Let me start by saying that I believe he is on the Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger track. He's a guy that many have ridiculed as not being even a capable starting quarterback in the past. I could've put him as a high as number five on my list, but I will defer slightly to the other two, more veteran quarterbacks. That supernatural run last year had to have proved many of his doubters wrong.
Let's put some things in perspective. Joe Flacco is now entering his 6th season, the year after winning his Super Bowl. Eli Manning was entering his 5th season after winning the Super Bowl. But take a look at Manning's stats his first FIVE full seasons. Pretty mediocre, and dare I say slightly worse than Flacco's. Manning threw for 119 TD and 72 INT in five years. Flacco threw for 102 TD and 56 INT. And believe it or not, Flacco threw for slightly more yards than Eli. Big Ben entered his 6th season after winning his 2nd Super Bowl. Again, compare the stats of their first five years. Flacco's stats edge Big Ben's in every category in their first five years. And we all know that Big Ben didn't really do anything when the Steelers won that first Super Bowl against Seattle.
My point is that I think Flacco is on an eerily similar path to those two guys. Both of them saw major statisitical leaps after they won those Super Bowls, and after years 5 and 6. He's been in the 3,600-3,800 yard range. I see that leaping into the 4,000+ area. People want to discredit Flacco and say "he played with the great Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, who saved many a games for Flacco." Funny how those same people in about Week 10 last year were saying this Ravens team had no shot because "their defense isn't what it once was". I'm sorry, you can't have it both ways. You were right to criticize the defense because it's true, it wasn't nearly as good as it used to be. In fact, in every statistical category the Ravens D ranked out as middle-of-the road. And for whatever it's worth, once the Ravens made the switch to Jim Caldwell as the OC, Flacco had more free reign, and played lights-out football, with the exception of the first game under Caldwell in week 15 versus the Broncos.
The bottom line for me is that Flacco still struggles with accuracy at times, and I worry about who he's going to be throwing to this year, after losing Pitta and Boldin. No question, that "Mile High Miracle" play bailed Flacco and the Ravens out last year. If not for that play, we'd still be looking at Flacco in a fairly mediocre way. But it happened. Hmmm... kinda like the NBA Finals Game 6 mad scramble at the end, and Ray Allen somehow knocks down the game-tying three with only a few seconds left. Were it not for that shot, we'd also be looking at Lebron James differently. But I digress. That's sports. Miracles happen. Move on.
Projections: 4,200 yards 27 TD, 13 INT
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