It was the 2000 season. The Ravens had just come off their first non-losing season in franchise history. There was reason to be optimistic. The team fielded a rapidly developing defense spearheaded by Ray Lewis, guided by Marvin Lewis. They had a brash new head coach in the form of Brian Billick, who not only invited but tantalized a newly discovered team swagger. Surely the 2000 season would be the franchise’s best and just maybe, they might knock on the door of the playoffs.
But no one saw a Super Bowl berth or a World Championship coming.