Interesting factoid

[OriginalColtsFan]

Joe Flacco has won 60 games in his first 5 years. No other QB in the history of the NFL has accomplished that.

(Disclaimer: That's NOT saying Joe is better than any other/every other QB in the history of the NFL. It's not saying he's "elite". By the same token, it's a legitimate accomplishment, especially when considering the lousy play calling of Cam Cameron and the sketchy supporting cast he's had over that time period.)

[Peej7245]

Joe Flacco has won 60 games in his first 5 years. No other QB in the history of the NFL has accomplished that.

(Disclaimer: That's NOT saying Joe is better than any other/every other QB in the history of the NFL. It's not saying he's "elite". By the same token, it's a legitimate accomplishment, especially when considering the lousy play calling of Cam Cameron and the sketchy supporting cast he's had over that time period.)

Oh c'mon now OCF! We all "know" that Flacco did not win those games! However, we "know" that all the losses were all his fault!

How do we "know"? Just ask Ashley Fox, Jamie Dukes, Mark Schlereth, etc.

Finally, the total number of wins, better than any other QB at the start of his career, can NEVER be used to praise Flacco! ESPN and the NFL Network won'd allow it.

[PEZ]

If Ravens go to the Super Bowl and win it will Flacco be respected then? Probably not. Giants won two with Eli Manning and he still doesn't get the respect he deserves.

[reg_indy]

Oh c'mon now OCF! We all "know" that Flacco did not win those games! However, we "know" that all the losses were all his fault!

How do we "know"? Just ask Ashley Fox, Jamie Dukes, Mark Schlereth, etc.

Finally, the total number of wins, better than any other QB at the start of his career, can NEVER be used to praise Flacco! ESPN and the NFL Network won'd allow it.

Bringing up the number of Playoff wins for Matty Ice (0) can't be used to judge his career, either.... He's awesome!!

-- According to the pundits mentioned

[Ravens2006]

The success he's had as a starting QB in the NFL so far is astounding. If the league is really so "QB driven" as we all like to say now... making the playoffs every single year, winning a couple division titles, going to two conference title games, being literally ONE dropped throw away from a SB, winning more games at QB than anybody else in a certain time-frame... remarkable. Also the reason why Linta is asking for a big deal.

[OriginalColtsFan]

The success he's had as a starting QB in the NFL so far is astounding. If the league is really so "QB driven" as we all like to say now... making the playoffs every single year, winning a couple division titles, going to two conference title games, being literally ONE dropped throw away from a SB, winning more games at QB than anybody else in a certain time-frame... remarkable. Also the reason why Linta is asking for a big deal.

And why he SHOULD be asking for a big deal. The fact that the Ravens squandered so much of their cap space on Ngata, Reed, Suggs, Lewis, and even Leach notwithstanding -- that's not JOE'S fault that the FO didn't better prepare for the inevitability of having to sign their franchise QB. Yet somehow Joe's expected to give a "hometown discount" to cover the FO's lack of foresight. Sorry...things just don't work that way in the real world.

[AFKAR7]

I think this really speaks to his duribility and that he has never missed a start. I also thought I heard he has won the most playoff games as a starting QB in his first five seasons.

[Steveg85321]

One of the things I've heard Joe criticized for is not getting all pumped up and getting real excited during games, and maybe that is actually one of his strengths. He's kind of "just-another-day-at-the-office" about it, and perhaps that is an advantage in the playoffs.

[Passarino]

One of the things I've heard Joe criticized for is not getting all pumped up and getting real excited during games, and maybe that is actually one of his strengths. He's kind of "just-another-day-at-the-office" about it, and perhaps that is an advantage in the playoffs.

I seem to remember another quarterback that played in Baltimore with that same attitude. Seems this guy just walked off the field after the championship winning touchdown in overtime.

[NCBirdfan]

It's no small feat for the Ravens to be in five straight postseasons in the current NFL scheduling scheme. If a team earns a playoff spot it also earns a harder schedule the next season. Teams like Indianapolis (this year, as a result of last year's season) get easier scheduling, ie, weaker opponents. The NFL does this in an attempt to thwart dynasties. The salary cap is also designed towards that goal.

