Ravens/Redskins- Is there really a rivalry?

[Walking Deadman]

With the Ravens and the Skins in the finals for Mascot over at CBSsportsline,

I thought I'd bring up the question (with a poll)- Is there really a rivalry btw. the Ravens and the Redskins in a "Battle of the Beltway" :rolleyes: showdown?

For the last few years we've played the Ravens one way or the other every season (either Regular season 2004, 2008, Preseason or scrimmage). For the most part it's smart to play each other in the pre-season and scrimmage b/c it saves on travel time and both fan bases can easily get to the games to watch the teams play. In a sense it's almost like we're sparring partners.

Obviously, the two teams are in different conferences, so usually what we do and what Baltimore does doesn't matter to the other team.

Yet, there is animosity btw the fans of the two teams that goes back further than some remember. Mainly, Ravens fans still like to bring up that they feel JKC and the Redskins supposedly kept Baltimore from getting a NFL franchise
after the Colts left (I have heard this plenty of times). And Redskins fans get annoyed by the attitudes of Raven fanbase (especially after they won their SB). Plus, playing in the same state creates a mild rivalry.

So what do you think?
Lame topic, sure. But what else is there to ***** about football wise for the next 18-19 days.

[IbleedBnG83]

Working in Baltimore, there seems to be. There are still some Ravens fans that like the Redskins, typically live places like Columbia that are split. But most really just don't like the Redskins. For some reason there is animosity. I really don't like the Ravens at all.

[Rdskn4Lyf21]

After we kick Poe's ass it'll heat up :)

[dcnativenerd]

I've always felt this sense of deep resentment towards Baltimore by Washington natives (especially those who've been in the city for a long time) and vice versa. I've never been too terribly fond of Baltimore, personally (no offense) so, yes, I think there is a bit of a rivalry; though not so much in the context of football.

[COOLhandsCOOLEY]

I live in Baltimore, and I have found a good number of skins fans down here, but also have found that there is a contingent with an almost burning hatred for the skins. When I grew up there was no NFL team in Baltimore so Washington became and stayed my team. In general the people here in Baltimore are similar to philly folks - they pretty much hate everything, even their own team a good portion of the time.

[jimster]

It seems that whenever we play the Ravens - according to them, if they win, there's a rivalry. When we win, there's no rivalry.

[Larry Brown #43]

I'd vote somewhere between A and B. It's nowhere near the rivalry we have with our divisional foes, but I definitely get more satisfaction out of beating the Ravens than I do out of beating some random team like the Raiders or Bengals.

[SAMB0]

My rivalry is moreso with the fans rather than the team.. Living north of Baltimore and having to deal with them and their no knowledge of football makes me want to kill myself

[MassSkinsFan]

I'm going to take a wild guess and say that the smaller city (Baltimore) has a greater stake in this being a rivalry than the larger one (DC). That's just my guess based on what I've seen in other sports rivalries (Yankees/Red Sox comes right to mind, as does Philly/NYC).

[greenspandan]

the funny thing is in Baltimore, they really do think there's a Ravens-Redskins rivalry.

the fact is there isn't.

Redskins fans care about the Cowboys, Eagles, and Giants, in that order (you can arguably swap NY and Philly, for personal bias). The Ravens mean no more to us than the Tennessee Titans. Just another team.

but for whatever reason, they feel like they are locked in constant battle with us. meanwhile we don't even notice.

it makes their hysterics aimed at us all the more entertaining. they're like yappy little dogs that nip at our ankles while we're trying to take care of more important things.

[pvkeeper19]

The Ravens mean no more to us than the Tennessee Titans. Just another team.
I disagree. Besides being geographic rivals, I resent that many Ravens fans are ex-Skins fans. Also, I never liked Art Modell, Brian Billick, Ray Lewis, Tony Siragusa... most of the high-profile people associated with that franchise. And to top it off, I know a lot of Baltimorons who are pretty annoying in their fanhood.

[bikie]

for a pro rivalry to have legs, imo, there has to be a history of games with significance.. we've yet to play them in a significant situation to my knowledge...

I'd say not a rivalry, but bragging rights instead...

[rd421]

i don't hate the ravens BUT i hate ravens fans!

[Sekhmet728]

Well, I can't stand Ravens fans. Can't say the same about the actual Ravens though. I had no problem with them when they first came to Baltimore. That ended in 2000 when they're fans suddenly became total a--holes.

