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Ed Reed: The top 5 memorable games from his career

By Mike Reid

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 03: Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy following their 34-31 win against the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 03: Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy following their 34-31 win against the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 20: Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens runs on the field prior to the 2013 AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 20, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 20: Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens runs on the field prior to the 2013 AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 20, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

Ed Reed was the best. Here is a look at his best work:

On Saturday night Ed Reed will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The final achievement left in Reed’s masterpiece of a career will be putting on the Gold Jacket and unveiling his bust. Putting what Reed did on the field during his career into words just wouldn’t do justice, so lets highlight his career resume real quick.

64 career interceptions (7th all time)

9 career playoff interceptions (T-1st all time)

1,590 career interception return yards (1st all time)

13 career return touchdowns

9x Pro Bowls

5x 1st team All-Pro

2004 Defensive Player of the Year

Super Bowl Champion

Reed’s numbers speak for themselves. His intelligence and instincts were second to none. The respect he had from his fellow teammates and coaches was unprecedented. He was the most feared and best ball hawk defender ever, and in many people’s opinion (including myself), the greatest safety of all time. Simply put there never was, and never will be another Ed Reed.

With the career resume Ed Reed has it is difficult to narrow his most memorable games to just 5. There are just so many game-changing plays he made. When Reed made a play on defense, it usually came in an important moment of the game and almost always resulted in a Ravens win. Every fan has their favorite Ed Reed moments. There were games where he is just took over, and people will never forget where they were when watching him play. In my opinion, here are Ed Reed’s top 5 most memorable games.

 5. 2008: Sunday Night Football vs Washington Redskins

Ed Reed always seemed to play his best in prime-time games, in 2008 he absolutely dominated the Redskins on Sunday Night Football. On the third play of the game Jason Campbell was hit as he threw the ball. As the ball was fluttering in the air, Reed tracked it like a missile and made a sensational diving interception, snatching the ball inches from the ground. The pick lead to a Ravens TD, then two possessions later, Reed made the play of the game. Running back Clinton Portis run up the middle and Reed meet him and stood him up. As Portis was being tackled to the ground Reed was swiping at the ball and jarred it free.

Reed scooped it up quickly, with a nice block from Samari Rolle, Ed then dodged a couple of tackles and causally strolled backwards into the end zone. Just an unbelievable individual effort on one play, and only a play that Ed Reed could make. Reed later snagged another pick to put the game on ice later in the 4th quarter. Ravens won the game 24-10. The 14 point difference came directly from Ed Reed’s two early takeaways.

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