Fans these days are always obsessed with stats. They want the quarterback for their favorite team to put up gaudy numbers to make themselves believe they have a franchise, or, to use the word-of-the-moment, “elite” quarterback. Well, putting up gaudy numbers has never been Joe Flacco’s style, nor the style of the Baltimore Ravens. Of course, there’s not anything wrong with that – just look at the win totals and Lombardi Trophy – but a lot people use that as a guide to say he is no good.
Flacco’s numbers in Sunday’s game  in Miami are a perfect example. He went 19/32 for 269 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception. Those numbers by Flacco won’t be good enough for a lot of people. But those who feel that way are the people who didn’t watch the whole game, have him on their fantasy team, or are just plain haters.
When you look at the way the Ravens won the game against the Dolphins, isn’t there something to be said about putting your team in the best position to win? The interception was on Bryant McKinnie as much as it was Flacco. No touchdowns? Well, unlike a lot of teams nowadays, the Ravens actually run the ball near the goalline – as a result, Ray Rice had two scores, while Joe didn’t “get” any.
Does it make Flacco a lesser quarterback since he decided to go with a run play in that situation instead of padding his stats by throwing the ball? That’s what it really comes down to. Common sense needs to be added to the equation.
The way Flacco and the Ravens won that game is pretty much the way it’s gone for his entire NFL career.
But at the same time, some people will stick to their negative perception of Flacco, holding his five interceptions against the Buffalo Bills over his head for as long as they can. The critics love to run their mouths when Flacco doesn’t do well, but are all of the sudden quiet when he performs well or ignore his accomplishments (most notably being a Super Bowl MVP.)
A lot of people on the outside looking in really need to understand that putting up big numbers doesn’t make you elite as a signal caller .If that is the case, Tony Romo should be elite right? It’s all about winning, and putting your team in the best position to win. I hate to break to some folks, but Flacco having 65 wins as a starter for the Ravens since 2008 (which is the most in the NFL) isn’t a fluke.
I mean, Vinny Testaverde threw 33 touchdown passes to go along with 4,177 yards as he was selected to the Pro Bowl for the Ravens in 1996. The team went 4-12. Was Testaverde a franchise quarterback at the time? No. But I’m convinced some people in the NFL world would rather have that than actually seeing their team win.
You really want to know how to tell if you have a franchise quarterback? All you have to do is ask this question: Is there a reasonable expectation that my signal caller can lead my team on the road in any environment in the NFL?
Can he win in New England?
Denver?
Pittsburgh?
Houston?
Seattle?
San Francisco?
Green Bay?
Yes, Flacco has shown he can do that. He’s won in four of those cities, and there’s no reason to think he couldn’t do so in the others. Flacco is the only Super Bowl-winning quarterback to go on the road and beat future Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in the process.
How’s that for gaudy numbers?
