We take a look back at the Baltimore Ravens’ best ever start to a season, including the key players, record-breaking statistics and the franchise’s fate that season.
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The 2022 NFL season was far from memorable for Ravens fans.
The regular season featured ongoing contract negotiations (which are STILL ongoing) between the Ravens and Lamar Jackson. During this time, the Ravens managed to sneak their way into a Wild Card game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Unfortunately, the Bengals prevailed. This signalled the end of a bog-standard season for Ravens fans.
But an unconvincing season does prompt one thing. Hopes and aspirations ahead of the following season. And what better way to build excitement and hope for the coming 2023/2024 season than to take a look back at the Ravens best ever start to an NFL season.
Baltimore Ravens Best Ever Start to the Season
The year is 2006. Roger Goodell begins his reign as NFL commissioner. Tiger Woods shoots the lowest final round of his career with a 63 (-8) in the Deutsche Bank Championship. The Baltimore Ravens begin the season in record-breaking fashion.
Baltimore Ravens 2006: Week 1 to Week 4
| Week 1 | Win (27-0) | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Week 2 | Win (28-6) | vs Oakland Raiders |
| Week 3 | Win (15-14) | at Cleveland Browns |
| Week 4 | Win (16-13) | vs San Diego Chargers |
The four results from Week 1 to Week 4, as listed above, resulted in the best ever start to a Baltimore Ravens season.
In incredible fashion, Baltimore began the season with a shutout against Tampa Bay. A fairly routine victory against Oakland followed. Then, Baltimore’s strength shone through with two marginal victories against Cleveland and San Diego.
The second best starts to a Ravens season were back in 2009 and, more recently, 2016. Both of those seasons began 3-0.
Baltimore Ravens 2006: Week 5 to Week 7
Ok, now this is when the wheels looked like they may be falling off. In the two games leading up to the Ravens’ bye week, two defeats were recorded.
| Week 5 | Loss (13-3) | at Denver Broncos |
| Week 6 | Loss (23-21) | vs Carolina Panthers |
| Week 7 | Bye Week | Bye Week |
This was a stage of the season to forget for Baltimore faithfuls. The bye week came, which was a blessing in disguise for the franchise.
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Baltimore Ravens 2006: Week 8 to Week 17
After the best start to a season in Baltimore Ravens history, the team seemed to have crumbled in Week 5. After a bye week rest, it was time to amp it up once again in Baltimore.
| Week 8 | Win (35-22) | at New Orleans Saints |
| Week 9 | Win (26-20) | vs Cincinnati Bengals |
| Week 10 | Win (27-26) | at Tennessee Titans |
| Week 11 | Win (24-10) | vs Atlanta Falcons |
| Week 12 | Win (27-0) | vs Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Week 13 | Loss (13-7) | at Cincinnati Bengals |
| Week 14 | Win (20-10) | at Kansas City Chiefs |
| Week 15 | Win (27-17) | vs Cleveland Browns |
| Week 16 | Win (31-7) | at Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Week 17 | Win (19-7) | vs Buffalo Bills |
Yes, the Ravens managed to turn it back around in a positive direction. Well, positive is an understatement.
Baltimore recorded nine wins from their remaining 10 games. One highlight was yet ANOTHER shutout, by 27 points once again, but this time against the Steelers. Another was a convincing 31-7 victory over the Steelers once more – this time in their own back yard.
The only loss in the final stretch of games came in Cincinnati. The Bengals defeated Baltimore in a low-scoring game in Week 13.
Baltimore Ravens 2006: Postseason
The best ever start to a Ravens season ended with a 13-3 regular season record. Very impressive.
But the 2006 season came to an abrupt end at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts in the Divisional Playoffs. The game ended 15-6.
Indianapolis, led by star quarterback Peyton Manning, went on to actually win the Super Bowl that season. They won Super Bowl XLI against the Chicago Bears in Florida.
Baltimore Ravens 2006 Season Stats
Some notable stats from the best ever start to a season in Baltimore Ravens history.
| Points Per Game | 22.1 |
| Points Conceded Per Game | 12.6 |
| Top Rusher | Jamal Lewis |
| Top Receiver | Mark Clayton |
| Top Passer | Steve McNair |
| Number of Sacks | 60 (NFL record) |
| Preseason Odds | +2500 (25/1) |
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