2010 NFL Playoff Preview: Time For Flacco and Ravens to Take Place Among Elite

Interesting fact: Joe Flacco is one of only six quarterbacks in NFL history to have 10,000 passing yards in his first three seasons. He also has joined a select group of passers to not miss the playoffs in any of his of his first three years. He has won on the road in the playoffs, including a stomping delivered to New England in Foxborough last year. He has a higher passer rating this season than Matt Schaub, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, and Matt Ryan. He has gotten better each year in the league and has excelled at time this season.

Despite his improvements, both local and national pundits seem to decry his accomplishments, claiming he needs to "step up in the big one" or "get a signature win." Ignoring the fact that Flacco lead the Ravens on a game winning drive in Pittsburgh earlier this season and ostensibly on the game winning drive in Atlanta, sports people across the country seem to give Flacco almost no credit for his success. Similarly, the Ravens have come away with a 12-4 record despite a difficult schedule. Remove heartbreaking losses to New England in OT and Pittsburgh in the fourth quarter, an the Ravens could be sitting at 14-2 with a first round bye. Still, like their quarterback, the Ravens have been underrated all season. It's time for Flacco and the Ravens to change that this postseason.

You've heard all of the statistics, seen all the highlights, and watched all of the press conferences. What it comes down to is that the Ravens are playoff tested and championship ready. With Ray Rice and Flacco leading a dual threat offense, and Ray Lewis and Haloti Ngata leading the typically stalwart Ravens team, the Ravens possess arguably the most complete team package. Even the suddenly infallible Patriots loss convincingly to the Browns and it looks as if knocking Brady down is the formula for an upset. Examining the records of all of the playoff teams shows that the Ravens might be the only team without an embarrassing loss. They keep games within reach and with effective special teams play could make a serious push to represent the AFC in Dallas.

Now, I am by no means suggesting that the Ravens have had a perfect season, or are even playing their best football. Flacco's four INT fiasco in Cincinnati has been a scarlet letter and fourth quarter defensive fatigue has cost Baltimore games all season long. In a year with few certainties, however, it's time for the Ravens to realize their potential and hoist the Lombardi. If they can gain some momentum, the Baltimore Ravens and its quarterback will take their place among the NFL's elite.

possibly but to be honset they could get it in the next few years
i dont think next year
what they needs is an elite weapon
such as T.O

T.O. isn't elite, they have 4 quality WR's, Derrick Mason, Anquan Boldin, TJ Housh and Dante Stallworth, also a Rookie named David Reed who will be beast in the next year or two. Also Todd Heap is a monster at TE and Ray Rice is such a threat out of the backfield.

crapgamer wrote:: T.O. isn't elite, they have 4 quality WR's, Derrick Mason, Anquan Boldin, TJ Housh and Dante Stallworth, also a Rookie named David Reed who will be beast in the next year or two. Also Todd Heap is a monster at TE and Ray Rice is such a threat out of the backfield.

T.O is one of the top WR's in his generation
all those are good recievers but T.O takes all of them out
this year was T.O's year showing he could still play even with a terrible QB if he had someone good like flacco then he would easily be elite status
the only thing that really holds him back is his mouth which has slowed down

I like Mason and Boldin. But TO > all of them. Easily. See the stats he put up this year on the BENGALS?

T.O. causes more problems then he fixes, for all his numbers, which I believe were below Boldin and Masons this year he wont be brought back by the Bengals and at 38 years old is no longer a top tier WR IMHO.

I was all for the Ravens getting Dez Bryant last year, but the Cowboys swept in with a last minute trade and got him. Overall I'm definitely happy with WR's who aren't egomaniacs.

this nigga beats all yalls.

and this is why:

crapgamer wrote:: T.O. causes more problems then he fixes, for all his numbers, which I believe were below Boldin and Masons this year he wont be brought back by the Bengals and at 38 years old is no longer a top tier WR IMHO.

I was all for the Ravens getting Dez Bryant last year, but the Cowboys swept in with a last minute trade and got him. Overall I'm definitely happy with WR's who aren't egomaniacs.

TO's line (with a shaky QB AND only 11 games started [he was active 3 other games but as emergency])

72 Catches, 983 yards, 9 TDs

Boldin's line (16 games)

64 catches, 837 yards, 7 TDs

Mason's line (15 games started [16 games played])

61 catches, 801 yards, 7 TDs

TO was better than both with a worse QB, bottom line. Not saying Flacco is Manning, but he's better than Palmer.

Also interesting to note, Jason Witten went over 1,000 yards and as a TE was 17th ranked in the ENTIRE recieving yards category (including WRs).

Well you have to figure T.O. was getting a lot of single coverage due to Chad Johnson on the other side, also his numbers weren't that much better then the two I mentioned. I'd take Boldin at 29 years of age long term then anything T.O. could offer. T.O. is and always has been a cancer to teams. He takes plays off and his mouth is never closed.

crapgamer wrote:: Well you have to figure T.O. was getting a lot of single coverage due to Chad Johnson on the other side, also his numbers weren't that much better then the two I mentioned. I'd take Boldin at 29 years of age long term then anything T.O. could offer. T.O. is and always has been a cancer to teams. He takes plays off and his mouth is never closed.

Mason and Boldin got single converage because of each other and Whoseyourmomma and Stallworth.

ochocincos DA BOMB YO.

anyways, yall receiving core sucks compared to the packers. jennings, driver, jones and chodie nelson nuccas! all but chodie nelson have at least 50 receptions on the season, with chodie coming in at 45

All the Packers do is pass the ball though, where as Baltimore actually has a running game.....

that true but the jets are better.

Mayhem300 wrote:: that true but the jets are better.

then take off your ray lewis avatar AND PUT THIS fidgeting VIDEO UP THERE INSTEAD

Mayhem300 wrote:: that true but the jets are better.

Jets aren't that good. Here's hoping they take out the Colts and Patriots though. That'd be the only way the Ravens get a home playoff game.

Number of posts : 3676 Age : 30 Karma : 3765 Registration date : 2009-01-26

If the eagles get knocked out early i will root for the ravens i like em. especially rice.

crapgamer wrote:: Well you have to figure T.O. was getting a lot of single coverage due to Chad Johnson on the other side, also his numbers weren't that much better then the two I mentioned. I'd take Boldin at 29 years of age long term then anything T.O. could offer. T.O. is and always has been a cancer to teams. He takes plays off and his mouth is never closed.

To be honest T.O wont cost that much after this year
the reason he is still playing is because he wants a ring he has also already stated the only team he will go to next year is a team that would be able to def make the playoffs
but i would take hime considering he is completely healthy and shows he can still play
also with T.O that opens ur recievers up even more

Don't you find it odd that the Bengals played better after T.O. and Chad Johnson got injured? The Bengals ended up winning two of their last three without those guys. I prefer my team to avoid "Cancer" players in all honesty.

Number of posts : 633 Karma : 642 Registration date : 2009-01-27

good point because none of the saints receivers are amazing but they all compliment the offense and work hard every play

{MOH}-SLDV-ROCKETHOE wrote:: good point because none of the saints receivers are amazing but they all compliment the offense and work hard every play

exactly except the saints blow so thats a terrible example lmao

it wont be like that for long CG i can guarantee it
T.O knows he only has a year or 2 left in his career im sure he isnt going to pull that crap also half the bengals game the D gave up like 30 or 40 points and they would lose by like 7 so D can take some blame for that

No team with running backs like Ray Rice and Mcgahee and a stellar defense is going to light it up through the air, it doesn't make sense.

so far 2 of the underdog teams won today woot

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