Carolina Panthers ‘blood and guts’ Baltimore Ravens nightmare revisited

Carolina Panthers vs. Baltimore Ravens has a different feel this time around.

The Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens have rarely played one another in regular season competition. Both teams originated around the same time as Carolina played their first game in 1995 and the Ravens one year later – providing the first of five games between the two franchises.

Located in the AFC North, Baltimore plays the Panthers once every four years under the current NFL schedule rotation. Beginning in 2002, after the initial matchup, both the Panthers and Ravens have split their series with each winning two in a row.

Add in Carolina’s 27-16 home win in the first contest and the Panthers hold a one game advantage, leading the all-time series three games to two. The history between these two teams was relatively boring until 2014 when everything changed courtesy of then-Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman and legendary wide receiver Steve Smith.

After a 13-year career with Carolina, who drafted Smith in Round 3 of the 2001 NFL Draft, Gettleman released him amid salary cap concerns and a team he viewed in transition. Smith, never one to hold back his opinion, let it be known that he was not pleased with the decision nor how it was handled.

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Promising “blood and guts everywhere” should his new team run through Bank of America Stadium the then 35-year old receiver backed up his statement, signing with the Baltimore Ravens. Smith’s new team didn’t travel to Carolina but hosted the Panthers at M & T Bank Stadium.

It was a nightmare for Carolina from kickoff.

After a relatively slow start and exchange of punts, Smith took over in the second quarter. Quarterback Joe Flacco found the ex-Panthers star for four completions, 105 yards and two touchdowns putting Baltimore on top 21-7 at the half.

Everything was going right for Smith. His first score, a 61-yard reception off a tipped pass from tight end Owen Daniels was only a prelude to his monster performance. Finishing with seven catches and 139 yards the former Panthers receiver showed he still had plenty of gas left in the tank.

An injury derailed his 2015 season but Smith returned to play a final year in Baltimore before retiring two years ago. His near 200 catches, 2,534 yards and 14 touchdowns over 37 games proved he wasn’t ready to retire in Carolina.

The Panthers lost 38-10 in Baltimore and Smith had only one other multi-touchdown game during his three seasons with the Ravens. There were no literal “blood and guts,” but Smith’s point was clearly evident.

The Panthers and Ravens kick off on Sunday, October 28 at 1:00pm ET.