The two teams first played each other in 1996, but the rivalry started in earnest in 2007 when the Ravens suffered a bitter 27–24 loss in the Patriots' quest for perfection. The rivalry began to escalate in 2009 when the Ravens lost to the Patriots 27–21 in a game that involved a confrontation between Patriots quarterback
Tom Brady and Ravens linebacker
Terrell Suggs. Both players would go on to take verbal shots at each other through the media after the game. The Ravens defeated the Patriots in the
2009 AFC Wild Card playoff game, 33–14, marking the first time the Ravens had ever defeated the Patriots. The Ravens faced the Patriots in week six of the 2010 season. The Patriots ended up winning 23–20 in overtime; the game caused controversy from a hit to the helmet of tight end
Todd Heap by Patriots safety
Brandon Meriweather. The Ravens played the Patriots for the third consecutive season, this time in the
2011 AFC championship game, which the Patriots won, 23–20. The rivalry reached a new level of friction with this, the second playoff meeting between the two clubs. The Ravens built a 20–16 lead in the fourth quarter, but Patriots quarterback Tom Brady dove into the end zone to make the score 23–20 with around 11 minutes remaining; this proved to be the winning touchdown. Smith caught two touchdowns in a back and forth game; the Ravens erased a 13–0 deficit in the first half and led 14–13, but the Patriots scored at the end of the second quarter for a 20–14 lead. The lead changed twice in the third quarter and the Patriots led 30–21 in the fourth, but the Ravens scored on Smith's second touchdown catch. The Ravens were stopped on fourth down but the Patriots had to punt; in the final two minutes a pass interference penalty on
Devin McCourty put the ball at the Patriots 7-yard line; new Ravens kicker
Justin Tucker booted a 27-yard field goal on the final play; the ball sailed directly over the upright and was ruled good; the quality of officiating by replacement referees caused controversy as
Bill Belichick angrily reached for one of the referees as they were leaving the field, leading to a $50,000 fine later that week. The two teams met again in the
2012 AFC Championship, where the Ravens won 28–13. The Patriots led at halftime, 13–7, but the Ravens defense gave up no points in the 2nd half. and eventually onto a 28–24 victory against the
Seattle Seahawks in
Super Bowl XLIX. On November 3, 2019, the 8–0 Patriots met the 5–2 Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on
Sunday Night Football. The game marked the introduction of
Lamar Jackson in the rivalry, who took over as the Ravens quarterback in the middle of the 2018 season. The Ravens came away with a 37–20 victory, handing the Patriots their first loss of the season and beating them for the first time since the 2012 AFC Championship. ==Rivalry statistics==