However, the Ravens also have a few players I respect very much, not the least of which is Ray Lewis. They've also had two players from my high school on their roster: Jermaine Lewis and currently Jared Gaither.

As far as the whole rivalry thing goes, I just don't think a rivalry can develop when teams only meet once every 4 years.

[SonnyRules]

The correct answer is yes and no.

If you are a Colts fan, prior to their departure to Indianapolis, you absolutely hate all things Washington; particularly the Washington Redskins.

After Ersay sneaked the team out of Baltimore, a lot of kids growing up only had the Redskins to watch each Sunday. Needless to say, there is a generation of Redskin fans here in Baltimore.

Even with the return of football to Baltimore, there are many Raven fans who still pull for the Redskins. It's kind of like when Washington didn't have baseball for so many years. A lot of Washingtonians became Oriole fans. We still hear it today at FedEx field when singing the national anthem.(I wish we would stop it; it's a Baltimore Oriole thing...not D.C.).

[Flycoach]

No rivalry on our part. Baltimore has always felt like they're the Red Headed Stepchild to Washington's Favorite Son (sorry if any of you are a red-headed stepchild).

In my experience, people from B-more either hate everything Washington or are completing dismissive of everything Washington.

IMO, the rivalry means much more to them than to us.

[Cpt.Chaos47]

Didn't the Ravens whine a few years ago about Redskins fans and how we yelled obsenities at the Ravens bus when it came into FedEx. I think it was a preseason game. Then they were complaining about the announcer hyping us up on 3rd down, not that we actually need help or urging to be loud. For some reason I've never liked the Ravens maybe its the purple uniforms.

[terpskins10]

The time I began to hate the Ravens was when someone asked me "Ew, you live in Maryland. Why are you a Redskins fan and not a Ravens fan?"

Answer: Because I've liked football my whole life, not since 2000 when the Ravens won the Super Bowl. Only a very small percentage of Ravens fans today were actually Colts fans back in the day. Meaning most of them just jumped on the bandwagon when they won the big game, at least IMO.

[Larry Brown #43]

The time I began to hate the Ravens was when someone asked me "Ew, you live in Maryland. Why are you a Redskins fan and not a Ravens fan?"



What a dumb question that person asked. How people cannot grasp that the DC Metro area includes parts of Maryland is beyond me.

[Dictator]

My rivalry is moreso with the fans rather than the team.. Living north of Baltimore and having to deal with them and their no knowledge of football makes me want to kill myself


I know a lot of Baltimorons who are pretty annoying in their fanhood.

Take a look around this site. Certainly not traits restricted to fans of one team in particular.

[Fifty Gut]

There seems to be when I talk with Raven fans, but overall, not really. I mean, can there really be a rivalry between teams that only play each other every 4 years? No. The only rivalry is the comparison between teams because we are sister cities. Nothing will touch our rivalries with the NFC East, or even Tampa Bay, who we seem to play every cot damned year (in their house).

[Fifty Gut]

That being said, I'm definitely looking forward to our game this season. I want revenge for that MNF loss in '04 where Brunell fumbled and the fumble was returned for a TD, which turned out being the difference in the game.

[the krabber]

I wouldnt say there is a rivalry between the teams, but living in the Baltimore/Towson area, I get a lot of grief for being a Redskins fan. Id say its a war between the fans, but not the teams.

[ucfSKINS]

I really don't feel any different towards the Ravens as I do with the, say, Saints.

Now if we're talking about dallass, philthy, vagiants, buccanqueers, seapukes....

:laugh:

[SonnyRules]

Didn't the Ravens whine a few years ago about Redskins fans and how we yelled obsenities at the Ravens bus when it came into FedEx. I think it was a preseason game. Then they were complaining about the announcer hyping us up on 3rd down, not that we actually need help or urging to be loud. For some reason I've never liked the Ravens maybe its the purple uniforms.


You should have around in the ye 'ole days when The Baltimore Colt fans beat up the Redskin Marching Band at Memorial Stadium.

[SkipJackSkin]

Many Raven's fans I have come across are jerks. The Raven's as a team don't get my hate.

(God I hate the offseason)

[Cooley4President]

I dislike the Ravens, but not totally because of their location. For it to be a rivalry we actually have to play more than once every few years in my opinion.

[the krabber]

The fact that they are AFC really negates the chance of having a true rivalry, anyways.

[sideshow24]

I'd vote somewhere between A and B. It's nowhere near the rivalry we have with our divisional foes, but I definitely get more satisfaction out of beating the Ravens than I do out of beating some random team like the Raiders or Bengals.

