battle-tested / bat· tle-test· ed/ a.
1. Shown to be reliable and effective by being used in war.
2. Having experienced and been toughened by battle
In late September of 2020, the Ravens found themselves in an all-too familiar position: having just lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in a primetime game, to the dread of their fans and the delight of their many detractors.
To the fans, this loss was a heartbreaker. It was a sign that despite an offseason used to bulk up their roster to compete in games like this, maybe they still didn’t belong in a conversation with the (then) defending Super Bowl Champions.