The Ravens’ defense will be always be defined by their numbers.
The Ravens set 16-game records in points (165) and rushing yards (970) allowed. They recorded four shutouts, one shy of the post-merger NFL record held by the 1976 Steelers. They finished first in the league in six defensive categories.
But this defense should be remembered for its characters.
The defensive line relied on a New Jersey tough guy (Tony Siragusa) and a moody force nicknamed “Sybil” in the middle (Sam Adams). The linebackers featured the emotional heart of the team (Ray Lewis) and a quiet yet dominant pass rusher (Peter Boulware). The secondary followed the voice of experience and wisdom (Rod Woodson) and thrived on its brash, cocky young corner (Chris McAlister).
What made this defense so special was how all of these diverse personalities melded together for one mission: To forge its place in history with a Super Bowl title.
You never had the feeling that the 11 starters would become life-long friends, but they always trusted each player would handle his job. No one wanted to let down a teammate. No one wanted to be considered the weak link.
There was a professional peer pressure at work with the Ravens. Players practiced hard every day and never took plays off during games because they knew Lewis or another teammate would lay into him. It’s not coincidental that Adams’ only two Pro Bowl seasons came during his only years with the Ravens.
There was an aura surrounding the Ravens from their season-opening shutout in Pittsburgh through their playoff run where they gave up one touchdown. The Ravens had swagger. Their opponents had fear.
The Ravens didn’t just stuff running backs. They made them quit. Cincinnati's Corey Dillon waved off coach Bruce Coslet about going back into the game and Tennessee's Eddie George lasted one rush against the Ravens before injuring his knee.
The Ravens’ pass rush didn’t just harass quarterbacks. It knocked them out of the game. The Bengals’ Akili Smith left after a bone-rattling hit by Rob Burnett and the Raiders’ Rich Gannon tapped out after Siragusa drove him into the ground in the AFC championship game.
Perhaps the only disappointment is this defense didn’t have a few more years together like the Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain or Minnesota’s Purple People Eaters. But for this one season, the Ravens had a defense for the ages.
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