The 2003 Baltimore Ravens season was the team's eighth season in the NFL. They improved upon their previous output of 7–9, winning 10 games and making the third playoff appearance (and first division title) in franchise history. This marked the first season when the Ravens won their division. One memorable moment came in week 2, when Jamal Lewis set the NFL record for most rushing yards in a single game, rushing for 295 yards against the Cleveland Browns. Lewis went on to rush for 2,066 yards on the season and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year. In addition, Ray Lewis was named Defensive Player of the Year and 2003 first round pick Terrell Suggs was named Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The Ravens’ home stadium was renamed “M&T Bank Stadium’, a name which has remained unchanged ever since.
In Week 12 against the Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore fought from a seventeen-point deficit halfway through the 4th quarter to force overtime, winning 44–41. The game was named to NFL Top 10 as #9 on Top Ten Comebacks.
The Ravens season ended in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, when they lost 20–17 to the Steve McNair-led Tennessee Titans.
Shortly after the loss Art Modell sold his majority ownership (retaining 1%) of the team to minority owner Steve Biscotti.
Offseason
Draft
Staff
Roster
Schedule
Preseason
Regular season
In addition to their regular games with AFC North divisional rivals, the Ravens played games against the AFC West and NFC West according to the NFL schedule rotation introduced in 2002, and also played against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Miami Dolphins, who finished 2002 third in the two remaining AFC divisions.
Postseason
Division standings
Game summaries
Regular season
Week One at Pittsburgh Steelers
Three Tommy Maddox touchdowns raced the Steelers to a 27–0 lead, more than enough to win 34–15. Kyle Boller managed only 152 yards with an interception and a late touchdown.
Week Two vs. Cleveland Browns
Jamal Lewis erupted for 295 rushing yards and two scores in a 33–13 rout of the Browns. Lewis’ rampage offset another weak performance by quarterback Kyle Boller with just seven completions.
Week Three at San Diego Chargers
Kyle Boller once again failed to reach 100 yards passing but did have a touchdown while Jamal Lewis reached 132 yards rushing and added a touchdown in a 24–10 win at Qualcomm Stadium. Drew Brees was intercepted three times.
Week Four vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Despite limiting the Chiefs to 265 yards of offense the Ravens fell 17–10 on a Dante Hall 87-yard return score and three interceptions by Kyle Boller.
Week Six at Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals quarterback Jeff Blake had played for the Ravens (coming off their bye week) the year before and here was intercepted three times; Chris McAlister ran back one pick for a score while Ed Reed scored on a blocked punt. It was enough to win 26-18 and offset yet another weak performance from Kyle Boller (nine completions for 75 yards).
Week Seven at Cincinnati Bengals
For seven seasons Marvin Lewis had been Ravens defensive coordinator and he had the long-slumping Bengals beginning a competitive turnaround; Cincinnati's 34–26 win over his former team took a step in that direction. The Ravens fumbled twice and Jon Kitna, filling in for the season before rookie Carson Palmer would assume the starting role, threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns. The Ravens loss happened even as Kyle Boller hit 302 yards, two scores, and passer rating at 104.
Week Eight vs. Denver Broncos
For the second straight year the Ravens hosted and defeated the Broncos, this time 26–6. With Jake Plummer and Steve Beuerlein injured Danny Kanell started and was intercepted twice. Former Raven Shannon Sharpe was limited to two catches. Despite the win Brian Billick was angry over NFL replay challenges after a Ravens touchdown was overruled on replay.
Week Nine vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Kyle Boller had a touchdown and nine other completions in a 24–17 win over Baltimore's former division rival. The Ravens fumbled once and Akin Ayodele scored for the Jaguars on the return.
Week Ten at St. Louis Rams
Four years earlier the Ravens had been humiliated by the Rams and Brian Billick wrapped up his debut game by saying “We don’t have enough paper to list my frustration.” In this 33–22 loss he saw his Ravens cough up four fumbles while Kyle Boller had another interception; he injured his knee on a collision with fullback Alan Ricard and eventually gave way to former starter Chris Redman; Redman threw two more picks.