Overview

Super Bowl XXXV was the championship game concluding the 2000 National Football League season. Played on January 28, 2001, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, it matched the NFC champion New York Giants against the AFC champion Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens defeated the Giants by a score of 34–7 to claim the franchise's first Super Bowl title and to give the city of Baltimore its second professional football championship in thirty years. For background on the event series, see Super Bowl.

Teams and season context

The Baltimore Ravens entered the game with a reputation for a dominant defense that carried them through the regular season and playoffs. Led by veteran linebacker Ray Lewis and coached by Brian Billick, the Ravens emphasized physical defense and a complementary offense. The franchise, founded in 1996 after the relocation of the original Cleveland Browns, secured its first championship with this win; see the team page at Baltimore Ravens for more on the organization.

The New York Giants, coached by Jim Fassel and representing the NFC, relied on a balanced approach on offense and defense but were unable to overcome Baltimore's defensive pressure on the day. The Giants had advanced to the Super Bowl after winning a series of postseason matchups; additional context is available at New York Giants.

Game summary

The contest was characterized by Baltimore's control of momentum, particularly on defense. The Ravens built a lead and maintained it by forcing turnovers and limiting the Giants' scoring opportunities. The Giants managed a single touchdown in the game while Baltimore produced multiple scoring drives, combining defense, special teams, and timely offense to secure a decisive victory. The game took place under the auspices of the National Football League, and the venue, Raymond James Stadium, is described at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa.

Legacy and notable facts

  • The victory marked the Ravens' first Super Bowl championship and cemented the 2000 Ravens defense as one of the era's most dominant units.
  • Linebacker Ray Lewis, a central leader of the defense, received the Super Bowl MVP award for his impact on the game's outcome.
  • The win returned a professional football title to the city of Baltimore for the first time since the franchise's earlier era three decades earlier.

Why the game matters

Super Bowl XXXV is often cited in discussions of defensive excellence and team construction: it demonstrated how a top-ranked defense can control a championship game even without a prolific offense. The Ravens' 2000 season and Super Bowl performance remain a reference point for teams emphasizing defense, and the game is part of the broader narrative of the NFL in the early 2000s.