The Philadelphia Eagles cemented their place in history with a dominant Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, but Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe believes his 2000 Baltimore Ravens team would have given them more than they could handle.
In response to CBS Sports ranking the 2024 Eagles as the best Super Bowl champion since 2000, Sharpe made bold claims about how his Ravens team would fare against Philadelphia’s high-powered offense.
Dec 17, 2006; Baltimore, MD, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end (82) Steve Heiden stiff-arms Baltimore Ravens linebacker (52) Ray Lewis during a run after catch in the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD.
© James Lang-Imagn Images
“I guarantee you, if they let us play by the rules that they played by, not one of those offenses scores on that Ravens defense,” Sharpe declared on his podcast. “They won’t get more than 14 points.”
The former Ravens tight end specifically targeted Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley, who captured both the rushing title and a Super Bowl victory this season. Despite Barkley’s impressive campaign, Sharpe believes the Ravens’ legendary defense would have shut him down completely.
“He’d have 37 (yards) against (the Ravens’) defense,” Sharpe predicted. “You’re not running, because you’ve got Sam (Adams) and Goose (Tony Siragusa) and Ray (Lewis) running free. Ray’s hunting.”
Sharpe’s confidence stems from the Ravens’ historically dominant 2000 defense, which allowed just 165 points during the regular season—the lowest total in the 16-game era. That unit, featuring Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Rod Woodson, proved nearly impenetrable during their championship run, surrendering just 16 points across four playoff games.
However, CBS Sports ranked that Ravens team just 24th among Super Bowl champions since 2000, largely due to their struggling offense. Led by quarterback Trent Dilfer, the Ravens endured a five-week stretch without scoring a touchdown that season. Dilfer finished the year with 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, completing less than 48% of his passes during their playoff run.
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The 2024 Eagles, in contrast, showcased a complete team throughout their championship season. Their defense proved equally capable of game-changing plays, intercepting Patrick Mahomes twice in the Super Bowl while adding six sacks and a forced fumble against the former MVP.
While Sharpe’s Ravens team holds a special place in NFL history for their defensive dominance, the Eagles‘ balanced attack and modernized defense might have posed challenges that even that legendary Baltimore unit never faced. The debate will remain purely hypothetical, but it adds another fascinating chapter to the Eagles’ championship legacy.
