This defense is a really good defense, but comparing it to the 2000 D is crazy. Is this Defense even the best in the league this year? Not statistically. Have they broken any records like the 2000 unit? No. So let's chill. The equalizer is that our offense is better now, unfortunately our special teams are a tad worse in my opinion (no Jermaine Lewis) so it'll be interesting to see how it all shakes out. Mike am I off base here?

Yes, the comparison thing is kind of silly. I recall the debate near the end of last was "What team is better, the '85 Bears or the '07 Patriots?" I think the Superbowl answered that question. Win a ring first, then start debating.

there is no debate here. the 2000 defense remains one of the best in nfl history. how many shutouts did they pitch that season? that defensive line used to MAUL people. thats why i lol'd when i saw the latest poll.

Excuse me, did he say "couple of weeks?!"

As in, we'll have to see how they are playing in a couple of weeks... as in, when the Ravens are still in it... as per Fisher's prediction?

woo hoo?

it's so many years later, but i used to love the old school AFC Central. some great match-ups.

people forget about titans-ravens monday night football in nashville hwen mcnair got stopped at the goal line at the end of the game.

i used to hate the titans more than the steelers back then; it was a bigger rivalry 99-2002. things are a lot different now, but people can't forget about that.

how bout billick at halftime of the divisional not talking about what he would do in second half cause he knew they would play it on the tron.

and the point of writing this post....
You are soooooo suspect man. Find something to write about that Ravens fans (we are the target audience) actually want to read Mike, damn!!! That's what Fisher was supposed to say!!! What did you expect Mike?

Gimme a break, Mike. The fans are not leading off their Sports sections with comparison articles every year, the Sun is.

anyway, we're fans. We discuss whatever we like.

The defecits that we have versus 2000 is no legitimate KR/PR threat and no consistent yardage production from the TE position.

Positives are our OC and his playbook and a QB that WILL help to establish the Ravens as a threat to win the AFC North year after year after year.

We can't lose, baby! Speakin' of 2000 members, is cue-ball Q[uadry Ismail] talkin' good about us? Just wonderin'.

Agreed. No comparison at this point. Go back and watch some film of that defense and they just kicked the crap out of everyone they played. There were no 4th quarter 90 yard drives against that D.

Billick was on Sirius NFL Radio this AM and he said he has a tremendous amount of respect for Fisher and that if he were an owner that got to pick any head coach, Fisher would be at the top of that list. Interesting words from Billick considering that he and Fisher (supposedly) do not like one another.

You think the titans and fischer are telling like it is that Mawae won't play on Saturday? If so that would appear to be a big boost for the Ravens since centers make a lot of calls on the offensive line. Ngata and the boys can then open lanes for us to POUND collins into throwing four picks just like the defense did in 00!

The ravens identity to date is defense because of Rex, Ray and the rest of the meanest toughest bunch of beasts in the NFL. I think fischer is right saying let them win the whole thing first before saying how great they are but we are always going to compare our defense to the best that ever played.

I'm looking forward to the Flacco unitas comparison's someday. Heck it only took ROMO 4 games to be compared to the greatest ever, after 5 wins the bowl one can only imagine the comparisons.

The 2000 defense was perhaps the best ever, but the offense that year flat-out blew chunks!! They were miserable to watch and went 4 games without a touchdown.

This year they are much more balanced, fun to watch, and opposing defensive coordinators have to deal with a 3-headed running monster, various trick plays, etc.

The biggest difference though is the 2000 group were made up of mostly high-paid veterans, who took off soon afterward. There wasn't much home-grown talent like we have today.

The 2000 Baltimore Bully's were Super, but I'll take the present group, thank you ;)

The edge clearly goes to the 2000 defense. Heck, they allowed five fewer points per game during the regular season. And, yes, they got the hardwell as well. Funny, despite what many people think, that defense was also not the mostly highly rated that year. It was 2nd to Tennessee. This year, of course, it is 2nd to the Squealers.

This '08-'09 defense is as good as a defense gets. With all our injuries, refs giving a game away here giving a game away there, and no bye week we've done as well as can be expected. Our depth is far greater than ever before. Ray is far happier than ever, and as Ray goes so go the Ravens. Our defense's only negative is the last 4 minutes of some games. Well that's a big problem with most teams. But now that we are down to these 1 game at a time for the season and the Superbowl, you can bet the Ravens defense will be there for 60 minutes and even more if needed. Fisher still has dreams of the '00 season when his team crushed us and still lost by what 20 or so points. Don't think that's not rolling around his mind, along with the fact that the Ravens have rounded into a top NFL team and they are comming to town. GO RAVENS !