OWINGS MILLS — Joe Flacco broke out of his usual stoic personality a few times before the Baltimore Ravens returned from their bye week.
The traditionally low-key quarterback went to the barbershop for an elaborate Jersey Shore haircut for a charity Halloween party.
Days earlier, Flacco delivered an animated halftime speech intended to snap the team out of its doldrums during a 37-34 overtime victory over the winless Buffalo Bills.
When the normally quiet and unassuming New Jersey native spoke up, veteran wide receiver Derrick Mason said that everyone in the locker room took notice.
Naturally, Flacco downplayed the episode.
“People make way too big a deal about that,” said Flacco, who has since gone back to his old closely-shorn hairstyle. “It’s not like I stood up and said something to anybody. I sat on my bench that I always sit on and just kind of said a one-liner. It wasn’t very much. I’m not going to be the guy to give the speech.”
Whether Flacco is the next incarnation of Winston Churchill isn’t all that important.
It’s the way Flacco has performed over the past five games that’s truly impressive.
Since uncorking a career-high four interceptions during a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the second game of the season, Flacco has played as well as any quarterback in the NFL.
Flacco has the NFL’s highest quarterback rating, a 105.0, during the past five games.
With the Ravens going 4-1 in that span, Flacco has completed 103 of 159 passes, a 64.8 completion percentage for 1,249 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception.
Currently, he’s on a streak of 102 passes without an interception.
What’s different about Flacco since the Cincinnati debacle?
“Just continued growth,” offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said. “We’re all experiential learners to some degree. I think he’s taken every experience he’s had and tried to learn from it, grow from it.”
Under Flacco’s direction, the Ravens are 5-2 and tied for first place in the AFC North with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Flacco has engineered two fourth-quarter comebacks, including a game-winning touchdown pass against the Steelers at Heinz Field. He’s averaging 235.9 passing yards per game and has thrown 10 touchdown passes.
Flacco now ranks first in franchise history with 8,235 career passing yards and an 84.8 rating.
“Joe’s an impressive guy,” New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “He stands in the pocket. He’s strong. He’s athletic. He makes some plays with his feet.”
Flacco is now tied with Kyle Boller for the second-most touchdown passes in Ravens history with 45 scores, six behind the record set by Vinny Testaverde.
In the Ravens’ past 23 regular-season wins, Flacco has thrown 32 touchdown passes and five interceptions for a 101.1 rating. The Ravens are 17-2 when Flacco has at least a 95 rating and 10-1 when he’s at 109.5 or better.
“We’ve definitely had some success, and it’s all about being consistent,” Flacco said. “And I think as long as you do that, you’ll see your offense and your team progress as each week goes on.”
For the season, Flacco has completed 59.3 percent of his throws. He has six interceptions out of 236 throws, a 2.5 interception percentage. And he’s only been sacked 10 times.
“I think the most important thing is just trusting in himself and believing in who he is,” wide receiver Anquan Boldin said. “He’s here for a reason. He’s a great talent. He has every physical tool there is needed for a quarterback on this level.”
As far as Cameron is concerned, that’s already happening with Flacco. He’s noticed a change in how opposing defenses are approaching Flacco in terms of game plans, a sign of growing respect.
“He’s just continuing to get better,” Cameron said. “You’ve got to maintain it because people are attacking him differently.
“There’s a plan every game that starts with Joe Flacco. Before, it kind of started a couple other directions. Now it’s, ‘All right, this is for Joe Flacco,’ and then they kind of work in from there.”
