Baltimore Ravens: Top 10 Franchise Defining Plays

10. Shannon Sharpe Stuns The Black Hole

In the march to the Ravens Super Bowl it didn’t take much offense to get the win. All the Ravens really needed were one or two big plays a game that would throw the defense a little support. In the 2000 AFC Championship game Shannon Sharpe came up with that big time play. Backed up on their own four yard line the Ravens offense just needed to get a first down or two to change field position. Instead they got something better. Sharpe caught a quick pass over the middle of the field from Trent Dilfer and took off. The Hall of Fame tight end worked his magic for a 96 yard touchdown.

Here is what that play meant. It was in the second quarter and neither team had scored. The short pass that went the distance was the first and only touchdown in the game. The 2000 Ravens defense was magical. It was playing an incredible game. Tony Siragusa practically demolished Rich Gannon in a memorable quarterback sack. The Raiders needed to keep this a battle of field goals and field position. That touchdown was too much on the scoreboard to overcome against a defense that had the stuff of legends.

If the Ravens don’t get that touchdown, or even move the chains at the moment the game could have been drastically different. The Ravens could have given the Raiders great field position. This was the kind of game where one big play could decide the outcome. The Ravens had that big play and went on to the Super Bowl.

Next: 9. Joe Flacco Awkwardly Scores His First TD