2000 Ravens vs 2012 Ravens

So I was listening to 105.7 The Fan on the way to work this morning and they were discussing which superbowl team would win in a game.  Honestly, I was shocked by the amount of people that picked the 2012 team.  One guy even said it was no contest.

Now I know we all have opinions but I personally don't even think it's close.  I give the 2000 squad the edge at almost every position.  LBs, DBs, D-line, TE, and RBs.  If we're talking the McKinnie o-line, then it's close (Ogden being the best of both squads).  I'll give the 2012 team the edge at QB and WR easily.

Problem is, the 2012 team is NOT guarding Shannon Sharpe, period.  And that run defense isn't going to stop Jamal Lewis.  His speed and power would be too much to handled. 

On the other side, the 2012 squad isn't running on the defense at all.  Duane Starks would probably do horrible against both Torrey and Anquan so there's a constant match up problem. 

Maybe it's just me but if I was a betting man, I'd definitely bet the farm on the 2000 team       

I agree, that 2000 team would have handled this team.  Its not a knock on the 2012 team, but that 2000 defense has gone down as one of the best ever.

Honestly, I was shocked by the amount of people that picked the 2012 team.

you know how people are.............they have short term memories, and the most recent sticks.

You just cant score on that D, i honeslty dont even think the 07 pats put up more than 17-20 points at the high end, that team was just something else. people forget how awesome Ray Lewis ALONE was back then, a true, sideline to sideline LB- keep this in mind also- RAY LEWIS in his prime is the reason all these tight ends exist, he was built to cover these slot WR and TE's like gronk etc, but at the same time they were bred to beat him.

2k

If McNair's arm didn't turn to jelly towards the end of 2006 I'd take that team over both of them.

The 2012 team probably doesn't win that game at least half the time if they played 10 times in a row. The 2000 team was a force and would win that game at least 8 ot of 10 times I think. I also think the 2006 team was better than this team, but I don't think anything beats a great defense in its prime that can win what was it 5 games in a row without a TD?

If McNair's arm didn't turn to jelly towards the end of 2006 I'd take that team over both of them

Hmm.  I think I'd agree with this. 

The 2000 team waas by far superior....defensively...but this team's offense is hands down better. The best part of the 2000 team was they put most games on their back and told Dilfer......score 10-13 points and we got this one, and most of the time they delivered. They persevered through the 4 plus straight games without scoring a touchdown.

I think I would take the 2000 team over them all.  When they finally got it figured out, they flat out didn't lose.  What was it 11 wins in a row?  The Ravens string 4 wins together before a loss now. 

They allowed 165 points all season and 1 defensive TD in 4(!) playoff games.  56 of those points came in 2 games.  The first was game 2 against the Jaguars where they scored 36.  The Jets scored 20 in the final game of the season when the Ravens already had the playoffs locked up.

I'm sorry, but no other Ravens team is moving the ball or scoring points on that defense to win the game.  I think 2006 has a worse shot of winning the game than 2012 because the passing game and passing weapons are definitely better in the 2012 version.

Steve McNair, Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton, Todd Heap

Joe Flacco, Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, Dennis Pitta

Maybe if it was the 2000 version of McNair and Mason I'd give them the edge. 

Let's put it this way.  Steve McNair and Derrick Mason faced the Ravens 3 times in 2000.  They lost 2/3 times and offensively didn't score more than 16 points in any game.  (1 Dilfer INT was returned for a TD)

I'm sorry, but an "in their prime" combo didn't have what it takes to take down the 2000 team.  No way does +6 years of football help them get it done.

2000 all the way.

grrr the Titans didn't score more than 17 offensively that year.  Who freaking misses an extra point?  (Which also cost them the game!  )

First thought was the 2000 team, but then I thought some of the edges given were not so profound. Not losing much with Ray Rice. Though older now, 2000 had no Ed Reed. Have to go with the 2012 WRs....and it's not really close. Obviously, a much younger, in-his-prime Ray Lewis helps the 2000 team.


All that said, Having Harbaugh and Flacco instead of Billick and Dilfer gives the edge to the 2012 team IMO.   

Is this hypathetical game being played with 2000 rules or 2012 rules? I think that makes a big difference. I think the game has changed to favor the offense a lot more in this day and age. If they play under the current rules. I think the game is really close. If it is played by 2000 rules, the 2000 team shuts this offense down easily. 

Though older now, 2000 had no Ed Reed

Would you really put 2012 Ed Reed over 2000 Rod Woodson?  I wouldn't.

 

Though older now, 2000 had no Ed Reed

Would you really put 2012 Ed Reed over 2000 Rod Woodson?  I wouldn't.


I might. Woodson wasn't exactly on top of his game in 2000. either way, for me, it comes down to Harbaugh over Billick and Flacco over Dilfer. Billick might be the most overrated coach I can think of. I don't think it's an accident he hasn't sniffed another job. 

