Flacco Has To Win Sunday To Be Better Than Average

[Militant X 1]

ummm...the Ravens have to win on Sunday.

~Mili

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='Clutch Ravens' timestamp='1327076339' post='959933']
Does that mean Peyton Manning was average until 2006?
[/quote]

Nope, it means every media expert calling Peyton Manning a "choker" and "not a big game quarterback" until 2006. And even now, his career postseason record and numbers are rather pedestrian, especially if you consider his all time great regular season success. Sort of the opposite of his brother in the 2007 season, or the opposite of Troy Aikman. Looking at Aikman's numbers in the regular season, he was up and down, and on the whole rather "average" - career completion percentage 62, a lot of seasons where he completed less than 60 percent of his passes, 2 seasons his entire career where his QB rating hit above 90. But then get into the playoffs, and he absolutely exploded for a short stretch of games 3 times - each time, his team won the Superbowl. Perception is what it is, and as long as the Baltimore Ravens have a dominant defense, Joe will be called "average at best" - unless he wins 2 rings. Roethlisberger was the same way, people said his team carried him to the Superbowl, and if you look at his numbers in that first Superbowl, they're absolutely aweful. Then he goes out there 2 years later and owns everyone in the postseason, and has that game winning Santonio Holmes TD - bam, Roethlisberger is an elite quarterback. One or two plays in big moments can change a lot.

[keebl3rs]

[quote name='Militant X 1' timestamp='1327085531' post='960173']
ummm...the Ravens have to win on Sunday.

~Mili
[/quote]

But everyone is telling me that's unpossible!?!

[darklight1216]

Fun fact: During each of the past three years, Flacco has passed for between 3,610 and 3,622 yards, between 20 and 25 touchdowns, and 10 or 12 interceptions

[Raven Hammer]

IMO As odd as it seams Joe national Rep hinges on the Defence. If the D does what has to be done to win by holding Brady down then no matter what Joe does Stat wise he was carried by the Defence. If the D fails to hold brady in check and he puts up forty then Joe wasn't good enough to put the team on his back and win. As i have said in other threads This Offense is not put together for that. We are and should be a run first team. Joe is in a no win position as far as his national Rep. is concerned. So as baltimore native and a big Raven fan i am happy with a Quarterback which all he does is WIN

[IMissMattStover]

Losing the game between the two best teams in the conference does not make a QB average. An average QB could never make it this far, with the exception of Trent Dilfer behind a smashing D. Win Lose or Draw, Flacco still got here.

[scrock]

[quote][b]Jan 19[/b][color=#111111][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3] QB Joe Flacco needs just one playoff win to move into a tie for the most post-season victories by a quarterback in his first four seasons in the NFL. Flacco, who is 5-3 in the playoffs, trails the Patriots' Tom Brady, who accrued six postseason wins in his first four years.[/size][/font][/color]

[/quote]

I don't agree that Joe has to win this game to be above average, this is the ultimate TEAM sport. When your playmakers, the WRs, and the TEs can't beat man coverage and make plays for the QB it's kind of hard for a QB who has to pass to have success.

Having said that I think Joe will have some success against that New England defense. The Ravens will look to control the time of possession being balanced but I believe it will be Joe who makes the key plays to keep drives alive and sustaining drives that ends in points. The Ravens must score Touchdowns and not FGs.

[IMissMattStover]

As long as the Oline performs better than last week and we can convert on thirds, I think Joe will have a great day tommorrow.

[scrock]

[quote name='IMissMattStover' timestamp='1327167891' post='961144']
As long as the Oline performs better than last week and we can convert on thirds, I think Joe will have a great day tommorrow.
[/quote]

the OL is key....if they can come out and dominate because they were pathetic last week it will go a long way towards a Ravens win

[flynismo]

[quote name='funky141' timestamp='1327077977' post='959982']
You could easily say that in a way. Manning was always bashed for not winning the AFC game for years. He was always labeled
"can't win the big one" till he did it in 2006.

I'm not bashing Flacco, just saying his rep will sky-rocket if he wins this game Sunday. Why is that so hard to understand?
[/quote]

Come on now. In no possible stretch of the imagination has Manning ever been anything close to an average QB. People stuck him with the "choke artist" label, but without him, Indy had no prayer of sniffing the playoffs in the first place.

But I understand your point -- theorectically, people will view Flacco in a more positive light if he wins the SB. But, I have my doubts about that too. People ALWAYS find a way to criticise him.

[flynismo]

[quote name='scrock' timestamp='1327168006' post='961150']

the OL is key....if they can come out and dominate because they were pathetic last week it will go a long way towards a Ravens win
[/quote]


Been saying that all year long -- the Ravens wil go as far as the OL takes them.

[dontbnvus]

[quote name='Militant X 1' timestamp='1327085531' post='960173']
ummm...the Ravens have to win on Sunday.

~Mili
[/quote]

The Ravens will win on Sunday. They will win by a comfortable margin as well. Joe will seal the deal in the fourth with a TD pass. I believe this whole heartedly. Ravens 34 Pats 24

[scrock]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1327168335' post='961158']

Come on now. In no possible stretch of the imagination has Manning ever been anything close to an average QB. People stuck him with the "choke artist" label, but without him, Indy had no prayer of sniffing the playoffs in the first place.

