The 2010 season was the Baltimore Ravens' 15th in the National Football League (NFL), their 13th playing home games at M&T Bank Stadium and their third under head coach John Harbaugh. The franchise improved on their 9–7 record from the previous season, with a 12–4 record, tying them for first place in the AFC North; however, they had to settle for a wild card berth for the third straight year since the Pittsburgh Steelers owned the tiebreaker for divisional record. As the AFC's #5 seed, the Ravens travelled to the #4 seeded Kansas City Chiefs, defeating them 30–7 in the wild card round to advance. The following week, however, the Ravens lost to their division rival and eventual AFC champion Steelers in the Divisional playoffs despite having a 21–7 lead at halftime.
Off-season Because the Ravens made an appearance in the 2009–10 playoffs, they will be able to sign any player with a salary of $4,925,000 or more. They also may sign an unlimited number of players with a first-year salary of no more than $3,275,000, who will be restricted to an annual increase of a maximum 30 percent in the following years. However, along with the other final eight contenders from the playoffs, the Ravens will be restricted to signing new players until at least one of their free agents is signed to another franchise.
Roster signings All signings were to the active roster, except where otherwise noted. Pos. Player Date NotesTEDavon DrewJanuary 19, 2010WREron RileyJanuary 19, 2010WRMaurice PriceJanuary 19, 2010DEWillie VanDeSteegJanuary 19, 2010GBryan MattisonJanuary 19, 2010TStefan RodgersJanuary 19, 2010TJoe ReitzJanuary 19, 2010FBCharles AliJanuary 21, 2010CDigger BujnochJanuary 21, 2010WRChris HannonJanuary 21, 2010CDaniel SandersJanuary 21, 2010WRDonté StallworthFebruary 17, 2010Signed to a one-year contractWRAnquan BoldinMarch 5, 2010Traded from the Arizona Cardinals for a third and fourth round draft pick in the 2010 NFL draftWRDerrick MasonMarch 10, 2010Signed to a two-year contractDTCory ReddingMarch 22, 2010Signed to a two-year contractKShayne GrahamJune 3, 2010Signed to a one-year contractDTArthur JonesJune 21, 2010Signed to a three-year contractTEDennis PittaJune 21, 2010Signed to a three-year contractSKen HamlinJune 22, 2010Signed to a one-year contractQBMarc BulgerJune 23, 2010Signed to a one-year contractCBWalt HarrisJune 24, 2010Signed to a one-year contractWRDavid ReedJune 24, 2010Signed to a three-year contractOTRamon HarewoodJune 28, 2010Signed to a three-year contractDTTerrence CodyJuly 26, 2010Signed to a four-year contractCBJosh WilsonAugust 31, 2010Traded from the Seattle Seahawks for a conditional fifth round draft pick in the 2011 NFL draftWRT. J. HoushmandzadehSeptember 6, 2010Signed to a one-year contract
Roster releases Pos. Player Date NotesTEQuinn SypniewskiFebruary 17, 2010Released due to a failed physical examCBSamari RolleApril 13, 2010Released due to a sidelining neck injury from 2009 and his plans on retiring.
Changes to coaching staff Coaching position Former coach New coach Date Notes Ref. Linebackers coach Vic Fangio Dean Pees January 26, 2010Fangio was released from his coaching duties after the signing of Pees, former New England Patriots defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson Jim Zorn January 30, 2010Jackson agreed to become the offensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders, while Zorn was hired after a head coaching stint with the Washington Redskins.
2010 NFL draft
The Ravens finished with the worst record among teams exiting the playoffs in the divisional round, meaning that they will pick 25th overall. The Ravens traded their third and fourth round picks to the Arizona Cardinals to acquire wide receiver Anquan Boldin and a fifth round pick. The Ravens traded their seventh round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers along with a sixth round pick in 2009 to acquire defensive lineman Marques Douglas. On the day of the draft, the Ravens traded away their first round pick to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a second, third, and fourth round pick. This gave the Ravens a total of seven draft picks.
Personnel
Staff Baltimore Ravens 2010 staff Front office Owner – Steve Bisciotti Minority owner – Art Modell President – Dick Cass general manager/Executive Vice President – Ozzie Newsome Vice president of football administration – Pat Moriarty Senior personnel assistant – George Kokinis Director of player personnel – Eric DeCosta Director of pro personnel – Vincent Newsome Director of college scouting – Joe Hortiz Assistant director of pro personnel – Chad Alexander
Head coaches Head coach – John Harbaugh Head coach's assistant – Matt Weiss
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Cam Cameron Quarterbacks – Jim Zorn Running backs – Wilbert Montgomery Wide receivers – Jim Hostler Tight ends – Wade Harman Offensive line – John Matsko Assistant offensive line – Andy Moeller Senior offensive assistant – Al Saunders Offensive assistant – Craig Ver Steeg Assistant to the offense – Jason Brooks Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Greg Mattison Defensive line – Clarence Brooks Linebackers – Dean Pees Outside linebackers – Ted Monachino Secondary – Chuck Pagano Defensive assistant/secondary – Roy Anderson
Special teams coaches Associate head coach/special teams coordinator – Jerry Rosburg Kicking consultant – Randy Brown Assistant special teams – Marwan Maalouf
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Bob Rogucki Assistant strength and conditioning – John Dunn Assistant athletic trainer – Kevin Domboski Assistant athletic trainer – Ron Medlin
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason The Ravens' preseason schedule was announced on March 31, 2010.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site Recap 1 Carolina Panthers W 17–12 1–0 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 2 at Washington Redskins W 23–3 2–0 FedExField Recap 3 New York Giants W 24–10 3–0 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 4 at St. Louis Rams L 21–27 3–1 Edward Jones Dome Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site Recap 1 September 13 at New York Jets W 10–9 1–0 New Meadowlands Stadium Recap 2 September 19 at Cincinnati Bengals L 10–15 1–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 3 September 26 Cleveland Browns W 24–17 2–1 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 4 October 3 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 17–14 3–1 Heinz Field Recap 5 October 10 Denver Broncos W 31–17 4–1 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 6 October 17 at New England Patriots L 20–23 4–2 Gillette Stadium Recap 7 October 24 Buffalo Bills W 37–34 5–2 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 8 Bye 9 November 7 Miami Dolphins W 26–10 6–2 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 10 November 11 at Atlanta Falcons L 21–26 6–3 Georgia Dome Recap 11 November 21 at Carolina Panthers W 37–13 7–3 Bank of America Stadium Recap 12 November 28 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 17–10 8–3 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 13 December 5 Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–13 8–4 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 14 December 13 at Houston Texans W 34–28 9–4 Reliant Stadium Recap 15 December 19 New Orleans Saints W 30–24 10–4 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 16 December 26 at Cleveland Browns W 20–10 11–4 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 17 January 2, 2011 Cincinnati Bengals W 13–7 12–4 M&T Bank Stadium Recap
Game summaries
Regular season
Week 1: at New York Jets
The Ravens began their season at New Meadowlands Stadium for an AFC duel with the New York Jets in what was New York’s first regular season game at their new stadium.
