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Ravens secure comeback victory in thrilling 1996 debut against Raiders

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 18, 2026, 9:05 AM

Last updated Sep 18, 2026

Ravens secure comeback victory in thrilling 1996 debut against Raiders
Summary

On September 1, 1996, the Baltimore Ravens kicked off their NFL journey with a thrilling 19-14 victory over the Oakland Raiders. The game took place at Memorial Stadium, where a record crowd of 64,124 witnessed a dramatic comeback. The Ravens, trailing 14-7 at halftime, responded after an intense halftime speech from coach Ted Marchibroda. With quarterback Vinny Testaverde leading, they scored the final 12 points, denying the Raiders any further advancement. The win marked an emotional milestone for Baltimore fans, still recovering from the Colts' departure twelve years earlier.

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By the Numbers
  • •Ravens debut on September 1, 1996, in front of 64,124 fans
  • •Baltimore trailed at halftime 14-7
  • •Ted Marchibroda's halftime speech sparked a comeback
  • •Vinny Testaverde passed for 254 yards and scored a touchdown
  • •Ravens concluded the season with a 4-12 record
Latest Updates
  • 9:05 AMYahoo Sports — Retro Baltimore: Ravens wow fans at the team’s thrilling debut game in 1996
What they're saying
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Thirty years ago, the Ravens came to be. In a debut that met the pre-game hype, Baltimore’s new NFL team rallied for a 19-14 win over the Oakland Raiders on Sept. 1, 1996, before a record crowd of 64,124 at Memorial Stadium. Many of those fans were still grieving the loss of the Colts 12 years earlier; the Ravens came from behind on the same field where their predecessors had rocked the place ...

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