Heading into last night, no one doubted that the Baltimore Ravens were the best defensive team in the NFL. But the Ravens took it a step further in Superbowl XXXV, becoming the league's best team overall by putting together a 34-point effort while limiting the New York Giants to just seven.
Earlier this season, the Ravens had gone five straight games without a touchdown. Just two weeks ago, Giants quarterback Kerry Collins threw five touchdowns in a 41-0 thrashing of the Minnesota Vikings. But that was all quickly forgotten last night, when the Giants became the latest victim of a stellar Baltimore defense and the Ravens proved they could get the job done offensively when it mattered.
A rare touchdown pass from Trent Dilfer to Brandon Stokley eight minutes into the contest put the Ravens up by seven. Defense prevailed for the majority of the half, though, as there were a total of 12 punts in the first 30 minutes of play. Neither quarterback could find a rhythm, and both teams' running games were held in check by the expected aggressive defenses. Heading into the locker room with the Ravens up 10-0, the game seemed destined to be the low-scoring, defense-fueled contest that everyone had expected.
The start of the second half was no different, as neither team could muster any sort of scoring drive through the first ten minutes of the third quarter. Ravens defensive back Duane Starks picked off Collins late in the period, however, running it back for a touchdown that would begin a stretch of 36 seconds during which more than half of the game's points were scored.
On the ensuing kickoff, Ron Dixon tied his own postseason record with a 97-yard return for a touchdown and breathed life back into New York fans across the country.
But the quick pangs of hope for the Giants lasted a mere 17 seconds. Baltimore's Jermaine Lewis reversed the game's momentum while returning the next kickoff, evading numerous tackles, skirting the sidelines, and racing into the Giants' end zone for a touchdown. What began as a defensive struggle quickly became a 24-7 romp, and the Ravens never allowed the Giants to stage a comeback, tightening up their defense and making Collins look like a rookie in his first NFL start.
The four interceptions thrown by Collins tied a Superbowl record, shattering any chances for the Giants to pose a threat. Dilfer did not put up impressive numbers either, going 12-25 for 153 yards, but rookie Jamal Lewis picked up the slack with 101 yards rushing and a fourth-quarter touchdown that put the game out of reach. The debatable three-yard effort, in which Lewis lost the ball just after crossing the end zone plane, put the Ravens up 31-7, also making Lewis the only rookie in NFL history to have scored a rushing touchdown in the Superbowl.
The hobbled Tiki Barber, with his left arm still in a cast, was unable to put up similar numbers for the Giants, picking up a mere 47 yards on 11 attempts. Barber's efforts epitomized the offensive struggles of the Giants all night, as the record-setting Ravens' defense - led by the volatile Ray Lewis - shut their opponents down on nearly every drive. Lewis, who did not let the persistent media questions affect his game, won the MVP honors.
Just one year removed from an offensively dominated Superbowl, the Ravens proved that defense does in fact win championships. But by showing some offensive liveliness as well, they will be looked upon as the team to beat for years to come.
