Joe Flacco just did something no quarterback in the history of the NFL has ever done: win two playoff football games in his rookie year. That's what makes him the greatest rookie signal-caller ever (if you're willing to only count playoff games when deciding that). Okay, not really. Dan Marino was better and I think it's pretty hard to forget David Carr's sensational first season with the Houston Texans. But Flacco is hellishy solid (if that can be a compliment), which you can tell by the YouTube of him hooking up with Derrick Mason after the jump.
Obviously it was primarily defense that carried the day for both the Titans and the Ravens, but Flacco deserves some love, considering how ineffective the Ravens' rushing offense was against a tough Titans defense (Willis McGahee had 32 yards on 12 carries, Le'Ron McClain 12 yards on the same number). That is, of course, provided that it never gets proven he Orlovsky'd his way out of the back of the end zone midway through the fourth quarter.
But the NFL has already shown no proclivity towards correcting erroneous decisions by their referees, so expecting any sort of apology (if he did step out) is probably not going to happen, Jeff Fisher's decision not to challenge aside.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-10-2009 @ 8:05PM
Adam said...
Flaccooooooo
Prediction: Flacco has more success in his career than Matt Ryan.
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1-10-2009 @ 8:21PM
Ron said...
Flacco? What the hell did he do other than 2 "blown coverages" by Titans FS Chris Hope? Who (incidentally) should undoubtedly be released first thing next week. Tennessee lost their own game.
1-10-2009 @ 8:54PM
Adam said...
Pff. Do you know how many QBs can't recognize or at least react to blown coverage? The Titans stunk it up out there, but Flacco came through when he had to.
1-10-2009 @ 8:21PM
Ron said...
Flacco played decently but it was the Titans that gave Baltimore the game. Kerry Collins and that inept FS Chris Hope should be released first thing Monday morning. Enough is enough with this totally and obviously overrated football team. Hopefully, owner Bud Adams has seen enough himself, just like the rest of us! Penalites, mistakes and turnovers. Jeff Fischer's game prep was (obviously) a failure and has lost control of his team. This was a totally disgraceful loss and changes must be made immediately at all levels. I'm sure the season ticket holders will have something to say about today's travesty as well. Again, enough is enough!!!
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1-10-2009 @ 8:48PM
Mark said...
What happened to Chris Johnson? The game was really exciting when he was in, but it seemed that he didn't play in the 2nd half. I saw the play in the 2nd quarter where he was twisted around by the Ravens DB while he was going down (surprised that it was Tenn that got called for a penalty on that play), but had to turn the game off for a bit shortly after that. When I tuned in late in the 3rd quarter the announcers were not really talking about it.
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1-10-2009 @ 9:05PM
Chris said...
I can't believe that no one caught Flacco stepping out of the back of the endzone.
hahahahaha. I laugh at NFL officiating.
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1-10-2009 @ 9:40PM
true ravens fan said...
If you were paying attention to the replay you would see flacco clearly didnt step out of bounds smart guy...Dont you think Jeff Fisher wouldve challenged it? Exactly! Titans stunk it up and the defense should get some credit. Weve been getting the raw end on calls all year. Thats the game. Make plays and dont put yourself in position to depend on what the ref does...
1-10-2009 @ 10:41PM
Michelle said...
Replay showed he didn't step out of bounds
1-12-2009 @ 12:40PM
PhilR8 said...
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?game_id=54459&season=2008&displayPage=tab_gamecenter
Watch the video on hat page at the 5:55 mark - clear, definitive evidence that Flacco did not step out of bounds. No safety.
1-10-2009 @ 9:46PM
Tom said...
Flacco did all he had to do. The Titans were their own worst enemies. Goes to prove you don't usually win with that many turnovers. If the Ravens play the Steelers again, I think you'll see a different outcome because the Steelers can match the Ravens on defense.
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1-10-2009 @ 10:08PM
Mark S said...
The final score is the only thing that matters...congrats to the Ravens...however, the fact that the Flacco "out of bounds" call wasn't even reviewed and the missed call on Delay of Game hurt the Titans just as much as their inability to protect the football in this game...the Titans were obviously the better team, this was almost a repeat of their 2000 game with the score being closer...Jeff Fisher, Bud Adams, Chris Hope, and Kerry Collins don't need to be released or fired...they are a big part of what got us here...I don't expect the Ravens road trip to continue much longer...but again, congrats on a tough win...you made this Titans fan break a door with his hand, lol...
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1-10-2009 @ 10:59PM
myra said...
Commentators did explain that the referee's own time clock is the one that matters. The one on the field is not always accurate. Watch the replay, Flacco was in bounds. The game is about taking advantage of the opponents mistakes. GO RAVENS!
1-12-2009 @ 12:42PM
PhilR8 said...
Again, watch this video at the 5:55 mark:
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?game_id=54459&season=2008&displayPage=tab_gamecenter
Flacco stayed inbounds.
1-10-2009 @ 10:39PM
ryanb said...
hey chris watch that play in the end zone again flacco was 6 inches inside the line not close ron must be a titans fan and chris johnson left in the 2nd half.go raven the final score is all that matters!!!!
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1-10-2009 @ 11:01PM
Mike T. said...
Come on guys.......The Titans lost because the Ravens scored more points. How do you blame Flacco or Hope or the Refs?
Didn't Flacco and Hope help them get to the play-offs? Was the weather also a factor? How about their dinner - did the Ravens eat better? This is play-off time......be prepared to win or go home........real simple..........
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1-10-2009 @ 11:28PM
Chris said...
Haha, we checked the replay again, and son of a gun, that's as close as you can get to a safety without actually being a safety, good awareness by Flacco to not step 6 inches backwards.
I couldn't care either way, my team was out of playoff contention after a 6-2 start raised expectations. (-_-)
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1-11-2009 @ 6:40PM
dave devine said...
Flacco is no longer a rookie, by now, with as many snaps that he has had, he is considered experienced and his experience showed on 4 big plays he made in seeing that TN was in a vulnerable coverage scheme on the 2 long pass plays that gave Titans 10 points and then his experience of knowing where he was in the end zone and not getting a safety, and then finally, having the experience to work the play clock down to 0.00 and snapping the ball just in time to make the pass that led to the final FG. Bottom line, Flacco played with experience, much what we saw for 2 years when he played for the FIGHTING BLUE HENS OF DELAWARE!
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