Why Matt Stover is the Greatest Baltimore Raven of All Time

Say what you will about Ray Lewis and his place in NFL history, but in the discussion of the greatest Baltimore Raven of all-time, Matt Stover is and always will be the final answer.

He’s been informed by the Ravens to look for other opportunities, for reasons that are painfully apparent to both sides of the equation. But there is no one person more responsible for the team’s first Super Bowl than Matt Stover. The magical 2000 run is the blueprint for how defense wins championships, and there’s no denying that the Ravens romp through the latter part of the season was directly attributable to a Ray Lewis-led defensive unit that took up the mantra “no yards allowed.”

But the object of football, and any sport for that matter, is to have the most points on the board at the end of the game. And through five games in the fall of 2000, Matt Stover’s nickname could’ve have been “Stimulus” for all of the times he served as the Ravens only scoring bailout.

Stover scored 49 points through that stretch. Two of the games resulted in victory for the Ravens. Would there have been a Super Bowl run if Matt Stover hadn’t single-footedly defeated the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars to take the Ravens to 5-1 on the year going into mid-October?

No.

Let’s not forget his NFL records for kicking proficiency. He is the fifth leading scorer in NFL history (1,944 points), all-time leader in consecutive successful extra point attempts (389), the most game-winning field goals (14), and most games with four or more field goals (26).

Stover’s production did dip a little last season, and his leg isn’t as big as it used to be. But I can think of one team down the road that would sign Matt Stover up right now if they get the chance, and for once, it wouldn’t be a free agent move Washington Redskins fans should hate.

Here’s to you, Matt Stover. The greatest Baltimore Raven in team history.

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