OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The sellout crowd at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium hopes they don't witness NFL history on Sunday.
The Baltimore Ravens (0-2) are the only active NFL team never to have an 0-3 start, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Ravens, who are celebrating their 20th season, would like to hold onto that distinction after playing the first-place Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) on Sunday.
In the Ravens' previous three 0-2 starts, Baltimore won its third game, beating the Browns in 1999, the Broncos in 2002 and the Jets in 2005.
This year, Baltimore lost to the Broncos and Raiders on the road to start the season, putting them in an unfamiliar situation under coach John Harbaugh. This is the first time the Ravens have started 0-2 in Harbaugh's eight seasons.
"We all understand the situation," Harbaugh said. "We've lost two games in a row before. We've lost three games in a row before, and we've overcome it. But we've never done it at the beginning of a season, so it feels a lot tougher. Until you win your first game, you always have in the back of your mind: 'Can we win a game?' Of course you can. But you got to win one."
If not, the Ravens will join the rest of the 31 teams in the league in knowing how it feels to be 0-3.