Top 30 teams in NFL history

Top 30 NFL teams in history

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 9: Quarterback Terry Bradshaw #12 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks to pass as snow falls during a game against the Baltimore Colts at Three Rivers Stadium on December 9, 1978 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Colts 35-13. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

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BALTIMORE, MD – DECEMBER 10: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens in action against the San Diego Chargers during an NFL football game December 10, 2000 at PSINet Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Lewis played for the Ravens from 1996-2012. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

24. 2000 Baltimore Ravens

Before you start yelling, yes the Ravens offense wasn’t good. That is fully understood. That said, they fielded the second best defense in NFL history, and that cannot go unrecognized.

So let’s start with the offense, because yes, it wasn’t great. They had the 22nd best passing attack in the league at just over 2,800 yards passing. Their run game, though, was really good. They were the fifth best rushing team in the NFL. They ran for 2,200 yards on the season behind a very solid offensive line.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about that ungodly defense. They allowed just 165 points throughout the entire season, and led the NFL with a staggering 49 takeaways. There was a four game stretch in which Baltimore held their opponents to point totals of zero, seven, three, and seven points, respectively. That is absurd.

Baltimore played in four playoff games, including the Super Bowl- they allowed a combined 23 points in those four games. They defeated the Giants and won their first Super Bowl in franchise history behind their historic defense. Aside from a defense we will discuss later on, it is the best defense in NFL history.

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