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Before the 2013 NFL Playoffs began, there was a myth going around that Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco needed to win a few playoff games to prove his worthiness of being called one of the best quarterbacks in the league. I’m not going to use the word ‘elite’ because it’s overused and arbitrary, but instead of finding ways to criticize Flacco, I think more people should be admiring what he has done in his first five seasons in the NFL.
Flacco is the only quarterback in NFL history to win a playoff game in each of his first five seasons in the league, which means the Ravens have never missed the playoffs with Flacco under center. Think about that – he’s played in at least two playoff games every year he’s been in the league, which is very impressive. It’s also a fact that 31 other NFL teams are jealous of the fact that the Ravens are the only team to make the playoffs in five consecutive seasons – not even their opponents in the AFC title game can say that.
Flacco has a playoff record of 7-4 heading into this weekend’s game, where he will play in his third AFC Championship game in five years, and gets his second consecutive chance to beat the New England Patriots. Truth be told, the Ravens should have won the AFC title last year, if not for Sterling Moore made a great play on Lee Evans on a perfectly-thrown pass. The rest is history, but Flacco wasn’t the reason the Ravens lost. In fact, Flacco’s post-season passer rating has increased each of the past three years.
When talking about great quarterbacks in the NFL, I think people sometimes forget all that Joe Flacco has accomplished during his time in the league. Isn’t the game supposed to be about winning? If so, Joe Flacco has done that about as well as anyone in the NFL in the past five years. I know he hasn’t won, or gotten, to the Super Bowl yet, but having a career record of 54-26, winning two division titles, playing in 11 playoff games going to three AFC Championship games and winning five road playoff games has got to count for something! There are at least 25 other teams in the league that would love to have those wins if it meant Joe Flacco was their quarterback.
I know the game is about winning Super Bowls and Ravens fans would like to see more consistency out of their quarterback, but Joe Flacco is among the best quarterbacks in the NFL – believe it.
you can contact or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi
