In 2000, division winners in the AFC were Miami in the East, Tennessee in the Central, and Oakland in the West, with the Wild-Cards going to Indianapolis, Baltimore, and Denver. In the NFC, it was New York in the East, Minnesota in the Central, and New Orleans in the West, with the Wild-Cards going to Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, and St.Louis. In the AFC wild-Card Playoffs, the Ravens shut down the Broncos 21-3 and the Dolphins overcame a 14-0 deficit to beat the Colts in overtime 23-17. In the NFC, the Saints won their first playoff game in their 34-year history by surviving a furious rally by the defending champions Rams 31-28. In the other NFC game, the Eagles rolled over the Buccaneers 21-3. In the AFC Divisional Playoffs, the Raiders would shut out the Dolphins 27-0, while the Ravens would put a tight 10-10 game away with a 14 point fourth quarter to win 24-10. In the NFC, the Vikings would roll over the Saints 34-16, while the Giants would cruise to a 20-10 win over the Eagles. In the conference championship games, the stingy Ravens defense
would shut down the Raiders 16-3 in the AFC, while the Giants would destroy the Vikings 41-0, to set up the match-ups for Super Bowl XXXV. The Ravens defeated the Giants by the score of 34–7. The game was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Baltimore allowed only 152 yards of offense by New York (the third-lowest total ever in a Super Bowl), recorded 4 sacks, and forced 5 turnovers. All 16 of the Giants' possessions ended with punts or interceptions, with the exception of the last one, which ended when time expired in the game. New York's lone touchdown, a 97-yard kickoff return, was quickly answered by Baltimore on an 84-yard touchdown return on the ensuing kickoff. The Giants became the first team since the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII to not score an offensive touchdown and the fifth overall - joining the Bengals as well as the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX, the
Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII, and the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI. Baltimore's Ray Lewis, who made 3 solo tackles, 2 assists, and blocked 4 passes, became the second linebacker to be named Super Bowl MVP.