January 08, 2011|By Jamison Hensley, The Baltimore Sun
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — — Joe Flacco's climb up the quarterback ranks takes him to Sunday's wild-card game in the Heart of America, where he brings two years of playoff experience, a growing number of team records and one daunting question.
Can Flacco lead the Ravens to the Super Bowl?
With his powerful right arm, he's brought the Ravens back in the fourth quarter against their biggest rival and the NFL's stingiest defense. With his trademark calmness, he's guided them to the playoffs every season he's been in the league while becoming the team's all-time leading passer.
But there's an uncertainty whether Flacco can carry the Ravens to the game's ultimate destination based on his struggles in the playoffs. His first two trips to the postseason have resulted in one touchdown and six interceptions, a product of growing pains as a rookie and actual physical pain last season.
As the fifth-seeded Ravens (12-4) kick off their playoffs against No. 4 Kansas City (10-6), Flacco appears more ready than ever to make the jump from a promising quarterback to one who delivers his team to the NFL promised land.
"The great ones make it to the Super Bowl," wide receiver Derrick Mason said. "He has put a stamp on his name these last two years. Now, he's really going to put himself in a different bracket if we can accomplish what we want to accomplish."
Mason added, "He can put himself in the same party as a [ Peyton] Manning, [ Tom] Brady and [ Drew] Brees. I know Joe don't care about that, but as a quarterback, you want to be mentioned in the same breath with those guys."
In five playoff games, Flacco hasn't resembled Manning, Brady or Brees, completing 47.5 of his throws and averaging 132 yards passing.
As a rookie, his role was limited to a caretaker for a run-first offense. Last season, a deep bruise that covered his entire right hip affected his throwing mechanics.
Flacco is now experienced, healthy and motivated to take a leading role in this year's playoff run.
"In order to win those [playoff] games, we're going to have to play at a high level on offense," Flacco said. "If they don't call on me, I don't feel like we're going to give ourselves the best chance of winning. I believe we're going to need to come out and play well and I'm going to need to be a big part of it."
Flacco has undoubtedly been the Ravens' Most Valuable Player on offense this season. In the final 14 weeks of the regular season, only Brady posted a better quarterback rating than Flacco (103.4).
The Ravens have gone to a run-oriented offense in the past three games, but Flacco has still made his mark in his limited opportunities. Three weeks ago against New Orleans, he showed amazing touch on a 17-yard pass to 5-foot-8 running back Ray Rice in the corner of the end zone. A game later at Cleveland, he showed tremendous arm strength on a 15-yard touchdown strike to T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
Former NFL coaches and quarterbacks said they expect Flacco to step up in this postseason.
"He has experience now," said Herm Edwards, the former coach of the Chiefs and New York Jets who now works for ESPN. "He's been in enough playoff games now that he understands the pressure and the mindset of what it takes to play in playoff competition."
Trent Green, the former Chiefs quarterback who is now an NFL Network analyst, said he can see Flacco winning the next three weeks to march the Ravens to Dallas.
"Being a third-year quarterback, understanding [offensive coordinator] Cam Cameron's system now and understanding what he has on the defensive side of the ball, I think he's in a better position to know what his role is to get the team that far," he said.
Looking for a defining moment
The playoffs — and game-changing plays during them — can often define a quarterback's career. The status of Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger changed when he threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes in the Super Bowl two years ago.
This year's postseason could shape the perception of Flacco.
"He just has to have his flagpole moment, where he shows everyone that he has arrived," said Boomer Esiason, the former NFL quarterback who is on CBS' pre-game show.
Flacco downplayed the significance of the playoffs on his career. He contends that success in the playoffs is more a reflection of the team and not just the quarterback.
"I could have a rating of 110 one year, and if we don't have a good team, it doesn't mean we should win a Super Bowl," Flacco said. "We feel now that we have a really good team and that's why we want to go win a Super Bowl. We feel like we have a great opportunity at our hands and I feel like I'm playing at a level that we can go win it."
Wild card at quarterback
