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Preface: The Denver Broncos defense, and what they had accomplished all season absolutely defines exactly the motto, "Defense wins championships". I am in no way discounting what they did, with that said I'm not happy to see over-eager Denver fans self-entitle themselves #1 in history.
Fresh off an amazing and dominant defensive performance people are very quick to judge what has happened here on an All-Time level. While this squad is deserving to stand in the region, they clearly are not the best ever, and should not be placed among the 2000 Ravens defense.
Friends from Mile High Report are clearly excited, but pump the brakes.
Greatest. Defense. Of. All. Time.
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) February 8, 2016
It's one thing to use different synonyms for greatness, but to say THE greatest is another, and even today there are arguments for best ever. Discussions among seperate era's in history, as well as factors and variables in a different variety, but case in point, a website dedicated to the Baltimore Ravens will clearly be arguing for the Ravens over the Denver Broncos.
The 2006 Ravens defense was historically one of the best, and also statistically, but without a championship it was all for naught.
But the 2000 Ravens, led by Defensive Player of the Year, and also Super Bowl MVP Ray Lewis clearly was a better team than the 2015 Broncos.
| Statistic | 2000 Ravens | 2015 Broncos | Advantage |
| Points per game allowed | 10.3 | 18.5 | Ravens |
| Total points allowed | 165 | 296 | Ravens |
| Differential | 168 | 59 | Ravens |
| 3rd down %age allowed | 34.1% | 35.2% | Ravens |
| Opp. Yards per carry | 2.7 | 3.3 | Ravens |
| Total Rushing yards allowed | 970 | 1337 | Ravens |
| Total Passing yards allowed | 2997 | 3193 | Ravens |
| Sacks | 35 | 52 | Broncos |
| Turnover Ratio | +23 | -4 | Ravens |
| Quarterback | Trent Dilfer | Father time Peyton Manning | Ravens |
| Post-season 3rd down %age allowed | 20% | 16.7% | Broncos |
| Post-season sacks | 14 | 14 | TIE |
| Post-season points allowed | 23 | 44 | Ravens |
| Touchdowns allowed | 2 | 4 | Ravens |
| Post-season Yards allowed | 837 | 1047 | Ravens |
| Turnover Ratio | +10 | +4 | Ravens |
| Post-season Opp. Yards per carry | 3.1 | 3.9 | Ravens |
| Post-season total rush yards allowed | 258 | 247 | Broncos |
| Post-season total pass yards allowed | 579 | 800 | Ravens |
*One touchdown was a return touchdown on special teams, albeit either way it's still in the Ravens favor.
All post-season stats have the Ravens including the Wild-Card game for a total of 4 games compared to Ravens 3 games
The 2000 Ravens without a doubt demolish any doubts of the 2015 Orange Rush Broncos thoughts on being the Greatest defense ever. The Ravens drug Trent Dilfer to the Super Bowl and won. The Broncos had old man Manning.
The post season stats are all skewed in the Broncos favor, and even then they "won" only one category. Post-season sacks does flip to the Broncos. The differential margin also lowers for the Ravens, yet still stays with the Ravens advantage.
Two things are for certain, both the Ravens and Broncos were formidable defenses in the NFL. And the 2000 Ravens defense is clearly better.