The 2002 Baltimore Ravens season was the team's seventh season in the National Football League (NFL). They were unable to improve upon their previous output of 10âÂÂ6, instead winning only seven games and missing the playoffs for the first time in three years.
Running back Jamal Lewis made his return to the lineup after missing the previous season from a knee injury. Baltimore's defense took a large step back from its normally high level of play in 2002. Star linebacker Ray Lewis suffered a shoulder injury which limited him to playing in only five games during the season, and the team finished 19th in scoring defense after finishing 4th in the NFL the previous year. The Ravens switched to the 3-4 defensive scheme under new coordinator Mike Nolan as Marvin Lewis left for the Washington Redskins in the off-season.
The Ravens had lost 13 players during the offseason including several players from the 2000 Super Bowl championship team. Quarterbacks Elvis Grbac and Randall Cunningham retired, Tight End Shannon Sharpe returned to the Denver Broncos, Defensive Tackle Tony Siragusa retired, Defensive Tackle Sam Adams and Safety Rod Woodson left for the Oakland Raiders, Wide Receiver Patrick Johnson left for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Wide Receiver/return specialist Jermaine Lewis left for the Houston Texans, Punter Kyle Richardson went to the Minnesota Vikings, Running Back Terry Allen was already out of football, Wide Receiver Qadry Ismail went to the colts, Jamie Sharper went to the Texans.
Apart from their AFC North division games, the Ravens played against the AFC South and NFC South according to the NFL's new conference rotation, and played the Broncos and Dolphins based on 2001 standings with respect to the newly aligned divisions.