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Ravens Debates: Would they win Super Bowl XLVII if they won the year before?

By Richard Bradshaw

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 03: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with teammate Jacoby Jones #12 (L) after the Ravens won 34-31 against the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 03: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with teammate Jacoby Jones #12 (L) after the Ravens won 34-31 against the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 22: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to throw as Dane Fletcher #52 of the New England Patriots tackle him during their AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 22: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to throw as Dane Fletcher #52 of the New England Patriots tackle him during their AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Connor’s argument:

The 2011 season was the best Ravens team of the John Harbaugh era. Ending the season at 12-4 record and a #2 seed in the playoffs, the team was well set up for a Super Bowl appearance.

The defense had a Defensive Player of the Year in Terrell Suggs, along with future Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, who were also playing at a high level. On offense, Joe Flacco was coming into his own as well as having a dominant run game with Ray Rice leading the way. Baltimore was 8-0 at home that year, and ran through their regular season schedule with ease.

But in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium, we all know the story. Lee Evans dropped a game-winning touchdown, then Billy Cundiff missed a field goal that would’ve sent the game into overtime. The year after this devastating loss, the Ravens went on to win Super Bowl XLVII on the back of Flacco’s miraculous playoff run.

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No way the Ravens repeat:

However, had the Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2011, the story would’ve been different. Imagine this: Lee Evans catches the ball against the New England Patriots and the Ravens go on to win with ease against the New York Giants. After the season, Lewis retires, wanting to go out on top. The team lets some veterans go, such as Reed, wanting to usher in a new era. The Ravens feel pressured to sign Flacco to an extension after a Super Bowl win and Flacco hitting free agency next year. Flacco signs a deal making him the highest paid quarterback of all time.

Basically, the same thing that happened after Super Bowl XLVII would’ve happened after the 2011 season, had they won it all. We’ve seen how Flacco performed after he got his money. We’ve seen the defense without proven leaders like Lewis and Reed. It took a while for the defense to get back on track after losing those guys.

Everything had to go right for Baltimore to come out on top in 2012, and I feel with winning the title in ’11 there’s little chance the Ravens repeat under those circumstances.

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