The 2012 season was the Baltimore Ravens' 17th in the National Football League (NFL). While the Ravens failed to improve on their 12–4 record from 2011, they still managed to clinch the AFC North division title in Week 16 and finish the regular season with a 10–6 record, sending them to their fifth straight playoffs, where they advanced to the AFC Championship Game for the second consecutive season and third time in five years, and then to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2000. They won their second Super Bowl, 34–31 against the San Francisco 49ers. It was the first time in franchise history that the Ravens won consecutive division titles. This marks head coach John Harbaugh's fifth season as the head coach of the franchise and fifth consecutive post-season appearance. The Ravens played their home games at M&T Bank Stadium.
The Ravens dedicated their season to former owner and founder Art Modell, who died on September 6, 2012.Ravens Dedicate Season To Art Modell , by Ryan Mink. BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved on November 28, 2012. On Week 1, all team members wore an "Art" decal on their helmets, and for the rest of their season, they wore an "Art" patch on the left side of their jerseys.
Ray Lewis, the last remaining member of the original Ravens roster from 1996 and the 2000 Super Bowl championship team, announced just after the regular season finale before the playoffs that he would be retiring after the conclusion of the season. Following three playoff matchups including a thrilling 38–35 double OT victory against the top-seeded Denver Broncos, his final game was a victory in Super Bowl XLVII. Lewis is believed by many to be the greatest Raven of all time and previously led the Ravens to Super Bowl XXXV in what was just their first playoff appearance in franchise history.
The last player from the Ravens' 2012 Super Bowl-winning team on the roster, Justin Tucker, was released on May 5, 2025.
Offseason Roster changes
Additions: S Sean Considine, CB Corey Graham, WR Jacoby Jones, DT Ryan McBean, DT Ma'ake Kemoeatu, S James Ihedigbo Losses: OLB Jarret Johnson, DE Cory Redding, G Ben Grubbs, S Haruki Nakamura, S Tom Zbikowski, DT Brandon McKinney Re-signed Players: ILB Jameel McClain, ILB Brendon Ayanbadejo, RB Ray Rice (franchised), CB Lardarius Webb Releases: CB Domonique Foxworth, CB Chris Carr, WR Lee Evans, K Billy Cundiff
2012 draft class
Notes The team traded its first-round selection (#29) to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for the #35 overall selection in the second round, as well as the Vikings' fourth-round selection (#98 overall). The team traded up from its original third-round selection (#91 overall) to the #84 overall selection, also giving the Atlanta Falcons their fifth-round pick (#164 overall). The team traded its original fourth-round selection (#124 overall) to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for wide receiver Lee Evans. Compensatory selection.
Personnel Staff
Final roster
Schedule Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Atlanta Falcons W 31–17 1–0 Georgia Dome Recap 2 Detroit Lions L 12–27 1–1 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 3 Jacksonville Jaguars W 48–17 2–1 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 4 at St. Louis Rams L 17–31 2–2 Edward Jones Dome Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Cincinnati Bengals W 44–13 1–0 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 2 September 16 at Philadelphia Eagles L 23–24 1–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 3 September 23 New England Patriots W 31–30 2–1 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 4 Cleveland Browns W 23–16 3–1 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 5 October 7 at Kansas City Chiefs W 9–6 4–1 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 6 October 14 Dallas Cowboys W 31–29 5–1 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 7 October 21 at Houston Texans L 13–43 5–2 Reliant Stadium Recap 8 Bye 9 November 4 at Cleveland Browns W 25–15 6–2 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 10 November 11 Oakland Raiders W 55–20 7–2 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 11 November 18 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 13–10 8–2 Heinz Field Recap 12 November 25 at San Diego Chargers W 16–13 9–2 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 13 December 2 Pittsburgh Steelers L 20–23 9–3 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 14December 9 at Washington Redskins L 28–31 9–4 FedExField Recap 15 December 16 Denver Broncos L 17–34 9–5 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 16 December 23 New York Giants W 33–14 10–5 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 17 December 30 at Cincinnati Bengals L 17–23 10–6 Paul Brown Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Regular season Week 1: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Ravens started their season at home against the Bengals. They jumped out to a 3–0 lead in the first quarter with Justin Tucker's 46-yard field goal. This was followed up by Ray Rice's 7-yard run to make the score 10–0. The Bengals got on the board in the 2nd quarter with Mike Nugent's 34-yard field goal to shorten the lead to 10–3. However, the Ravens were able to pull away as Joe Flacco found Anquan Boldin on a 34-yard touchdown pass to move ahead 17–3. The Bengals responded coming within 7 when Benjarvus Green-Ellis ran for a 6-yard touchdown making the score 17–10 at halftime. In the 3rd quarter, the Bengals were able to get within 4 points with Nugent kicking a 19-yard field goal shortening the Ravens' lead to 4 17–13. However, the Ravens overpowered the Bengals scoring 27 unanswered points as Flacco found Dennis Pitta on a 10-yard pass to move ahead 24–13 followed up by Tucker scoring a 40-yard field goal moving them ahead 27–13. This was followed by an Ed Reed interception that was returned 34 yards for a touchdown moving the team ahead 34–13. In the 4th quarter, the Ravens scored again off of Rice's 1-yard run for a 41–13 lead and finished the game off of Tucker's 39-yard field goal to make the final score 44–13.
