Our Baltimore Ravens Fan Guide provides some great background for the new fan and some highlights of past glories for past fans. Enjoy!
Baltimore Ravens Fan Guide
The Baltimore Ravens, as we know them today, are a fairly young franchise. Baltimore did have another football team before the Ravens: the Baltimore Colts. Following a major payoff from the city of Indianapolis, the team packed up and moved in the wee hours of the night on March 29, 1984, officially becoming the Indianapolis Colts.
The current team, established in 1996 by Art Modell, former team owner of the Cleveland Browns, decided to move his team from Ohio to Baltimore, Maryland. This makes the Ravens the second-largest Cleveland emigrant after LeBron James.
Top Ravens Traditions
Like many stadiums, each Ravens game is prefaced with a series of announcements, one of which is focused on fan behavior. Following the “12th Man” guidelines, the announcer finishes with a final advisory of “don’t be a jerk,” to which all fans scream back, “don’t be a jerk!” Ravens fans do, in fact, have a moral compass.
On game days, there is nothing better for a fan to experience than Ravens Walk, which is a huge strip of tailgates. Fans must pay for entry, but with so few bars and restaurants around, there really is no other place to be before kickoff.
Check out: Lamar Jackson FAQs.
Baltimore Ravens Game Grub
- Pit beef sandwich – Pit beef is a local favorite in Baltimore. Forget the burgers and hot dogs; this is what fans are cooking up on game day.
- Old Bay anything – Old Bay is the crowd-favorite season in Baltimore. We put it on everything from French fries to chicken wings to crabs.
- Crab dip – there is nothing better than Baltimore crabs, especially when you add hot cheese. Forget the chips; you can eat this with a spoonful.
- Orange Crush – this drink has an adult twist to your childhood favorite and is perfect for warm, early-season games. Mix orange juice, vodka, triple sec, and soda for a strong cooldown.
- $3 hot dogs! Ravens Stadium has recently slashed concession prices, making their food and drink some of the most affordable of any NFL team. With $5 beer and $3 hot dogs, you don’t have to choose your favorite kid – take the whole family to the game!
Best Ravens Twitter Accounts
Ravens Rivalries
Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: This rivalry is considered to be one of the most intense and best in the NFL. The Steelers’ traditional rival was the Cleveland Browns, but when Art Modell moved that team to Baltimore, the rivalry came.
Ravens vs. Indianapolis Colts: This rivalry is fueled by the former Baltimore franchise leaving in the middle of the night for Indianapolis. During Ravens’ home games against the Colts, the scoreboard will simply list Indianapolis as the “Away” team.
Best Raven Jerseys
Given that the Baltimore Ravens have only been around for a couple of decades, their jerseys have remained very much unchanged over the years. However, some of the most popular numbers to rock on game day are:
- 52 – Ray Lewis
- 5 – Joe Flacco
- 8 – Lamar Jackson
- 9 – Justin Tucker
- 57- CJ Mosley
Baltimore Football Talking Points
- Has Lamar Jackson redefined the QB role? In a word: Yes. His 2nd year breakout season showcases just what kind of star he is and can be. Check out Lamar Jackson’s Quotes.
- Will the Ravens ever make the postseason again? The Ravens have missed the playoffs for three straight seasons, which is the first time that’s happened since their first three years of existence (1996 – 1998).
That Ravens Logo
Following a copyright infringement case for their very first logo, the Ravens posted a poll in the Baltimore Sun which asked fans to choose their favorite of three logos. The primary logo became the iconic profile of the Raven with the letter B, and the secondary logo became the shield image, which honors the Calvert and Crossland emblems that are also featured on the Maryland flag.
Check out: NFL Logos Ranked Worst To First.
Raven Names from the Past
- Ray Lewis – Ray Lewis is simply the face of the ravens. His iconic Squirrel Dance is a fan favorite, and it has been immortalized in a statue outside of the stadium. Lewis was known for his powerful pump-up speeches before each game and is the most decorated player in Ravens history.
