Are the Ravens our biggest rivals?
 

A few years back, the easy answer was the Jets, almost automatically. Since then, we've swept them last season and pretty much dominated them but the Ravens? We've found our team pretty much playing this team each year for the most part and they are ALWAYS close compretitive games.

In 2009, the Ravens trounced us hard and knock us out of the playoffs. We all expected this as this was a team riddled with injuries and had lost Welker the Sunday before in the Texans game. The Ravens were also the closest team to undo our perfect "regular" season in 2007. I remember watching that game and if I remember correctly, basically it came down to a Derrick Mason drop that pretty much ended the game.

Then there was that game in 2010, Deion's first game back with the Patriots that went into overtime with a Patriots victory. Again, another hard fought game to the end.

Keeping this in mind, I've been hearing alot of "this is Baltimore's redemption game" from the AFC playoffs last year. The Ravens were one "dropped" pass (although I personally say "defensed" pass) from making it to the Superbowl. Why? The Patriots.

What are your thoughts on this recent rivalry? There are also teams like the Steelers and Giants that could be added.

Re: Are the Ravens our biggest rivals?
 

The Steelers more so Ravens,IMO

Re: Are the Ravens our biggest rivals?
 

Aren't we something like 8-1 vs. them all-time?

the rivals:

Jets
(big gap)
Steelers, maybe Broncos now with Mr. Neckbolts
then Fins & Bills
then Ravens, Giants (lots of respect there though)

The Colts don't even make the list anymore.

Re: Are the Ravens our biggest rivals?
 

I think you are confusing rivalry with toughest current challenge.

Sure when a team is real bad the rivalries may lose a little luster but its still there and always will be.

Teams like the Ravens and Steelers and to a lesser extent the Colts have played so much the last decade that rivalries have formed but I dont know that they surpass what we have with the Jets. I say Colts to a lesser extent as they were once in our division so a Rivalary was alreasy seeded.

IMO The Jets while having come back to earth from 2 straight AFC performances they are not bad yet and so the rivalary is still peaked right now.

I think the question to ask is where would your emotions for this game be if the Ravens were 2-14 as compared to a 2-14 Jets? I would think we would be more thrilled to beatdown on the hapless Jets then the hapless Ravens.

Re: Are the Ravens our biggest rivals?
 

The Jets are the biggest rival. The Ravens are a team we must compete with for post season positioning.

Re: Are the Ravens our biggest rivals?
 

I think THIS year only, because of what happened in the playoffs last year, yes. This is one team we never seem to be able to win easily against and always end up winning ugly 01 pats style.

Re: Are the Ravens our biggest rivals?
 

It really depends on your definition of rivalry. It's hard to top a division team like the Jets for that distinction, given how often we have to play them, and the hatred between the two. But if you're going by recent years, and on the criteria of playing really good, hard fought games in big spots, the Ravens are right up there.

I don't agree with those saying the Steelers are further up, because though the hatred aspect is there, in all the big spots this decade, we've beaten them. That doesn't make a rivalry in my eyes.

The Colts was never really a rivalry with the Colts, but more Brady vs. Manning and Belichick vs. Manning. That individual rivalry is still alive and well, since we get to play Denver this year.

Re: Are the Ravens our biggest rivals?
 

No it's still the Jets. Considering how much this board talks about them that much should be obvious.

Re: Are the Ravens our biggest rivals?
 

I would say that in order for a team to be classified as your rival, you have to have a built in hatred for that team, a la Sox/Yankees.

Re: Are the Ravens our biggest rivals?
 

I know currently the Bills and Dolphins have not brought it the same as in the past but let me ask you this. Has anything that has gone on between the us and the Steelers, Colts, and Ravens caused you any more anxt then Shula did for decades in MIA or like Bruce Smith and Jim Kelly did?

I left out the Giants because clearly they have caused more anxt then anyone ever could and there is the NY rival thing too but the problem there is we just dont play enough.

I left the Broncos off becaue despite not being in our division they are the team that has beat us more then any other team in NFL history. This stat is a few years old and I am not positive if it was winning percentage or actual number of wins. I also think of the torment Elway gave us for decades and IMO this is the only non-Division team on the top 5 list other then the Colts who were once in the division.

My top 5 would go like this
1) Jets - Since Tuna went there this has been as hot a rival as there is and with them still clinging to playoff hopes they are a contending team with history of anomosity.
2) Bills - they are ahead of the Dolphins for 2 reasons, right now the Dolphins suck and based on age Kelly and Smith tortured me more than Shula and Marino
3) Dolphins - Some huge games vs the Dolphins even this decade where the Dolphins havent been the biggest comp. Plus stories of Shula and the few years of torment from Marino and Him are enough.
4) Broncos - The afformentioned record vs us and the Sharpe Call the National Guard comments are enough for me, not to mention handing the Dynasty its first playoff loss.
5) Colts - Former division team and the decade long Brady-Manning duals make this round out the list.

then I would say Giants, Steelers, Ravens in that order. Though I think you get away from rivals when you make the list 8 deep as calling a third of the league your rival kind of waters down the term.