Ravens–Titans rivalry


The Ravens–Titans rivalry is a professional American football rivalry between the Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Titans in the National Football League’s American Football Conference. Originally divisional rivals in the AFC Central, the Ravens and Titans eventually moved into the AFC North and AFC South, respectively. The teams have met in the playoffs five times and are both known for their strong defensive play. The rivalry is one of the tightest in the NFL with the Ravens leading 14–13;, and the road team has won sixteen of the first twenty-seven meetings through 2023. In 2020, CBS ranked it as the No. 7 NFL rivalry of the 2000s.
Furthermore, both teams do not play every year as they play in different divisions; instead, they play once every three years and once every six seasons at each team's home stadium due to the NFL's rotating division schedules during which their respective divisions are paired up, if they meet in the playoffs, or if the two teams finish in the same place in their respective divisions, they would play each other the following season.

History

The rivalry between the Baltimore Ravens and the then-Houston Oilers began in when the Ravens were founded as a result of the Cleveland Browns' relocation to Baltimore and subsequent deactivation. The Ravens assumed Cleveland's place in the AFC Central, in which the Oilers were also a member. As divisional rivals, the Ravens played the Oilers/Titans twice a year from 1996 through, which encompassed the Oilers' move to Tennessee and name change from "Oilers" to "Titans." The teams met 13 times during these years, including once in the playoffs: a 24–10 Ravens win in the 2000 Divisional Round.
When the Houston Texans were established in, the now 32-team league realigned into four-team divisions. The Ravens were placed in the AFC North while the Titans were placed in the AFC South. As a result, the two teams would only meet sporadically from this point on. However, despite moving into separate divisions, the strong enmity that the two teams had for each other during the 2000s. The Ravens and Titans would meet in the regular season at least once every three years when the AFC North plays the AFC South in the schedule rotation. During other seasons, the Ravens and Titans would only play each other if both teams finished in the same spot in their respective divisions the prior season.
Throughout the history of the rivalry, the teams have met in the playoffs five times, with the Ravens leading 3–2. The away team has won every playoff meeting. The Titans were twice upset by the Ravens as the AFC's top seed, while the Titans upset the top-seeded Ravens in 2019.

Notable moments

  • The two teams had their first meeting at the Astrodome on September 15,, during the Ravens' first season and the Oilers' final year in Houston. For three years between and, the Ravens and the now-Titans escalated their rivalry to new heights, with numerous dirty hits and punches exchanged between players.
  • The two teams met in the playoffs for the first time on January 7, 2001. Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis intercepted a pass bobbled by Titans running back Eddie George for a fourth-quarter touchdown, sealing a 24–10 Baltimore win that helped the Ravens advance to win their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
  • On January 4, 2004, during the 2003 Wild Card Round, the Titans got revenge for their last postseason loss. While Titans quarterback Steve McNair and Ravens quarterback Anthony Wright combined for two touchdowns and five interceptions, McNair led Tennessee down the field following Wright’s score to Heap, setting up their game-winning field goal. This 20–17 win also snapped a five-game losing streak to the Ravens.
  • In 2005, the Ravens signed Derrick Mason and Samari Rolle after they were cut by the Titans.
  • In 2006, the Titans traded Steve McNair to the Ravens after locking him out of their facility during a contract dispute.
  • On January 10, 2009, in the 2008 Divisional Round, the 6th-seeded Ravens defeated the top-seeded Titans with a 13–10 victory after the Titans committed three costly turnovers, two by quarterback Kerry Collins. The Ravens won behind rookie quarterback Joe Flacco and former Titans Samari Rolle and Derrick Mason.
  • On January 11, 2020, in the 2019 Divisional Round, the 6th-seeded Titans avenged their prior playoff losses to the Ravens as the AFC's #1 seed, upsetting the top-seeded Ravens 28–12 in the divisional round behind strong performances from running back Derrick Henry, quarterback Ryan Tannehill, and the defense, which largely shut down NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.
  • On November 22, 2020, Derrick Henry scored a 29-yard rushing touchdown in overtime to give the Titans a 30–24 win. Before the game, a confrontation ensued after Titans cornerback Malcolm Butler and his teammates taunted the Ravens by yelling at their sideline from midfield.
  • On January 10, 2021, the Ravens beat the Titans in Nissan Stadium in the AFC Wild Card 20–13, ending a 2-game losing streak to the Titans, and continuing the trend of the road playoff team winning in this rivalry. After a game-sealing interception by cornerback Marcus Peters, the Ravens danced on the Titans logo at midfield, in retaliation for the Titans dancing on their logo earlier in the season.

Connections between the teams