- Ed Reed – As the NFL’s all-time leader in interception return yardage, Ed Reed is a dynamic and quintessential game-changer. In addition to his return yardage record, Reed also has the two longest interception returns in NFL history.
- Jamal Lewis – The best skill-position player the Ravens have ever had, Jamal Lewis averaged 1,300 rushing yards and 7.5 rushing touchdowns per season. Even after what should have been a career-ending injury, Lewis set the record for rushing yards in one game.
- Terrell Suggs – One of the most impactful Ravens of all time. Suggs was named the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2003 and the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. He is also the franchise leader in career sacks, sack yardage, and forced fumbles. In addition to all of his accomplishments, Suggs was an indisputable leader in the locker room.
Players to Watch Now
- Lamar Jackson – With the arrival of Jackson, Joe Flacco faces a real threat to his starting quarterback position for the first time in his 10-year career with the Ravens.
- Alex Collins – Collins burst onto the scene midseason last year as an explosive playmaker. This will be his first full year as a starting running back, and big things are expected from him.
Ravens Coach John Harbaugh
John Harbaugh has served as head coach for the Baltimore Ravens since 2008. Before his time with the Ravens, Harbaugh served as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. He took the job with the Ravens with no head coaching experience under his belt. Despite that, he is the only head coach to win a playoff game in each of his first five seasons.
Jim faced and beat his brother Jim, former head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, in the 2013 Super Bowl. Jim Harbaugh is now the head coach of the University of Michigan football team.
Ravens Ownership
Art Modell, the mastermind behind moving the franchise from Cleveland to Baltimore, remained the majority owner of the Baltimore Ravens until the team began experiencing strong financial hardships.
The League directed Modell to initiate the team’s sale, and in 2000, NFL owners approved a 49 percent stake in the team to be held by Steve Bisciotti. The deal included an option for Bisciotti to purchase the remaining 51 percent from Modell in 2004; this deal was approved, making Steve Bisciotti the current majority owner of the Baltimore Ravens.
Fantasy Football Team Names for the Ravens
- Brawltimore.
- That’s So Ravens.
- Flacco Seagulls. (Okay, he’s left. But it’s still a great name.)
Also, Check out:
Ravens Quotes
Anything said by Raven’s hypeman, Ray Lewis:
“Whatever you want to do, go do it.”
“The hardest thing to do is to work hard when no one’s watching.”
“All I know is GRIND.”
“There is a difference between conceit and confidence. Conceit is bragging about yourself. Confidence means you believe you can get the job done.”
– Johnny Unitas
Baltimore Ravens Joke
What do you call a crime ring in Baltimore?
A huddle.
Following the Ravens
Where do they play?
Ravens Stadium broke new ground in 1996, and in 2003, M&T Bank acquired the naming rights. Following the death of Baltimore Ravens legend Johnny Unitas in 2002, many wanted to see the new stadium named for him.
A compromise was reached in naming the plaza in front of the main entrance “Unitas Plaza,” complete with a statue of the Baltimore icon.
How to get Baltimore home game tickets:
- Not Craigslist.
- Tons of ticketing options, but you can usually find some great deals on Stubhub.
Ravens 2018 – 2019 Football Schedule
Preseason Games
8/9 – Baltimore Ravens vs. Los Angeles Rams
8/20 – Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts
Week 3 – Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins (game date and time TBD)
8/30 – Baltimore Ravens at Washington Redskins
Regular Season Games
September
9/9 – Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills
9/13 – Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
9/23 – Baltimore Ravens vs. Denver Broncos
9/30 – Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
October
10/07 – Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns
10/14 – Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans
10/21 – Ravens vs. New Orleans Saints
10/28 – Baltimore Ravens at Carolina Panthers
November
11/04 – Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
11/18 – Baltimore vs. Cincinnati Bengals
11/25 – Baltimore Ravens vs. Oakland Raiders
December
12/2 – Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons
12/9 – Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs
12/16 – Ravens vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 15 – Baltimore Ravens at Los Angeles Chargers
12/30 – Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns
— By Katie Kanner
Katie’s family roots groomed a healthy obsession with New York sports; personal roots created an appreciation for Maryland teams (and Old Bay).
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