Citizens of Baltimore, it’s time once again to compare Joe Flacco to Tim Tebow.
Hear me out.
By now, Skip Bayless has probably discussed Tebow so much that he’s likely broken down what the Broncos QB had for lunch before the game. But as a Ravens fan I have to ponder such a clutch effort in the playoffs against the Steelers since a feat like that took Flacco so long to accomplish.
Sure, Joe Flacco led the Ravens to the AFC championship in his first season and has a career postseason record of 4-3 in his first three NFL seasons, but he has struggled against Pittsburgh prior to 2011. In the 2008 AFC championship game, Flacco threw 3 interceptions and had a QB rating of just 18.2. In the 2010 divisional game against the Steelers, he threw for 125 yards with a TD and a pick.
The Pittsburgh hurdle was one that took Flacco three years to clear. Baltimore’s quarterback hadn’t defeated a Ben Roethlisberger led Steelers’ team until this season. But he did so in dramatic fashion, whooping the Steelers 35-7 in week one and 23-20 in a come from behind win on the road in week eight. Flacco was excellent in those games. He threw for 524 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. His QB rating was 97.7 in those two match ups.
As for Tebow, you probably know exactly how many yards he threw for against the Steelers defense. If you didn’t it’s 316, just like his favorite Bible verse. He also averaged 31.6 yards per completion. He became the first quarterback in 2011 to throw for more than 300 yards against Pittsburgh.
With the weight of the world on his shoulders and in his first playoff game, Tebow took the underdog Broncos to overtime and threw the game winning touchdown pass in an outstanding effort. Surrounded by reports that indicated that the Broncos were ready to bench him if he struggled, he led Denver to victory against a team that many saw in the AFC championship.
I know that Bayless has relentlessly argued with Terrell Suggs about taking Tim Tebow over Joe Flacco, but after that effort I’m beginning the believe in #15. I’m certainly pulling for him in New England as I’d love for the Ravens to have two home playoff games.
Zach Wilt is the Founding Editor of BaltimoreSportsReport.com and Host of the BSR Podcast. You can follow him on Twitter @zamwi or send him an email: zach@baltimoresportsreport.com.
This is the most embarrassing article ever written. Tim Tebow is such a poor QB that Pittsburgh didn’t even bother to play safeties. Not to mention how undermanned the Steelers were with injuries. Tebow made a couple nice throws and deserves credit but he is half the QB that Flacco is. Baltimore has become a bunch of loud mouth clowns like Philly. All the guy has ever done is win games, and this year he goes 12-4 and gets you a bye week and home game. He beat the Steelers 2x…. and the last time with a 80 yd game winning drive w/ no time on the clock ON THE ROAD. And you better root for Tebow because he sucks. However going on the rd to NE doesn’t scare me either because Flacco has already won a playoff game in Foxboro.
And Greg, you have become a “softy”.
Look pal, “geeting to the playoffs” is great stuff, no doubt. Winning the AFC North, another great accomplishment and one certainly to be proud of. 4 trips to the playoffs? “That’s powerful stuff, man…” as Joe Flacco might say. But…
Are we simply the San Diego Chargers under either Marty Schottenheimer and Norv Turner? Kings of the regular season, perhaps win a playoff game and then succumb to one of the more powerful teams like New England or Pittsburgh that doesn’t settle for just “making the playoffs”?!?
Look, I’ll celebrate like everybody else and get my “AFC North” Reebok hat, but there won’t be anyone outside of Arbutus or White Marsh, or Glen Burnie that’s going to remember who won the AFC North or who “went to the playoffs 4 straight years”.
Don’t know about you, but being one of the top 40% of the league (40% of NFL teams make the playoffs each year) is a nice start, but it’s time to take it to the next level.
I love Joe. Joe is not flashy and gaudy. He doesn’t have the ‘deep threats that others have, but this game is actually about OFFENSE and not just passing. Joe never let’s what people say get to him… In fact, I, as a fan, was pissed at him earlier this season against Seattle and Jacksonville. I wanted him to appear as sick to his stomach as I was to mine, but Joe Cool never does. Joe is great.
Baltimore has the most complete team: There is a passing threat… Teams WILL play safeties against B-more; There is most definitely a ground threat; The D- well no more needs saying; and special teams too: Cundiff has been the 3-point guy for a long time, regardless of his recent struggles, Webb on the returns, and Koch with the nice punts inside the 20… that’s what wins football games.
Denver has a better o-line and offensive coordinator , end of discussion…………….
Hi my loved one! I want to say that this post is awesome, great written and include almost all significant infos. I’d like to see extra posts like this .