Overview of Ravens 1st Season (1996)

(Date - Opponent - Attendance - Score - W-L - Record)

PRESEASON (3-1)

Saturday, Aug. 3 vs. Philadelphia Eagles 63,804 17-9 W 1-0
The NFL returned to Baltimore after a 13-year absence, before the largest crowd in Baltimore's professional sports history on a beautiful August day.

Saturday, Aug. 10 at New York Giants 39,799 37-27 W 2-0
The Ravens out-gained the Giants, 427 yards to 241 and converted 11 of 17 third-down attempts.

Saturday, Aug. 17 vs. Green Bay Packers 62,025 15-17 L 2-1
Richie Cunningham kicked game-winning 42-yard field goal with three seconds remaining. The Packers kept their 1st Team on the field all the way through the 3rd quarter. Otherwise this one may have turned out differently.

Friday, Aug. 23 at Buffalo Bills 51,905 37-14 W 3-1
The Ravens out-gained the Bills 341 yards to 179; scored games first 30 points.

REGULAR SEASON (4-12)

Sunday, Sept. 1 vs. Oakland Raiders 64,124 19-14 W 1-0
Vinny Testaverde scored the Ravens first-ever regular season touchdown on a nine-yard first-quarter run. Another beautiful day for football. "Dump Trumpy" signs were prevalent throughout Memorial Stadium.

Sunday, Sept. 8 at Pittsburgh Steelers 57,241 17-31 L 1-1
Steelers rushed for 209 yards behind Jerome Bettis, who gained 116 yards on the ground. Ravens had a shot at this one until a crucial fumble in the fourth quarter.

Sunday, Sept. 15 at Houston Oilers 20,082 13-29 L 1-2
Oilers dominated the line of scrimmage, intercepted three passes, and took 29-7 lead in fourth quarter. Just about the only game that the Ravens didn't have a shot at winning.

Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. New Orleans Saints 61,063 17-10 W 2-2
34-year old Earnest Byner's 149 yards rushing and Testaverdes two TD passes propelled the Ravens to .500.

Sunday, Oct. 6 vs. New England Patriots 63,569 38-46 L 2-3
The Ravens scored 24 fourth-quarter points; Teams combined for an NFL-record five two-point conversions. "Too little too late."

Sunday, Oct. 13 at Indianapolis Colts 56,978 21-26 L 2-4
The Ravens lost starting defensive linemen Rob Burnett (knee ligament damage) and Dan Footman (fractured arm); Testaverde threw three TD passes. Ravens lost 14-13 second-half lead. The worst game of the season as far as injuries are concerned.

Sunday, Oct. 20 at Denver Broncos 70,453 34-45 L 2-5
The Ravens lost a 34-31 fourth-quarter lead after trailing 21-3 in second quarter; Testaverde threw career-best four TD passes. This could have been the biggest win of the season against "predicted" Super Bowl contenders.

Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. St. Louis Rams 60,256 37-31 (OT) W 3-5
Michael Jackson caught the game-winning 22-yard TD pass from Testaverde with 10 seconds remaining in overtime. The game that nobody wanted to win. There were four attempts for each team to put this one away. Easily the most exciting.

Sunday, Nov. 3 vs. Cincinnati Bengals 60,743 21-24 L 3-6
The Ravens lost a 21-3 halftime lead; Doug Pelfreys 34-yard FG as time expired won the game for the Bengals. The most discouraging loss of the season. They dominated, and then got dominated.

Sunday, Nov. 10 at Jacksonville Jaguars 64,628 27-30 L 3-7 Baltimores 17-3 halftime lead evaporated; Brunell rushed one yard for the winning TD with 41 seconds remaining. An unfortunate pattern was developing.

Sunday, Nov. 17 at San Francisco 49ers 51,596 20-38 L 3-8
Ravens took a 20-17 lead in third quarter, but couldnt hold the second-half lead for the third straight game; Testaverde injured his ribs and could not return for the second half in a steady downpour. Eric Zeier was mostly ineffective as a fill in for Testeverde- although this was his only playing time of the regular season.

Sunday, Nov. 24 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars 57,384 25-28 (OT) L 3-9
Baltimore surrendered a 15-point fourth-quarter lead, yet still had a chance to win in regulation, but Stovers 49-yard FGA was wide right at end of regulation; A fumble set up the Mike Hollis 34-yard game-winning FG with 5:54 left in OT.

Sunday, Dec. 1 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 51,822 31-17 W 4-9
Ravens snapped a four-game losing skid, beat Pittsburgh for first time in seven tries. Alexander caught a career-best seven receptions for 198 yards and a TD. The game was played in a steady rain and about 36 degree temperatures. The biggest win of the Ravens young life.

Sunday, Dec. 8 at Cincinnati Bengals 43,022 14-21 L 4-10
Ravens held a 14-13 fourth-quarter edge; Bengals clawed back to take a 21-14 lead, Ravens faced first-and-goal from the Bengals six-yard line with 1:06 remaining but could not score.

Sunday, Dec. 15 at Carolina Panthers 70,075 16-27 L 4-11
Baltimore held a 13-10 halftime lead, the 10th straight game owning a second-half lead; Ravens managed just three field goals on as many trips inside the redzone. The "sieve" Defense played much better than anticipated, but the "O" couldn't move the ball against a good Panther "D".

Sunday, Dec. 22 vs. Houston Oilers 52,704 21-24 L 4-12
Jackson scored a career-high three TDs to give him 14 for the season; Testaverde reached the 30 TD/4,000-yard milestone; Ravens dropped to 0-4 in games decided by three points or less and fell to 4-4 at home in inaugural season.

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