Flacco now with a 15-2 touchdown/interception ratio in the playoffs the last three years. And that's with two game-winning touchdown passes dropped. And he's outplayed Brady every time they've played. Yes, even the game he only completed 4 passes.. which shows just how bad Brady plays when he plays a tough defense. (besides the Steelers D)
Benluby, have your thoughts on Flacco changed at all? That was pretty impressive how he took over the game today in the 3rd quarter.
Now that I think of it, you might be a Patriots fan. So this isn't meant as trash talk. I'm just curious if he's done enough yet to sway your perception?
Another thing worth noting, is that Flacco was stuck with Cam Cameron as OC his first 5 years. And Drew Brees even said that Cameron kept him (Brees) from going to that next level. And in the 5 meaningful games since the Ravens canned Cameron, Flacco has a 12-1 td/int ratio, and over 1400 passing yards. Those numbers, especially when coming in playoff games on the road, are rather hard to rationalize as being short of elite.
When extrapolated, they come to about 4,500 passing yards and 38 touchdowns and 3-4 interceptions.
I know I could take the cheap route and say 'his receivers made all the difference', but that won't fly. Flacco has stepped it up. He's playing, if not at an elite level, damn near it.
The Ravens D controlled the game, with Welker making catches that weren't game changing and dropping a couple of key conversion attempts.
I told my sons, when Talib left with his hamstring that the secondary was going to be in trouble, and I was right.
You can't stop Boldin with an average back. The Ravens beat the Pats, period. Flacco showed not just game management but skill.
Brady made a bonehead move with that slide, but truthfully, I don't think it would have mattered in the long run.
Everyone may pick the Niners to win this, but I can't. I'm going with the Ravens for one simple reason. They've played against top notch defenses, and beat them.
The Niners haven't. The NFC didn't really have a defensive powerhouse in the playoffs. The Ravens took apart the Bronco's, who have a good defensive unit.
Atlanta isn't that good on D.
We'll see, but I think we're going to see the Ravens take it by ten.