The Baltimore Ravens have their best roster ever. To prove that, here is how the current Ravens would stack up against the Ravens two Super Bowl teams:
2020 Ravens vs. 2000 Ravens:
The 2020 Baltimore Ravens clearly have a more balanced roster than the 2000 Ravens. The 2000 Ravens have a historically good defense and some pieces on the offense that make it work. This would be a very compelling battle and that shows you how good the 2000 Ravens defense really was.
The biggest problem the 2020 Ravens would have is how gap sound the 2000 defense would be. Running up the middle would be a very difficult proposition against Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa. Rob Burnett and Michael McCrary were great at setting the edge. The speed the 2000 Ravens had at their three linebacker positions was amazing. Ray Lewis would make plays all over the field.
The 2000 Ravens would be able to do what so many teams can’t afford to do against Lamar Jackson’s Ravens. They could stay in their base defense much more comfortably than just about any defense the Jackson will face. A young number 52 with Peter Boulware and Jamie Sharper could keep the 2020 offense bottled up. It would be up to Jackson to win the game with his arm.
Marquise Brown would be neutralized by Chris McAlister and Duane Starks. Marvin Lewis wouldn’t have a corner follow Brown, because both corners could get the job done. Brown may have a big play or two, but he would have his work cut out for him.
The current Ravens would be best suited in 11 personnel with Mark Ingram in the backfield and three receivers. The 2000 Ravens aren’t the team you want to use heavy personnel packages on. Greg Roman would have to spread out the defense, and get them out of their base defense as much as possible.
Mark Andrews is the weapon that would have the most success in this match-up. Lamar Jackson would lean on Andrews and need production from Devin Duvernay and Miles Boykin. This is a bad match-up for the 2020 offense but Andrews would have the ability to be the difference maker.
The 2000 Ravens would have a hard time scoring against the 2020 Ravens. A receiving corps of Qadry Ismail, Brandon Stokely and Travis Taylor wouldn’t be overly threatening to Marcus Peters, Marlon Humphrey and Tavon Young. Shannon Sharpe would make some plays but the athleticism of Patrick Queen and the football smarts of Chuck Clark would limit his production.
Jonathan Ogden would neutralize Matt Judon. The offensive line of the 2000 Ravens would give Trent Dilfer some time to throw the football. Ultimately, I just don’t see Dilfer beating the 2020 defense. I think there would be some coverage sacks and a pick or two.
The 2019 Ravens may have had the same problems with Jamal Lewis that they had with Derrick Henry. The 2020 Ravens would absolutely be ready for Lewis. Calais Campbell, Brandon Williams and Derek Wolfe would clog up the running lanes. The 2000 Ravens would have to use Priest Holmes as a receiving option out of the backfield; but the inability to run the ball would take them out of their comfort zone.
This would be a low scoring game that would be decided by turnovers. The 2000 Ravens were the most opportunistic defense Baltimore has ever had but the 2020 Ravens have some turnover specialists of their own.
Who Wins:
This would be a lot like the battle with the 49ers in 2019. It would be an ugly football game where both sides would clobber the daylights out of each other. In the end I think, I think the game has changed and Jackson would make enough happen to edge past the 2000 Ravens. The 2000 Ravens would make this an amazing battle they just won’t do enough on offense. Give me the 2020 Ravens winning 20-10.