2000 Ravens vs 1976 Steelers Could Either Beat the ’85 Bears

Could either the 2000 Ravens or the 1976 Steelers beat the 85 Bears? For a full decade, no NFL matchup hit harder than Ravens vs Steelers. From Ray Lewis and Ed Reed to Troy Polamalu and James Harrison, every meeting between these teams felt like a collision between two defensive empires. This was the last great era of NFL violence—where field position mattered, every hit echoed through the stadium, and neither offense could breathe without paying for it.

In this ChiSports Legends breakdown, we dive deep into the hits, the stats, the defensive schemes, the playoff clashes, and the iconic moments that defined this rivalry. We look at how these two units were built, why they dominated the 2000s, and where this matchup ranks among the greatest defensive battles of all time — including a direct comparison to the legendary ’85 Chicago Bears, often considered the gold standard for defensive greatness.

We’ll examine:
How the Ravens and Steelers consistently finished top-5 in defense
Why their matchups routinely ended as low-scoring slugfests
The legendary personalities that shaped the rivalry
How close either defense came to matching the Bears’ historic 1985 season
What made this decade of football truly special
If you grew up watching old-school defense, this video is for you.