Editing Baltimore Ravens (section)

====2009–2011====
{{main|2009 Baltimore Ravens season|2010 Baltimore Ravens season|2011 Baltimore Ravens season}}
[[File:Ray-Lewis-2008-Steelers-regseason-game.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Ray Lewis]] during a 2008 regular season game.]]
In [[2009 NFL season|2009]], the Ravens won their first three games, then lost the next three, including a close match in [[2009 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota]]. The rest of the season was an uneven string of wins and losses, which included a home victory over Pittsburgh in overtime followed by a Monday Night loss in [[2009 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay]]. That game was notable for the number of penalties committed, costing a total of 310 yards, and almost tying with the record set by [[1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|Tampa Bay]] and [[1976 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle]] in [[1976 NFL season|1976]]. Afterwards, the Ravens easily crushed the [[2009 Detroit Lions season|Lions]] and [[2009 Chicago Bears season|Bears]], giving up less than ten points in both games. The next match was against the [[2009 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Steelers]], where Baltimore lost a close one before beating the [[2009 Oakland Raiders season|Raiders]] to end the season. With a record of 9–7, the team finished second in the division and gained another wild card. Moving into the playoffs, they overwhelmed the [[2009 New England Patriots season|Patriots]] 33–14;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wild Card – Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots – January 10th, 2010 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201001100nwe.htm |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> nevertheless they did not reach the AFC Championship because they were routed 20–3 by the [[2009 Indianapolis Colts season|Colts]] in the Divisional Round a week later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round – Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts – January 16th, 2010 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201001160clt.htm |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2009 Baltimore Ravens Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/rav/2009.htm |access-date=August 16, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Baltimore managed to beat the Jets 10–9 on the 2010 opener, but then lost a poorly played game against Cincinnati the following week. The Ravens rebounded against the other two division teams, beating Cleveland 24–17 in Week 3 and then. The Ravens scored a fine win (31–17) at home against Denver in Week 5. The Ravens finished the season 12–4, second in the division due to a tiebreaker with Pittsburgh, and earning a wild card spot. Baltimore headed to Kansas City and defeated the Chiefs 30–7, but once again were knocked from the playoffs by Pittsburgh in a hard-fought game 31–24.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wild Card – Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs – January 9th, 2011 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201101090kan.htm |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round – Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers – January 15th, 2011 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201101150pit.htm |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2010 Baltimore Ravens Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/rav/2010.htm |access-date=August 16, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Terrell Suggs 2011 stadium practice.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Terrell Suggs]] during practice in 2011.]]
The Ravens hosted their arch-enemy in Week 1 of the 2011 season. On a hot, humid day in M&T Bank Stadium, crowd noise and multiple Steelers mistakes allowed Baltimore to crush them with four touchdowns 35–7. The frustrated Pittsburgh players also committed several costly penalties. Thus, the Ravens had gained their first-ever victory over the Steelers with Ben Roethlisberger playing and avenged themselves of repeated regular and postseason losses in the series.

But in Week 2, the Ravens collapsed in Tennessee and lost 26–13. They rebounded by routing the Rams in Week 3 and then overpowering the Jets 34–17 in Week 4.
Week 5, the Ravens had a bye week, following a game against the Texans. But in Week 7, Baltimore had a stunning MNF upset loss in Jacksonville as they were held to one touchdown in a 12–7 loss. Their final scoring drive failed as Joe Flacco threw an interception in the closing seconds of the game.

[[File:Jarret Johnson.jpg|thumb|190px|[[Jarret Johnson]] spent nine seasons with the Ravens from 2003 to 2011.]]
After beating the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17 of the regular season, the Ravens advanced to the playoffs as the Number 2 seed in the AFC with a record of 12–4.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2011 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2011/ |access-date=August 16, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2011 Baltimore Ravens Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/rav/2011.htm |access-date=August 16, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> They gained the distinction of AFC North Champions over Pittsburgh (12–4) due to a tie-breaker.<ref name="j520">{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |title=Ravens' playoff lament: On the road again |website=pennlive |date=January 5, 2011 |url=https://www.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2011/01/ravens_playoff_lament_on_the_r.html |access-date=July 31, 2024}}</ref>

Ravens' Lee Evans was stripped of a 14-yard touchdown pass by the Patriots Sterling Moore with 22 seconds left and Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff pushed a 32-yard field goal attempt wide left on fourth down as the Patriots held on to beat the Ravens 23–20 during the AFC championship game and advance to Super Bowl XLVI.<ref name="v220">{{cite web |last=Reagan |first=James |title=Baltimore Ravens Suffer Heartbreaking 23–20 Loss to New England Patriots |website=Bleacher Report |date=January 23, 2012 |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1034665-ravens-suffer-heartbreaking-23-20-loss-to-patriots |access-date=July 31, 2024}}</ref>