Which hit is your favorite?

Leading up to training camp and the start of the 2007 season, BaltimoreRavens.com is taking a look back at the success of 2006, and we need your help. You already tackled the touchdowns and interceptions; now how about the most-explosive hits?

Vote for your favorite on the fan poll located on the BR.com homepage, and then make your voice heard on the official Ravens message boards. We'll announce the winner at the end of the week.

Fave Five Hits:

1) Ray pops Pittman

The setup: Coming off a 2005 campaign that was shortened with a serious hamstring injury, many questioned whether Ray Lewis could return to the field in his typical all-world form. Lewis scoffed at the doubters all through training camp, preferring to let his play do the talking, and in the season opener in Tampa Bay, he shouted mightily.

The payoff: The Ravens were pitching an all-around shutout to the Buccaneers, as Baltimore went up 20-0 early in the third quarter. But, the Bucs mounted a significant drive down to the Ravens' 6-yard line and tasted their first points of the afternoon. Tampa Bay's Chris Simms looked for running back Michael Pittman in the short flat, but there was no holding on to the ball, as Lewis pounced to absolutely level Pittman. With that hit, the Bucs knew that No. 52 was just as nasty as ever.

2) Rookie justice across the middle.

The setup: The Ravens had high expectations of fifth-round draft pick Dawan Landry when they plugged him in at starting safety, and he turned in an admirable five-tackle performance in his first game of the year. As a player that was known in college for his thumping stops, though, Ravens fans were left wanting.

The payoff: With the Raiders behind 21-3, any hopes of salvaging the game were running thin as time ticked off the clock. There were 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter when Landry knocked most of the hope away. The enforcer caught wideout Alvis Whitted going over the middle, landing a blow that literally took off Whitted's helmet. How hard was the hit? It won ESPN's "Jacked Up" segment on the following day's Monday Night Countdown.

3) Ed Reed shuts up Chad Johnson.

The setup: The fiery Bengals receiver talked big in the days leading up to this Week 9 matchup, an always-intense battle between two division foes. Johnson was also coming off two contests in 2005 where he combined for 179 receiving yards and one touchdown against the Ravens. But, things didn't start out the way the Bengals had hoped, as the Ravens put up a quick score after recovering a fumble of the opening kickoff at M&T Bank Stadium.

The payoff: Less than two minutes after Jamal Lewis rumbled across the goal line in the first quarter, Johnson thought he was open 25 yards down the left side of the field. As Carson Palmer released the ball, Reed smelled blood and took off, leveling the Bengals wideout and creating an interception for Samari Rolle. Reed then recovered enough to grab a lateral from Rolle and sprinted 25 yards to paydirt.

4) Roethlisberger hits the dirt.

The setup: This was a game where it must have been tough to be Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He absorbed nine sacks - tied for best-ever for the Ravens - and the Steelers couldn't get on the scoreboard all day. The worst sack, though, came from Bart Scott, as the first half was winding down.

The payoff: At 3:31 in the second quarter, Roethlisberger had already taken two sacks, but as he took a second-down snap from the shotgun, nothing could have prepared him for the Ravens linebacker. The defense came in an all-out rush, and Scott was the one that broke free, crunching the signal-caller to the turf and knocking him out of the game for the remainder of the series - much to the delight of the pro-Baltimore crowd.

5) Bills bumped in season finale.

The setup: In the last game of the season, the Ravens were looking for momentum going into the playoffs, but the offense couldn't seem to get firing as field goals filled the score sheet. The Bills were fighting their way back into the game, try as the Baltimore defense might to bat them back.

The payoff: Reed again came up big, making two third-quarter statements with crushing hits on Buffalo wideout - and fellow University of Miami alumnus - Roscoe Parrish. The first came after the Ravens' third Matt Stover field goal. Parrish converted a first down with a 12-yard grab, but he might have regretted it after Reed made him pay over the middle. It was déjà vu eight minutes later when the safety again laid out Parrish. Give Parrish credit, though. He did hold on to the ball both times, maybe with a slight headache.