Super Bowl XXXV

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants 34-7 in Super Bowl XXXV. The Ravens had come into existence when Art Modell moved the old Cleveland Browns to Baltimore following the 1995 season. The city of Cleveland took legal action against the NFL, an agreement was reached to give Cleveland a new team in 1999, but that team would retain all of the Browns records and history. Therefore, Modell's team was given a new name, the Ravens, and team history. In winning the Super Bowl, the Ravens became the third ever wild card team to win a Super Bowl championship, joining the 1980 Oakland Raiders and the 1997 Denver Broncos. This game also marked the first time that both teams scored kickoff return touchdowns on consecutive plays.

Quote the Raven linebacker nevermore

During Super Bowl XXXIV week the previous season, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was caught up in a murder case where he and two others were originally arrested by Atlanta police. In June, he was allowed to agree to a plea bargain for reduced charges in exchange for testimony against the other two men. Lewis became vilified by the national media for his involvement in the incident, and used this as motivation to raise his game and the level of his team to unprecedented heights. The Ravens wound up establishing league records for fewest points allowed and fewest yards rushing allowed. Lewis won Super Bowl MVP honors.

Fassell goes all-in

The Giants season seemed to be slipping away midway through the campaign when they fell to a 7-4 record. Then, head coach Jim Fassell held a press conference in which he tried to take all the pressure off his team by guaranteeing they would make the playoffs. He used a poker analogy by stating that he was "all-in", meaning that if they failed to qualify for post-season play, he knew it would likely cost him his job. The Giants won their last five games to win the NFC East. Then after defeating Philadelphia in the division round, they shut out the Minnesota Vikings 41-0 in the NFC Championship Game.