The 10 Best NFL Teams of the Last Decade
5. 2008 Baltimore Ravens
nERD: 12.25
Record: 11-5, lost AFC Championship
This was the inaugural season for head coach John Harbaugh with the Baltimore Ravens, and he was handed a challenge early on: quarterback McNair and stalwart left tackle Jonathan Ogden retired in the same offseason.
In the 2008 NFL Draft, Baltimore loaded up its offense with seven of its ten picks. This included first-round quarterback Joe Flacco and second-round running back Ray Rice. Both of these rookies had rough first years, and neither ranked even in the top-30 at their positions. Wide receiver Derrick Mason was the closest to the top tier for his position, at 15th, but even his 92.18 Total NEP couldn’t earn him a premier berth. The offense as a whole ranked 17th in Adjusted Offensive NEP per play; just about league-average.
As with all good AFC North teams, this was a team predicated on its defense. Defensive lineman Haloti Ngata, edge rusher Terrell Suggs, linebacker Ray Lewis, and safety Ed Reed made the Pro Bowl yet again -- Lewis and Reed as All-Pro starters -- and deservedly so. This wasn’t a defense performing at historic levels, like in 2006, but they were still staunch, and their -0.18 Adjusted Defensive NEP per play was the best in the league.
Even though the Ravens took second in the AFC North and lost the AFC Championship Game this season to the Steelers -- who came in lower on this list -- they were the better team by nERD. Lackluster offense once again did in this team in the playoffs, where they gave up an average 14 points per game, but mustered just 18 points on average.
