What Was Best Start in Ravens History?

What Was the Best Start to a Season in Ravens History?

News March 2, 2023

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.

BetMGM Sportsbook

BetMGM Sportsbook 1ST BET INSURANCE

Join BetMGM and get your first wager paid back in Free Bets if it doesn't win, up to $1,500.
$1,500 Insurance get bonus
USAWAGER
Terms and Conditions apply

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 1Win (27-0)at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 2Win (28-6)vs Oakland Raiders
Week 3Win (15-14)at Cleveland Browns
Week 4Win (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.

Ravens 2006 Season

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 5Loss (13-3)at Denver Broncos
Week 6Loss (23-21)vs Carolina Panthers
Week 7Bye WeekBye 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.

DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings Sportsbook SPECIAL OFFER

Sign up to DraftKings Maryland and bet $5 to get $200 instantly!
Bet $5, Get $200 get bonus
Terms and Conditions apply

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 8Win (35-22)at New Orleans Saints
Week 9Win (26-20)vs Cincinnati Bengals
Week 10Win (27-26)at Tennessee Titans
Week 11Win (24-10)vs Atlanta Falcons
Week 12Win (27-0)vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 13Loss (13-7)at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 14Win (20-10)at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 15Win (27-17)vs Cleveland Browns
Week 16Win (31-7)at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 17Win (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.

Steve McNair Ravens

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.

Colts v Ravens 2006

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 Game22.1
Points Conceded Per Game12.6
Top RusherJamal Lewis
Top ReceiverMark Clayton
Top PasserSteve McNair
Number of Sacks60 (NFL record)
Preseason Odds+2500 (25/1)
BetMGM Sportsbook

BetMGM Sportsbook 1ST BET INSURANCE

Join BetMGM and get your first wager paid back in Free Bets if it doesn't win, up to $1,500.
$1,500 Insurance get bonus
USAWAGER
Terms and Conditions apply
FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel Sportsbook SPECIAL OFFER

Join FanDuel and place your first $5 bet to get $200 in Bonus Bets - win or lose!
Bet $5, Get $200 get bonus
Terms and Conditions apply
DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings Sportsbook SPECIAL OFFER

Sign up to DraftKings Maryland and bet $5 to get $200 instantly!
Bet $5, Get $200 get bonus
Terms and Conditions apply
Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars Sportsbook SPECIAL OFFER

Use code MDEXPERT1000 when you sign up and get up to $1,000 back in Bonus Bets if your first bet loses.
$1,000 on Caesars get bonus
MDEXPERT1000
Terms and Conditions apply
BetRivers Sportsbook

BetRivers Sportsbook 2ND CHANCE

Sign up to BetRivers Maryland and make a first bet. If your first bet loses, get a 2nd Chance Bet up to $500!
2nd Chance Bet get bonus
Terms and Conditions apply
PointsBet Sportsbook

PointsBet Sportsbook SECOND CHANCE

Get up to five $50 Bet Credits matching your first Fixed Odds cash bet if it loses (1 per day for 5 days).
5x Second Chance Bet get bonus
Terms and Conditions apply

Maryland Betting Experts
Logo