Playoff teams can expect to playing other playoff teams the next year. Thus, the Ravens, besides playing in a tough division where the team has to play Cincinnati and Pittsburgh twice, have to consistently play strong teams (teams that made the playoffs the previous years).

For those who believe the Ravens have been doing this in spite of Flacco...they are misguided at best.

[TDL]

Flacco has been remarkably consistent so they know what they're going to get from him.


2012 Baltimore Ravens 16 531 317 59.7 3,817 22 10 RATE:87.7
2011 Baltimore Ravens 16 542 312 57.6 3,610 20 12 RATE:80.9
2010 Baltimore Ravens 16 489 306 62.6 3,622 25 10 RATE:93.6
2009 Baltimore Ravens 16 499 315 63.1 3,613 21 12 RATE:88.9
2008 Baltimore Ravens 16 428 257 60.0 2,971 14 12 RATE:80.3

A solid defense and running game will make for a perennial contender but an average defense and running game will require superior QB play which Flacco has yet to demonstrate that he's capable of.He really hasn't evolved as a QB and should be paid accordingly.An average of $12 million per season would seem to be about right,IMO.That would be 1/10th of the available cap space and allow the team to maintain the talent around him which will be necessary in order for him to successful.

[bawlmer_fan]

It's no small feat for the Ravens to be in five straight postseasons in the current NFL scheduling scheme. If a team earns a playoff spot it also earns a harder schedule the next season. Teams like Indianapolis (this year, as a result of last year's season) get easier scheduling, ie, weaker opponents. The NFL does this in an attempt to thwart dynasties. The salary cap is also designed towards that goal.

Playoff teams can expect to playing other playoff teams the next year. Thus, the Ravens, besides playing in a tough division where the team has to play Cincinnati and Pittsburgh twice, have to consistently play strong teams (teams that made the playoffs the previous years).

For those who believe the Ravens have been doing this in spite of Flacco...they are misguided at best.

Ive never understood this theory. Every team still plays the same number of 1st place teams, 2nd place teams, 3rd place teams and 4th place teams as every one else in the league. And in some instances a 3rd place team can have a tougher schedule than their division winner.

[NCBirdfan]

Flacco has been remarkably consistent so they know what they're going to get from him.


2012 Baltimore Ravens 16 531 317 59.7 3,817 22 10 RATE:87.7
2011 Baltimore Ravens 16 542 312 57.6 3,610 20 12 RATE:80.9
2010 Baltimore Ravens 16 489 306 62.6 3,622 25 10 RATE:93.6
2009 Baltimore Ravens 16 499 315 63.1 3,613 21 12 RATE:88.9
2008 Baltimore Ravens 16 428 257 60.0 2,971 14 12 RATE:80.3

A solid defense and running game will make for a perennial contender but an average defense and running game will require superior QB play which Flacco has yet to demonstrate that he's capable of.He really hasn't evolved as a QB and should be paid accordingly.An average of $12 million per season would seem to be about right,IMO.That would be 1/10th of the available cap space and allow the team to maintain the talent around him which will be necessary in order for him to successful.

By your criteria, I guess Flacco is THAT superior quarterback, because this season the Ravens defense was below average and the running game was nonexistent for about a third of the games.

But, here they are in the playoffs again for the fifth straight year. But somehow, Flacco can't get the Ravens in the playoffs with an average defense and the #11 ranked rushing team this year?

[NCBirdfan]

Ive never understood this theory. Every team still plays the same number of 1st place teams, 2nd place teams, 3rd place teams and 4th place teams as every one else in the league. And in some instances a 3rd place team can have a tougher schedule than their division winner.

That's because the schedules are made as a reflection of the previous year. In each division though, division winners will play two more games against division winners of the previous years and teams like Cleveland will play two bottom feeders instead. Sometimes though, teams that were bottom feeders become playoff-bound teams and vice versa - so the league's scheduling is not foolproof.