But I understand your point -- theorectically, people will view Flacco in a more positive light if he wins the SB. But, I have my doubts about that too. People ALWAYS find a way to criticise him.
[/quote]

ESPN and Trent Dilfer are already making excuses if Joe does win the SB, Trent says he has to be the reason they won or be clutch or both or he will be another QB on a team who won a SB DESPITE their QB

[flynismo]

[quote name='scrock' timestamp='1327168585' post='961172']

ESPN and Trent Dilfer are already making excuses if Joe does win the SB, Trent says he has to be the reason they won or be clutch or both or he will be another QB on a team who won a SB DESPITE their QB
[/quote]

I dont know what ESPN said (I dont pay ANY attention to their drivel), but if I recall, Trent said that in the context of that is how Flacco will be percieved. I dont think he was bashing Flacco.

[dontbnvus]

[quote name='scrock' timestamp='1327168585' post='961172']

ESPN and Trent Dilfer are already making excuses if Joe does win the SB, Trent says he has to be the reason they won or be clutch or both or he will be another QB on a team who won a SB DESPITE their QB
[/quote]

I do not think that Trent is making a excuse. I just think he knows what Joe is up against with the talking heads. He has been there and done that. I really think that Dilfer respects Joe and thinks he can be a great QB.

[scrock]

The OL needs to win on Sunday(most important)
The WRs need to win on Sunday, beat their man one on one or whatever match up they have going
Same thing for the TEs, they need to win, they have to find the soft spot in the defense and let Flacco hit them

The run game is what the Ravens are known for so I'm sure they will stack the box and try to stop the run and force the ball into Joe's hands...I'd like to see Cam call some quick out routes or some simple completions for Joe to get him settled IF he has any nerves....

On defense the front 7, front 4 have to get pressure on the QB...Ngata has to have a big game, its been a while since he really made some noise. Someone other than Suggs will need to apply pressure, maybe Arthur Jones? Pernell McPhee? Kruger? Suggs will be facing double teams.....

The Patriots will throw a lot of quick strikes, so that could bode well for our secondary because Webb and Jimmy can jump on top of routes and make the pick....I don't think they will go deep too much because they just dont have that kind of speed at WR anymore...Branch isnt as fast as he once was...look for a lot of intermediate passes and a quick pace

[bmore ravens]

[quote name='SaVaGe' timestamp='1327064508' post='959763']

I'd say he is better than average during the regular season. However his performances in the post season have been average or below. (Mostly below) This coming from a huge Flacco supporter. With that said I hope he goes off on Sunday, win or loss(preferably win) and shuts up his critics.
[/quote]

I fail to see how he has been average or below in the postseason. The past two years has has thrown for 5 TDs and 1 pick in 3 postseason games with a QB rating in the mid-90's. Is that average?

[PurpleDrink]

Flacco just needs to play okay, WRers need to not drop the balls throw to them, and the D justs needs to play like its the Jets game.

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='bmore ravens' timestamp='1327173928' post='961260']

I fail to see how he has been average or below in the postseason. The past two years has has thrown for 5 TDs and 1 pick in 3 postseason games with a QB rating in the mid-90's. Is that average?
[/quote]

See, the people who talk on ESPN and stuff don't know any of this stuff. They're still probably looking at his performances against Miami, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh in his rookie season and basing their nonsense on that. See Alex Smith beats a bad passing defense with the help of 2 Drew Brees picks AND a completion percentage in the 50s and is now a post-season hero. Joe plays against a top 4 Houston defense that hits him all day, has a completion percentage so low because he didn't have to throw the ball a lot and the drops and throwaways hurt his numbers, but let's not talk about that. Let's talk about how the defense once again carried this team and Flacco did nothing.

[scrock]

[quote name='bmore ravens' timestamp='1327173928' post='961260']

I fail to see how he has been average or below in the postseason. The past two years has has thrown for 5 TDs and 1 pick in 3 postseason games with a QB rating in the mid-90's. Is that average?
[/quote]

people just look at his numbers his rookie year and his 2nd year when he played on 1 leg...he has played better the past 2 years..yes, even against the Steelers

[IMissMattStover]

[quote name='scrock' timestamp='1327168006' post='961150']

the OL is key....if they can come out and dominate because they were pathetic last week it will go a long way towards a Ravens win
[/quote]

Exactly. Last week was embarrasing. Despite all the people complaining about Joe's performance, He played really well given the circumstances.

[gabefergy]

Semantics. Thats all this thread is about. Why do a words like Average or Elite matter. What matters is winning football games, and Joe has done that. If the Ravens win this week, Flacco probably wont be considered any differently unless he also puts up impressive numbers. Conversely if Flacco throws for 300 yards and 3 TDs, but the Ravens still manage to lose will he then be seen as a good QB? I doubt it. Realistically though, it doesnt matter how people want to label our QB. I have faith in Joe and I know the locker room and front office believe in him too.

[jimmypowder]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1327175065' post='961285']

See, the people who talk on ESPN and stuff don't know any of this stuff. They're still probably looking at his performances against Miami, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh in his rookie season and basing their nonsense on that. See Alex Smith beats a bad passing defense with the help of 2 Drew Brees picks AND a completion percentage in the 50s and is now a post-season hero. Joe plays against a top 4 Houston defense that hits him all day, has a completion percentage so low because he didn't have to throw the ball a lot and the drops and throwaways hurt his numbers, but let's not talk about that. Let's talk about how the defense once again carried this team and Flacco did nothing.[/quote]

Yeah the ESPN huge love for Alex Smith is really laugh out loud funny . I would have loved to see Alex Smith play
Houston's defense . Can you say 2-3 picks !!!!