the Ravens suffered their second loss and fell to 5–2.
Week 8: vs. Tennessee Titans
In Week 8, the Ravens flew back home to face off against division rivals Tennessee Titans2000 Tennessee Titans season
The 2000 Tennessee Titans season was the Titans' 41st season and their 31st in the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Standings:-AFC Divisional Playoff:...
. The Ravens continued their touchdown-less streak, where Matt Stover produced the only score for Baltimore with two field goals (from the 21 and 38 yard lines). In the second quarter, Titans quarterback Steve McNair threw a 9 yard pass to Rodney Thomas to go ahead of the home team. Just under one point, the Ravens sought to get ahead of Tennessee, however, Tony Banks produced a game high of 3 interceptions, with the last one being the game winner for the Titans as they won 14–6. With this loss, the Ravens fell to 5–3.
Week 9: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
In a rematch from week 1, Baltimore continued their streak without a touchdown. However, second-string quarterback Trent Dilfer started in replacement of Tony Banks, who in the past four games had not thrown one touchdown but rather more interceptions. In this game, unlike Banks, Dilfer threw no interceptions but was unable to connect with any receiver into the endzone. The Ravens had the advantage heading into halftime with two field goals from Matt Stover that were over 40 yards. In the third quarter, the Steelers retaliated with six points of their own as a result of a touchdown and a missed extra point from Kris Brown.Week 10: at Cincinnati Bengals
In a Week 4 rematch, the Ravens traveled to Ohio against AFC Central adversaries, Bengals. Matt Stover put the Ravens on the board with three points after a 38 yard field goal in the first quarter. Baltimore entered their season best second quarter in this game with three touchdown passes from new starting quarterback Trent Dilfer that had the Ravens up by 24 unanswered points. Cincinnati answered with a touchdown, and their only score, during the third quarter with Peter Warrick's 4 yard rush. The game came to a close following a field goal from Stover that had the Ravens defeat the Bengals 27–7. The Ravens improved their record to 6–4 and began a six-game winning streak.Week 11: at Tennessee Titans
Just after battling against Tennessee two weeks earlier, Baltimore traveled to Nashville to face off against the Titans. The Ravens attacked by adding seven points to their score in the first quarter after a reception by Qadry Ismail from Trent Dilfer. Jamal Lewis would then double the points with a 2 yard rush that put up the Ravens 14–0 during the second quarter. The Titans answered with two touchdown passes from Steve McNair to Derrick Mason and Lorenzo Neal, respectively. After a field goal from Matt Stover, halftime stood at 17–14, favoring the Ravens. In a defensive struggle in the third quarter, no team was able to score. However, the game became tied at 17–17 with a 23 yard field goal from Al Del Greco upon the final quarter. Tennessee sought to end the game after Perry Phenix intercepted a pass from Dilfer and returned it 87 yards for a touchdown; however, Del Greco failed to convert the extra point. This allowed the Ravens to end the game with a touchdown pass to Patrick Johnson from Dilfer and a successful extra point conversion. With this win, the Ravens raised their record to 7–4.Playoffs
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Game site | NFL Recap | TV Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Card | December 31, 2000 | Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 21–3 | PSINet Stadium | CBS 12:30pm | |
| Divisional | January 7, 2001 | at Tennessee Titans Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
W 24–10 | Adelphia Coliseum LP Field LP Field is a football stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, owned by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.... |
CBS 12:30pm | |
| AFC Championship | January 14, 2001 | at Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 16–3 | Network Associates Coliseum | http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-sp.ravens15jan15,0,7824320.story?coll=bal-football-storyutil | CBS 4:00pm |
| Super Bowl XXXV | January 28, 2001 | New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 34–7 | Raymond James Stadium Raymond James Stadium Raymond James Stadium, also known as the "Ray Jay", is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Tampa, Florida. It is home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the NCAA's South Florida Bulls football team. The stadium seats 65,857 , and it is expandable to 75,000 for special events... |
CBS 6:30pm |
Awards
Middle linebacker Ray Lewis was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated PressAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
. Five players represented the Ravens in the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
: Lewis joined defensive tackle Sam Adams
Sam Adams (football player)
Sam Aaron Adams, Jr. is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Seattle Seahawks eighth overall in the 1994 NFL Draft...
, safety Rod Woodson
Rod Woodson
Roderick Kevin "Rod" Woodson is the current cornerbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He is also a former defensive back best known for his 10-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as being a key member of the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl XXXV championship...
, offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden
Jonathan Ogden
Jonathan Phillip Ogden is a former American football offensive tackle who played for the Baltimore Ravens.-College:He received his education at St. Albans School, excelling not only in football but also in track and field...
, and kicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
Matt Stover
Matt Stover
John Matthew "Matt" Stover is a former American Football placekicker. As of the start of the 2009 NFL season, he was the third most accurate kicker in the history of the National Football League. He is of Greek origin. He has played for the New York Giants, the Cleveland Browns, and the Baltimore...
. Kicker Matt Stover joined Lewis and Ogden on the associated press' All-Pro first team. Defensive end Rob Burnett joined Adams and Woodson on the AP All-Pro second team.
- Sam Adams, AFC Pro Bowl Selection,
- Brian BillickBrian BillickBrian Harold Billick is a National Football League game analyst for Fox, and is also an analyst for the network's Bowl Championship Series coverage. He was previously an NFL coach, most recently with the Baltimore Ravens from January 19, 1999 to December 31, 2007...
, USA Today AFC Coach of the Year, - Trent DilferTrent DilferTrent Farris Dilfer is a former football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sixth overall in the 1994 NFL Draft and went on to play for the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football...
, Football Digest Comeback Player of the Year, - Jamal LewisJamal LewisJamal Lafitte Lewis is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens fifth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft...
, USA Today Offensive Rookie of the Year, - Marvin Lewis, Football Digest Assistant Coach of the Year,
- Marvin Lewis, Pro Football Writers Association Assistant Coach of the Year,
- Marvin Lewis, USA Today AFC Assistant Coach of the Year,
- Ray Lewis, Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year,
- Ray Lewis, Football Digest Defensive Player of the Year,
- Ray Lewis, Pro Football Writers Association Defensive Most Valuable Player,
- Jonathan Ogden, AFC Pro Bowl Selection,
- Matt Stover, Golden Toe Award
- Rod Woodson, AFC Pro Bowl Selection,