The 2012 offense is definitely the best of the 3 mentioned (2000, 2006, 2012), but it's just not going to get it done against the 2000 defense.

2000 > 2012 > 2006 

The more I keep thinking about it, the more that 2006 team just cannot stack up.  The defense that year was far better than the 2012 version, but the 2012 defense also stopped 3 high-powered and different offenses in the playoffs.  The 2006 offense cannot even replicate Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, or the pistol.

2000 still wins in a landslide.  Granted the offense isn't as high scoring as 2012, but they also faced that Titans defense which was #1 in yards and #2 in points (under 12 a game) three times.  I don't think the 2000 team has a problem figuring out how to get enough points to win and closing the door against either team.

Special teams is the real wild card for the 2012 squad!  If the 2012 squad gets a patented Jacoby Jones special teams TD you have a real game.  

I'm not ready to call it for the 2012 Ravens... but I'm just not confident that Trent Dilfer and a rookie Jamal Lewis can get it done if you spot the 2012 squad a ST TD.

P.S.  I remember that Jermaine Lewis had a ST TD in the SB for the 2000 Ravens, but the 2012 Ravens had the #1 ranked specials teams in the league.  The special teams edge clearly goes to Harbaugh's Ravens by a large margin.

Maybe it's just me but if I was a betting man, I'd definitely bet the farm on the 2000 team 

I think the 2000 Ravens, with that defense and running game, would destroy the 2012 team.
We can actually play this game.  Anyone heard of What If Sports.com?
[http://www.whatifsports.com/locker/
]

You can play any team in history against any other team in history under any weather conditions and the computer simulation will play it out.

I played the game 5 times and the 2000 team won 4 times and they ended in a tie once.      

I played the game three more times and the 2012 team won on a last minute TD from Flacco to Boldin

The 2000 Special Teams were special in their own right. Jermaine Lewis was a Pro-Bowl returner that season. The 2000 Defense was the best single season defense OF ALL TIME, period.

People forget that Tony Banks and not Trent Dilfer was the starting QB for the early part of that season. During the abysmal stretch where the team didn't score a TD was where Mr. Dilfer entered the starting role after Tony threw 3 picks against the Titans. That offense did just enough to win games by not turning the football over.

In my humble opinion, if the "Goose" hadn't squashed Rich Gannon early in the playoff game with Oakland and knocked him out of the game, it was possible that the Ravens could have gotten knocked out in that game. Oakland had a high powered offense with Gannon at the helm, once he left, the game was no longer in doubt.


The 2006 Ravens had Steve McNair and Jamal Lewis. Their WR were crap outside of Heap and Mason and the defense while great statistically were exposed by the no-huddle offense of Peyton in the playoffs. The Special teams were average at best that season. The OL was decent but Tony Pashos at RT = the weak link.


The 2012 Ravens had their worst defense since 1996-97. They were by far the worst rush defense in Ravens history. The Ravens offense with Flacco, Rice, Boldin, Smith, Pitta and Jones were the difference this season. This team caught fire after Cam got fired and McKinnie was inserted into the starting lineup (Great job John on those calls sir)


Who wins out of all of these? The 2000 team. Why?  No one ran on the 2000 Ravens. They forced turnovers like no team since.


The 2012 team, Flacco could be the difference but that is if he is given the time to operate which frankly, the 2012 OL, while playing pretty brilliantly this past post-season, likely wouldn't have held up against Boulware, Sharper, McCrary and Rob Burnett. Ray Lewis was also in his prime and there would have been turnovers forced in either Picks or fumbles for sure. That means the long-passing attack would be nullified and as we know, when Joe is under a lot of duress, he tends to fumble or throw balls into bad places. The secondary of McAlister, Starks, Herring and Woodson would have kept most yards gained to a minimum if Joe managed to shake loose and the 2000 team was very good at tipping passes at the line as well. Trent Dilfer could likely have scored at least 24 points on the 2012 version of the defense. Shannon Sharpe would have been HUGE in the game and Jamal Lewis would have gained 150 yards plus.


The 2006 team had JO, Flynn, Mualtalo, etc,  much better OL.  Steve would have kept some plays alive but Mark Clayton would likely have dropped some passes, Mason would have been covered by McAlister like a glove and taken out of the game. Heap wouldn't have gotten much against Sharper or Lewis and once again Jamal Lewis would have been shut down by Sam Adams, Goose and the DL. The 2000 offense probably would NOT have scored more than 17 points against the 2006 D, but they would have only needed 14 to win the game. McAlister and Samari rolle would have shut down Quadry Ismail, Stokley and Travis Taylor. This game would have been won on a 2000 D defensive TD and a Jermaine Lewis run back. heheh.


Best Ravens team still is the 2000 team but this season was truly satisfying to watch considering the defense was a shell of its former self and they STILL managed to win it all.


2000 Defense  best ever
2012 Offense  rivalled the Vinny Testeverde days  circa 1996-97.
2006 team - damn good all around but lacked a few necessary pieces.