Baltimore Ravens: All Time Top 5 Ravens Games

Aug 2, 2013; Canton, OH, USA; Historical display of 2013 enshrinee

at the Pro Footall Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

4) First Game – Sunday, September 1, 1996

The Ravens started off their inaugural season with one of the most memorable draft classes in recent memory, taking Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis in the first round.

Then, with an attendance of 64,124 at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore played their first game as they hosted the Oakland Raiders. Baltimore would go on to win the game 19-14. It seems forever ago that Ted Marchibroda was head coach and Vinny Testaverde was starting quarterback. Yeah, Vinny Testaverde. Remember him?

I think the most interesting aspect of this game was the staunch difference in how the team looks post-2000 season compared to pre-2000 season. Football statistics show that the Ravens throughout their first few seasons were the opposite of their defense-heavy/offense-weak reputation they’ve built over the years. In fact, the first four games of Baltimore’s first season, the offense was actually ranked number one while the defense was second worst in the league. Somebody please ask Ray Lewis if he remembers this. Oh how times change.