Editing Baltimore Ravens (section)

====2001–2007====
In [[2001 NFL season|2001]], the Ravens attempted to defend their title with [[Elvis Grbac]] as their new starting quarterback, but a season-ending injury to [[Jamal Lewis (American football)|Jamal Lewis]] on the first day of training camp and poor offensive performances stymied the team. After a 3–3 start, the Ravens defeated the [[Minnesota Vikings]] in the final week to clinch a wild card berth at 10–6. In the first round the Ravens showed flashes of their previous year with a 20–3 win over the [[Miami Dolphins]], in which the team forced three turnovers and outgained the Dolphins 347 yards to 151.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wild Card – Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins – January 13th, 2002 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200201130mia.htm |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> In the divisional playoff the Ravens played the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]. Three interceptions by Grbac ended the Ravens' season, as they lost 27–10.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round – Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers – January 20th, 2002 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200201200pit.htm |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Baltimore ran into [[salary cap]] problems entering the 2002 season and was forced to part with a number of impactful players. In the NFL Draft, the team selected [[Ed Reed]] with the 24th overall pick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2002 Baltimore Ravens Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/rav/2002_draft.htm |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Reed would go on to become one of the best safeties in NFL history, making nine Pro Bowls until leaving the Ravens for the Houston Texans in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ed Reed Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/ReedEd00.htm |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Despite low expectations, the Ravens stayed somewhat competitive in 2002 until a losing streak in December eliminated any chances of a postseason berth and a 7–9 finish.

[[File:Brian Billick & Coach Zauner.jpg|thumb|240px|Coach [[Gary Zauner]] (front) and [[Brian Billick]] with the Baltimore Ravens in 2003.]]
In [[2003 Baltimore Ravens season|2003]], the Ravens drafted their new quarterback, [[Kyle Boller]], but he was injured midway through the season and was replaced by [[Anthony Wright (quarterback)|Anthony Wright]]. Jamal Lewis ran for 2,066 yards (including a then-NFL record 295 yards in one game against the [[2003 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] on September 14). With a 10–6 record, Baltimore won their first [[AFC North]] division title. Their first playoff game, at home against the [[2003 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee Titans]], went back and forth, with the Ravens being held to only 54 yards total rushing. The Titans won 20–17 on a late field goal, and Baltimore's season ended early.

Ray Lewis was also named Defensive Player of the year for the second time in his career.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2003 Awards Voting |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/awards_2003.htm |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2003, [[Art Modell]] sold 49% of the team to [[Steve Bisciotti]], a local businessman who had made his fortune in the temporary staffing field. After the season, Art Modell sold his remaining 51% ownership to Bisciotti, ending over 40 years of tenure as an NFL franchise owner.

The Ravens did not make the playoffs in [[2004 Baltimore Ravens season|2004]] and finished the season with a record of 9–7 with Boller spending the season at QB. They did get good play from veteran corner [[Deion Sanders]] and third-year safety [[Ed Reed]], who won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. They were also the only team to defeat the 15–1 [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in the regular season.
The next off-season, the Ravens looked to augment their receiving corps (which was second-worst in the NFL in 2004) by signing [[Derrick Mason]] from the Titans and drafting Oklahoma wide receiver [[Mark J. Clayton|Mark Clayton]] in the first round of the [[2005 NFL draft]]. However, the Ravens ended their season 6–10.

[[File:DerrickMason.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Derrick Mason]] played mainly as the Ravens No. 1 receiver from 2005 through 2010.]]
The 2006 Baltimore Ravens season began with the team trying to improve on their 6–10 record of 2005. The Ravens, for the first time in franchise history, started 4–0, under the leadership of former Titans quarterback [[Steve McNair]].

In [[2006 Baltimore Ravens season|2006]], The Ravens lost two straight games midseason on offensive troubles, prompting coach Billick to drop their offensive coordinator [[Jim Fassel]] in their week seven bye. After the bye, and with Billick calling the offense, Baltimore would record a five-game win streak before losing to the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] in week 13. Still ranked second overall to first place [[San Diego Chargers]], the Ravens continued on. They defeated the [[Kansas City Chiefs]], and held the defending Super Bowl champion [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] to only one touchdown at [[Heinz Field]], allowing the Ravens to clinch the [[AFC North]].

The Ravens ended the regular season with a franchise-best 13–3 record.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2006 Baltimore Ravens Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/rav/2006.htm |access-date=August 16, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2006 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2006/ |access-date=August 16, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Baltimore had secured the AFC North title, the No. 2 AFC playoff seed, and clinched a 1st-round bye by season's end. The Ravens were slated to face the [[Indianapolis Colts]] in the second round of the playoffs, in the first meeting of the two teams in the playoffs. Many Baltimore and Indianapolis fans saw this historic meeting as a sort of "Judgment Day" with the new team of Baltimore facing the old team of Baltimore (the former Baltimore Colts having left Baltimore under questionable circumstances in 1984). Both Indianapolis and Baltimore were held to scoring only field goals as the two defenses slugged it out all over M&T Bank Stadium. McNair threw two costly interceptions, including one at the 1-yard line. The eventual Super Bowl champion Colts won 15–6, ending Baltimore's season.<ref name="e391">{{cite web |last=Ginsburg |first=David |title=Vinatieri kicks Colts past Ravens, into AFC title game |website=Statesboro Herald |date=June 4, 2018 |url=https://www.statesboroherald.com/sports/vinatieri-kicks-colts-past-ravens-into-afc-title-game/ |access-date=August 16, 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Willis McGahee at Andrews AFB 070821-F-0000J-001 crop.jpg|thumb|left|180px|[[Willis McGahee]] played four seasons as a running back for the Ravens.]]
The Ravens hoped to improve upon their 13–3 record but injuries and poor play plagued the team. The Ravens finished the [[2007 Baltimore Ravens season|2007 season]] in the AFC North cellar with a disappointing 5–11 record.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2007 Baltimore Ravens Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/rav/2007.htm |access-date=August 16, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> A humiliating 22–16 overtime loss to the previously winless [[Miami Dolphins]] on December 16 ultimately led to Billick's dismissal after the end of the regular season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 31, 2007 |title=Ravens go for total change as Billick, staff fired |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3175037 |access-date=August 16, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref> He was replaced by [[John Harbaugh]], the special teams coach of the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] and the older brother of former Ravens quarterback Jim Harbaugh (1998).<ref name="n547">{{cite web |title=Ravens hire Harbaugh as new head coach |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/ravens-hire-harbaugh-as-new-head-coach-09000d5d80614e90 |website=[[National Football League]] |date=January 19, 2008 |access-date=August 16, 2024}}</ref>