The Ravens weren't supposed to win more than a handful of games.
They certainly weren't supposed to contend for the playoffs, either.
Now, with three players having been named to the Pro Bowl yesterday, the Ravens have completed an unexpected trifecta.
The Ravens (7-7), who play the Cleveland Browns (7-7) in a key AFC North game Sunday, reaped some early rewards for their overachieving season as offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, tight end Todd Heap and outside linebacker Peter Boulware were selected to the Pro Bowl.
"I think it's a testament to our team chemistry and the fact that we do have some good players around here," said Ogden, a Pro Bowler for the sixth straight year. "You can't send three guys to the Pro Bowl unless you have some guys out there obviously. We still have some talent, and I think our record kind of indicates that this year."
The three Pro Bowl invitations mark the fewest the Ravens have received since their first two years (1996 and 1997) when just two players each were named to the NFL's all-star event. But having multiple selections is a major achievement for a rebuilding team that is playing without five of its six Pro Bowl players (Ray Lewis, Shannon Sharpe, Rod Woodson, Sam Adams and Jermaine Lewis) from a year ago.
Lewis, who had been a Pro Bowl performer the past five seasons, was removed from the balloting after being placed on injured reserve while the others were let go in the team's historic salary cap slashing. (The other players are with other teams.)
In contrast, the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers had three Pro Bowl players named while the AFC South-leading Tennessee Titans had none.
This season's Ravens representatives covered the entire spectrum, from a first-timer to a much-appreciated return to an annual lock.
Heap received the biggest ovation from his teammates - and even a team-wide chant of his name - when coach Brian Billick announced the Pro Bowl selections to his team after practice. The 31st pick in the 2001 draft, Heap was named to his first Pro Bowl after being the only tight end in the league to lead his team in receptions (54).
Heap joined Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez as the AFC's tight ends and, in a twist of fate, likely bumped his former mentor, Denver's Shannon Sharpe, out of the Pro Bowl.
"I really think that's who it came down to, Shannon and I. Shannon's just as deserving," Heap said. "He's been doing it for years, and that's one of the guys I've looked up to my whole life. I still think Shannon's the greatest ever, but at the same time, I'm happy."
For Boulware, it was more satisfaction.
A Pro Bowl performer in 1998 and 1999, Boulware did not make the team last year after leading the AFC in sacks. This time, he received an invitation based more on impact than statistics.
He is fifth on the Ravens in tackles (72) and leads them in sacks (five), which ranks 29th in the AFC. But opposing coaches and players voted heavily for him since the game plan against the Ravens usually begins with stopping Boulware, especially with Lewis out for the season.
"I'm really excited for Peter given the circumstances that he's had to deal with," Billick said. "I'm sure Peter playing with the group that he did over the last couple of years, there are those that might intimate that he's surrounded by a good crew and that's why he shows up. This is a reaffirmation for Peter that he's a great player. He's been carrying the load."
Ogden was named for the sixth straight year and remains one of the league's dominating linemen. His Pro Bowl streak is the longest of any offensive tackle in the NFL.
"You never take it for granted," Ogden said. "You have to go out and play hard every year. You just try to match what you've been doing in the past. There's always young guys looking to come up and take your place. So, every time you get voted in, it's an honor."
The Ravens had a short list of snubs: running back Jamal Lewis, safety Ed Reed and cornerback Chris McAlister.
Lewis is the AFC's seventh-leading rusher (1,141 yards) and ninth in most yards from scrimmage (1,557). Reed is tied for sixth in the conference with five interceptions. And McAlister was having his best NFL season before spraining his ankle a month ago.
"I stopped trying to figure out the process two years ago," said McAlister, who has one interception but leads the Ravens with 23 passes broken up. "There aren't four corners in the AFC that are better than me. That's just my opinion.
"Interceptions might have hurt me. There's a lot of guys [who] might have more picks than me, but they're getting scored on a lot more than me, too."
Reed, the Ravens' first-round pick in April, was the leading vote-getter at strong safety from fans. Low numbers from the coaches' and players' ballots kept him from the Pro Bowl.
But Reed has a chance to be named the league's rookie defensive Player of the Year.
"It didn't fall my way today," Reed said. "But I got many more opportunities."
The Pro Bowl will be played Feb. 2 in Honolulu.
The voting results were weighted equally among the fans, players and coaches.
Although the Ravens were pleased with three Pro Bowl selections, they are fixed on securing a far more important invitation - the playoffs.
"It's always great to cap it off a season like that, but the best thing for us would be able to win these last two games and get in the big show," Boulware said. "That's what we're really focused on right now."