Is Joe Flacco any good? Can he win a Super Bowl? Joe Flacco has been a starter ever since he was drafted back in 2008. He has started in every game since then. When people question Joe Flacco, Ravens fans usually say, “He wins games and that’s all that counts.” But when is winning not enough? Maybe it’s not enough when you get bounced out of the playoffs every year, even with a defense that many fear.
The Baltimore Ravens’ defense stars some great players including last year’s defensive player of the year Terrell Suggs, perennial pro-bowler Haloti Ngata, 2001 Super Bowl MVP, “the land shark” Ray Lewis, and future hall-of-famer Ed Reed. In the post season, the Baltimore Ravens have had the best defense, in terms of yards allowed per game, since Flacco has been there. But still, a lot of the pressure falls on Flacco’s shoulders and when he doesn’t come through, people immediately point the finger at him. With a Raven’s defense that many Baltimore fans have been spoiled with, it can be hard not to point fingers at the man heading the offense.
Flacco has been heavily criticized by his defense, including Ed Reed who has said after a terrible outing in last season’s playoffs, “He can’t play like that.” As one of the smartest players in the NFL, Reed’s opinion carries a lot of clout. That being said, Flacco is still relatively young and has a high ceiling. With a very good defense, can Flacco get the job done or will losing the big one be his legacy? Before passing judgment, remember that it is hard to win in the NFL, and it is even harder to win in the playoffs. Joe “Cool” may be evidence of how being a pure winner does not translate to championships, but remember he was only a dropped pass away from the Super Bowl.