Well said.

[J.Campbell17]

I support the Ravens and Redskins since I am loyal to my area/state. I am more loyal to the Redskins though as I grew up with them and my family has a tradition of supporting the Redskins, so HTTR!

I met one Raven fan in school who told me pretty much what I hear a lot from Steelers fans, "Redskins suck"...Yeah umm ok that was pretty informative. My friend in hagerstown is a very nice Ravens fan who also supports the skins and loved Sean Taylor. So I am so-so with their fans so far.

[mtyquinn]

I never really minded Baltimore when the Colts were there. But once the Browns split on Cleveland to become the carpet-bagging ravens I hate Baltimore. I see them as Washington's neer-do-well cousin. Last week the DJs on the 98 Rock morning show were kvetching about the Redskins. Seems to me that they have a serious inferiority complex.

[smokinskinsfan]

no there is none, however we always have a good fight with them in preseason...That's always fun!

[IbleedBnG83]

I think Tampa Bay has become more of a rival. But there is definately more animosity amongst the fan base between the two teams than just any other random team.

[authentic]

I don't know, the Ravens (as a team) are ok with me. Don't necessarily like most of the fans. Most of them seem to be quite ignorant of anything outside of B-more. Alot of the hatred between the Ravens vs. Redskins has mostly been towards the Redskins. I think there is a jealousy from Raven fans because of the rich history of the Redskins and the 3 superbowls. Plus the Washington area is a far superior attractive area than Baltimore. Therefore, i believe there is an inferiority complex that comes into play. For me personally, as a baltimore native, I love both cities, and since i love the Skins (and have alot of college friends from DC and NOVA), when ever i go there i feel right at home, thank you very much.

[bootzilla]

I guess my hatered started when, they( baltimoran) bi&*ced and whined about how they lost there team(Colts) Then You Steal the Browns from Cleveland, And the NFL trying to force them down our throats every sunday does not help.

[CM916]

Only in the way that we can invade eachother's stadiums for mostly meaningless games.

[skinfan2k]

They are obsessed with us, not vice versa

[hail2skins]

On page 2 of the Post Sports section today they printed a post from their Nationals Journal blog asking about the "Nats-Os" rivalry and the post pretty much said there wasn't one because the two teams don't play in the same division. I think this is a good point. However, if it could ever be arranged that we play the Ravens once per year (instead of every four), then you might see an intensification and perhaps budding of a rivarly. Maybe this talk of a 17th regular season game will revolve around games between teams within the same region.

[Area51]

From what I've noticed, the people of Baltimore hate being "overshadowed" by Washington, D.C. and it seems to carry over. Fans of the Ravens seem to hate the Redskins and view it as a big rivalry while Redskins fans on the other hand, don't seem to(not that I've seen).

[bulldog]

There has never been a football rivalry between Washington and Baltimore. Not when the Colts were here and not since the Ravens arrived from Cleveland.

Players and coaches from both sides have said it in the past. NO RIVALRY.

The Redskins rivalries are in the NFC East.

[Woofer]

I lived in Baltimore during the late 80s, early 90s, and experienced this for myself:
Baltimorians don't like Washington. they don't care much for Philly either, but Washing really bothers them.

A few times, when I told someone there I was originally from DC, I got attitude changes (towards me), people would give me funny looks, and one girl actually asked me what the hell I was doing living in there!

One Sunday, after a really great Skins game, the local news (Channel 2) lead the sports report thusly:
"We going to lead off the the Redskins game, not because we like the Redskins, but because it was a heck of a game. Actually, I don't like the skins at all, but because this was such a good game, we have to lead off with it..."

[MustangSteve]

Working in Baltimore, there seems to be. There are still some Ravens fans that like the Redskins, typically live places like Columbia that are split. But most really just don't like the Redskins. For some reason there is animosity. I really don't like the Ravens at all. I have actualy had Ravens and Colt fans tell me the Skins were the reason the Colts left Baltimore. Man dont blame us cause your team snuck out of town on you guys in the middle of the night :laugh:

[dcnativenerd]

Also, I cannot STAND it when people refer to Baltimore teams as "local". We're two completely different cities with two completely different identies. Baltimore is Baltimore and Washington is Washington!

*Rant off*

[jimster]

The time I began to hate the Ravens was when someone asked me "Ew, you live in Maryland. Why are you a Redskins fan and not a Ravens fan?"

