Best of the 2000s

The Packers had the sixth highest winning percentage of any team in the NFL in the 2000s, counting playoffs. That didn’t surprise me, but the number five team on the list did. The Patriots were number one, followed by the Colts, Steelers, Eagles, and the Ravens.

Baltimore, a team that relies on defense and oddly seems to be struggling even when they’re winning because of such extreme offensive struggles, has been remarkably successful, if inconsistent, in the Ray Lewis era. They are the only team in the top six to be led by a top player who wasn’t a quarterback. In fact, all the aforementioned teams have a “face-of-the-franchise” QB, and have been led by the same player at the game’s most important position almost the entire decade.

Baltimore, meanwhile, has gone from Tony Banks, to Trent Dilfer, to Elvis Grbac, to Jaff Blake, to Anthony Wright, to Kyle Boller, to Steve McNair, and finally to Joe Flacco.

Such turnover is a testament to just how great Ray Lewis has been.