Ebony Bird
FanSided

Comparing 2018 Ravens defense to Baltimore’s best defenses

By Richard Bradshaw

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 30: Tony Jefferson #23 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts after a defensive stop during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on September 30, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 30: Tony Jefferson #23 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts after a defensive stop during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on September 30, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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Willie Parker of the Steelers fumbles the ball during the 2nd half at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa where the Ravens defeated the Steelers 31-7 on Sunday Dec. 24, 2006. (Photo by Dan Beineke/NFLPhotoLibrary)
Willie Parker of the Steelers fumbles the ball during the 2nd half at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa where the Ravens defeated the Steelers 31-7 on Sunday Dec. 24, 2006. (Photo by Dan Beineke/NFLPhotoLibrary) /

2006 Ravens Defense:

Season stats: 12.6 PPG, 60 sacks, 28 interceptions, 12 forced fumbles

By far the most attractive stat line of the bunch, the only factor holding back this Ravens defense in particular for the top-spot was a short-lived playoff run in which the team was one-and-done against Peyton Manning and the eventual Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts. As unfortunate as that loss was, we still have to admire how amazing this defense was as a whole.

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First off, that stat line is stupid good. 60 team sacks, including four players with 9.5-or-more sacks (Trevor Pryce, Adalius Thomas, Bart Scott, Terrell Suggs).  The team also had three players with five-or-more interceptions (Chris McAlister, Dawan Landry, Ed Reed) and saw five of their 28 interceptions get returned for touchdowns. From a production stand point, it doesn’t get much better than this.

The 2006 Ravens defense was coordinated by (then) defensive mastermind Rex Ryan. Ryan has been argued to be the best Defensive Coordinator the Ravens have ever had, and this 2006 squad certainly helps to back-up this claim. In fact, the 2006 defense was perhaps the reason Ryan was able to take the job as the eventual New York Jets Head Coach following the 2008 season. As the saying goes, “strike while the iron is hot.”

When looking at the 2006 unit compared to the current Ravens squad, it doesn’t seem fair on paper. Sure, the 2018 unit is on pace for 69 sacks, but we already touched on how that number is inflated. 2006 also had more than double the projected turnovers for the 2018 team. The 2006 defense employed an incredible amount of star-power, as the team featured six Pro Bowlers (Lewis, Reed, Suggs, McAlister, Thomas, Scott).

If the 2018 defense can stay on track with their projections, we can have a conversation to debate the two. However, keeping the current pace (which, again, is completed inflated after the Titans game) for sacks and PPG would make for an extremely fun argument. Defensive Coordinator Don Martindale has had too good of a time in 2018 to be overlooked, but until the season is completed the edge has to be given to 2006.

Advantage: 2006 defense

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