Baltimore trailed early in the first quarter after quarterback Joe Flacco was sacked and fumbled on his first offensive play of the game. However, the Ravens' defense was able to hold the Jets to a 23-yard field goal from kicker Nick Folk. Folk kicked another field goal, from 28 yards, in the second quarter after a fumble by running back Willis McGahee. After that, the Ravens replied and took the lead when McGahee completed a 1-yard touchdown run. At the end of the first half, the Ravens led 7–6. The Ravens extended their lead in the third quarter when kicker Billy Cundiff got a 25-yard field goal. The Jets cut the lead in the fourth quarter when Folk kicked a field goal from 48 yards, making the score 10–9. The Ravens' defense managed to prevent any further progress and allowed them to take the win.
With the close win, Baltimore began the season at 1–0.
Week 2: at Cincinnati Bengals
Hoping to maintain their winning streak the Ravens flew to Paul Brown Stadium for an AFC North rivalry match against the Bengals. In the 2nd quarter Baltimore trailed early as kicker Mike Nugent hit a 36 and a 30-yard field goal. In the third quarter the Ravens replied and took the lead with QB Joe Flacco completing a 31-yard TD pass to WR Derrick Mason. The Bengals replied when Nugent hit a 46-yard field goal. The Ravens took the lead back in the fourth quarter when kicker Billy Cundiff got a 38-yard field goal, but it was cut off by Nugent's 38 and 25-yard field goal, giving Baltimore a loss.
With the loss, Baltimore fell to 1–1.
Week 3: vs. Cleveland Browns
The Ravens' next match was an AFC North rivalry match against the Browns at home. In the 1st quarter the Ravens trailed early when kicker Phil Dawson made a 28-yard field goal, but got the lead back after QB Joe Flacco found WR Anquan Boldin on an 8 and a 12-yard TD pass. After that the Ravens fell behind when RB Peyton Hillis made a 1-yard TD run, followed in the 4th quarter by QB Seneca Wallace completing a 1-yard TD pass to TE Benjamin Watson. Then the Ravens replied and took the lead when Flacco made a 27-yard TD pass to WR Anquan Boldin, followed by kicker Billy Cundiff nailing a 49-yard field goal.
With the win, the Ravens improved to 2–1.
Week 4: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Coming off their divisional home win over the Browns, the Ravens flew to Heinz Field for their Week 4 duel with the Pittsburgh Steelers, in their 3rd straight divisional game.
Baltimore would trail early as Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall picked up a 1-yard touchdown run. The Ravens would take the lead in the second quarter as running back Willis McGahee got a 9-yard touchdown run, followed by kicker Billy Cundiff making a 33-yard field goal. After a scoreless third quarter, Pittsburgh would get the lead again as Mendenhall made a 7-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Fortunately, Baltimore was able to go back ahead as quarterback Joe Flacco completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver T. J. Houshmandzadeh with 32 seconds remaining in regulation. Middle linebacker Ray Lewis intercepted Pittsburgh backup quarterback Charlie Batch on the Steelers' final possession to end the game.
With the win, the Ravens improved to 3–1.
Week 5: vs. Denver Broncos
Hoping to increase their winning streak the Ravens played on home ground for an AFC duel with the Broncos. In the first quarter the Ravens took the early lead with QB Joe Flacco scrambling 1 yard to the endzone for a touchdown, followed in the 2nd quarter by RB Ray Rice getting a 1-yard TD run. Then kicker Billy Cundiff got a 37-yard field goal. The lead was narrowed when QB Kyle Orton made a 42-yard TD pass to WR Brandon Lloyd, but the Ravens scored again at the beginning of the 4th quarter with Rice getting another 1-yard TD run. The Broncos replied with kicker Matt Prater hitting a 38-yard field goal, but RB Willis McGahee got a 30-yard TD run to put the Ravens ahead 31–10. The Broncos made the final score of the game with Orton finding Lloyd again on a 44-yard TD pass.
With the win, the Ravens improved to 4–1.
Week 6: at New England Patriots