Answer: Because I've liked football my whole life, not since 2000 when the Ravens won the Super Bowl. Only a very small percentage of Ravens fans today were actually Colts fans back in the day. Meaning most of them just jumped on the bandwagon when they won the big game, at least IMO.



...which is funny because, if you're in College Park, you're a couple miles drive down Route 1 and you're in DC.

[MDRedskinsFan]

Also, I cannot STAND it when people refer to Baltimore teams as "local". We're two completely different cities with two completely different identies. Baltimore is Baltimore and Washington is Washington!

*Rant off*I don't see your argument. By your logic, myself and many others on this board would be Baltimore fans. I consider Washington a local team to the Baltimore area, so it can work both ways. Just because they're local doesn't mean you have to like them. I don't like the Ravens. The only Baltimore team I root for is the Orioles. Everything else is DC. Baltimore should just be part of the DC metro area because of distance, and the size of DC.

[elkabong82]

When both teams are doing well, there is more of a fan rivalry. But team rivalry isn't really there. It can't be as the two only play each other once every 4 years in the regular season. Given the friendly atmosphere of the preseason scrimmages, I'd say it is more of a "they are a sparring partner" thing like the poll option suggests.

[skinfan2k]

Ah yes. No wonder why the game this year is selling like hot cakes

[Smurf85]

We have enough rivalry's as it is.I don't consider the Ravens a rivalry.

[Walking Deadman]

I don't see your argument. By your logic, myself and many others on this board would be Baltimore fans. I consider Washington a local team to the Baltimore area, so it can work both ways. Just because they're local doesn't mean you have to like them. I don't like the Ravens. The only Baltimore team I root for is the Orioles. Everything else is DC. Baltimore should just be part of the DC metro area because of distance, and the size of DC.

Thanks, my thoughts exactly.

[authentic]

I don't see your argument. By your logic, myself and many others on this board would be Baltimore fans. I consider Washington a local team to the Baltimore area, so it can work both ways. Just because they're local doesn't mean you have to like them. I don't like the Ravens. The only Baltimore team I root for is the Orioles. Everything else is DC. Baltimore should just be part of the DC metro area because of distance, and the size of DC.

agreed!

[scruffylookin]

There is a rivalry in the minds of Baltimorons. There never has been one down here in the DC metro area. However, it did get pretty annoying when the bandwagon Raven fans started showing up earlier this decade. Then I must admit that I started to feel a rivalry because it did piss me off seeing a Raven bumper sticker or flag down here in Redskins Country.

Not too surprising as the Ravens have now become a bottom dweller franchise, the bandwagoners are gone and so once again I don't feel a rivalry.

[RedskinsNation]

I despise the Ravens personally. Not as much as Philly or Dallas but ALMOST as much as the Giants.

I dont think many Redskins care about the Ravens one way or another....especially since we play them twice a decade.

[paige3girl]

As a Skins fan living in Baltimore I definitely think there is animosity between the two fanbases but I don't think its a full blown rivalry at this point because we really don't play each other enough to make it that.

[paige3girl]

I don't see your argument. By your logic, myself and many others on this board would be Baltimore fans. I consider Washington a local team to the Baltimore area, so it can work both ways. Just because they're local doesn't mean you have to like them. I don't like the Ravens. The only Baltimore team I root for is the Orioles. Everything else is DC. Baltimore should just be part of the DC metro area because of distance, and the size of DC.

I agree and disagree with you... I grew up and in Old Town and like you am all DC except for the O's. In my age range, unless you were a huge fan of the old Colts in your early years you were probably either a Redskins fan or a fan of a different team all together. I live in Baltimore now and have a lot of friends that are fans of random teams like the Seahawks, Raiders, Vikings etc. And then are some people that just wanted to go and support the home team when they came back to town...

As far as city size and population, Baltimore is actually a larger city that DC. However, we all know of course the DC metro is MUCH larger than the Baltimore metro so the Skins fanbase will always IMO be larger (and surperior as far as I am concerned)

[mvisit1]

We don't play each other enough for a full blown rivalry, but DAMN is there animosity between fans. ESPECIALLY in Baltimore. I went to Towson University and you should have heard all of the **** talking on campus and at bars when I had my Skins jerseys on.

[ChiefPowhatan17]

No, they wish there was one, but until now there hasn't been any game of importance between the two clubs. But, Raven fans have already been popping off the mouth about the game this year. I have no doubt that we should handle them.