Ed Reed returned an interception for a 34-yard touchdown, making Reed the all-time leader in career interception return yards with 1,497. The previous record of 1,483 yards was held by Rod Woodson.
Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles
For the first time in 5 years, head coach John Harbaugh made his first return to Philadelphia, where he served as the Eagles' special teams coordinator and defensive backs from 1998 to 2007, and was also part of the 2004 Eagles that made Super Bowl XXXIX. Baltimore took the lead in the second quarter and held it for most of the game, but with 1:57 remaining in the fourth quarter Michael Vick ran for a one-yard touchdown. With the surprising loss, the Ravens fell to 1–1.
Week 3: vs. New England Patriots
This game was played in the shadow of the death of wide receiver Torrey Smith's brother, who had died in a motorcycle crash the night before. The Ravens entered the game hoping to be able to avenge the AFC Championship loss of the previous season, which came at the hands of the Patriots. New England started off fast as they drew to a 13–0 lead in the first quarter. However Baltimore scored 2 straight touchdowns to take the lead with 1:47 left to go in the half. Then Brady scored a touchdown right at the end of the half to retake the lead 20–14. The second half started off with a touchdown run by Ray Rice to put the Ravens on top 21–20. Then the Patriots retook the lead when Tom Brady scored a touchdown. After that the Baltimore defense began to step it up and held the Pats to a field goal. Then the momentum shifted as Baltimore scored a touchdown (Flacco to Torrey Smith). After forcing a Patriots punt, the Ravens drove down the field to score a field goal as time expired to win the game 31–30.
The Ravens avenged the AFC Championship loss and improved to 2–1 and continued their unbeaten record at home from the previous year along with continuing their streak of winning after a loss.
Based on Torrey Smith's performance through personal hardship, this game was ranked #9 on NFL.com's Top 20 NFL Games of 2012 as Showing Up. Smith finishes with six receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns.
This game was also remembered for two controversial incidents. Late in the fourth quarter, with New England leading 30–28, coach John Harbaugh was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct for coming out onto the field, which by NFL rules, is prohibited. However, Harbaugh was claiming that he was trying to only call a timeout to save time for his team. Since the NFL was using replacement refs at the time, and not the original refs, this was another controversial incident involving the former. The penalty resulted in an irate Ravens crowd chanting "Bullshit" three separate times in just over a minute during the Patriots last drive, which was picked up by NBC microphones and was clearly audible (and not censored) during the broadcast, which led to play-by-play announcer Al Michaels saying, "That's the loudest manure chant I've ever heard".
Tucker's game-winning field goal also led to controversy. The ball, after it had been kicked, sailed over the top of the right upright. It was ruled "good", giving Baltimore the win. However, clear replays show that the ball was extremely close to sailing wide of the upright. This led to the Patriots sideline going crazy over the call, with defensive lineman Vince Wilfork taking his helmet off in disgust. Since field goals that sail over the uprights are not reviewable (field goals that go between the uprights can be reviewed, although it's very uncommon), the play could not be reviewed. Patriots coach Bill Belichick, as he was leaving the field, angrily grabbed one of the officials, resulting in him being fined $50,000 by the NFL. Belichick later admitted that he didn't know field goals were not subject to review.
Week 4: vs. Cleveland Browns
After a scoreless first quarter, the Ravens scored first in the second quarter as Joe Flacco found Torrey Smith on an 18-yard touchdown pass (with a failed PAT) for a 6–0 lead. The team increased their lead as Justin Tucker made a 45-yard field goal to make the score 9–0. The Browns scored not long before halftime when Trent Richardson ran for a 2-yard touchdown, making the halftime score 9–7. After the break, the Ravens went right back to work as Flacco threw several completions to Anquan Boldin before scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run for a 16–7 lead. However, The Browns drew within 6 points as Phil Dawson nailed a 51-yard field goal, making the score 16–10. But then, the Ravens pulled away as Cary Williams picked off Weeden and returned the ball 63 yards for a touchdown, making the score 23–10. In the fourth quarter, the Browns tried to come back as Dawson nailed two field goals from 50 and 52 yards out making the score 23–13 and then 23–16, respectively. However, they were unable to tie the game on their last drive with the game ending on a Brandon Weeden Hail Mary pass from the Baltimore 18-yard line, which was thrown too far and went out the back of the endzone. With their ninth straight win over the Browns, the Ravens improved to 3–1. The game was also the first of the NFL season to use NFL referees and not replacement ones following the officials lockout.
Week 5: at Kansas City Chiefs
The Ravens improved to 4–1 by winning a game that included six turnovers, four by Kansas City, and five total field goals by both teams. With the Bengals' loss to the Dolphins the Ravens moved into first place in the AFC North.
Week 6: vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Ravens survived a wild back and forth game in which they nearly lost an eight point lead in the final 45 seconds of the game. Following a Dallas touchdown and a failed two-point conversion with 0:36 left in the game, the Cowboys recovered the onside kick and got into field goal after a pass interference call on Chykie Brown put the ball in Baltimore territory. However, Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey missed a 51-yard field goal wide left with 0:02 left, preserving the win for Baltimore. With their fourth straight win, the Ravens improved to 5–1, and became 4–0 all-time against the Cowboys. This was also their 14th straight regular season home win.