Hall of Fame quarterbacks Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas and Roger Staubach didn’t do it, and neither did the league’s three-time Most Valuable Players, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre.
But Joe Flacco did –and that’s why he’s in a class all by himself.
Flacco became the first rookie in league history to win two playoff games when he guided the Ravens to a 13-10 victory over Tennessee on Saturday that sent his team to the AFC Championship Game on Sunday. For Flacco, it’s been two road playoff games and two victories, which is quite impressive considering it took a quarterback from –off all places –the University of Delaware to accomplish the feat.
His response?
“It’s just another game.”
Another game? Not even close.
Flacco converted a critical third-down conversion and made a key eight-yard completion to Mark Clayton as part of a 51-yard drive late in the fourth quarter to set up Matt Stover’s 43-yard game-winning field goal and his spot in the record book.
But how long can Flacco, who was selected with the 18th overall pick in April’s draft, continue his historic run?
It’s tough to tell. The Ravens lost twice to the Steelers by a combined seven points during the regular season, with Flacco completing 27-of-59 passes (45 percent) for 307 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions. When the Ravens take the field at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on Sunday evening at 6:30, it will mark their 16th game in as many weeks after their game against the Houston Texans was postponed from Sept. 14 to Nov. 9 due to damage caused in Texas by Hurricane Ike.
AFC Championship Game
Ravens (13-5) at San Diego (9-8) or Pittsburgh (12-4)
When: Sunday, 6:30 p.m.
TV/Radio: WJZ-13/1090 AM, 97.9 FM
“We’ve been confident in ourselves all year,” Flacco said. “It seems like we’ve been on the road for the longest time. It doesn’t matter to us. We’re going to go out there and battle the crowd, battle the other team, and give it our best. That’s what we did today.”
The Ravens’ final drive erased their offensive struggles throughout most of the afternoon at LP Field. Prior to Flacco picking up a first-down on a 23-yard completion to tight end Todd Heap, the Ravens had failed on their previous seven third-down tries and converted just 2-of-13 in the game –one of which being Flacco’s 48-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Mason.
The Ravens also finished with only 211 yards of total offense, including just 50 yards rushing on 30 carries, compared to 391 yards for the Titans.
“You read his eyes and there is nothing to read,” Heap said. “You are looking at him and you are thinking does anything faze this guy? That is the way he has been all year. People have been asking me if he is going to be different in the playoffs, if this is going to be too big for him? How are things going to change? Every game he has had that demeanor about him on the field or off the field.”
Flacco’s emergence has been the unifying force that has transformed the perception of the Ravens. Consider: Since the team won Super Bowl XXXV, the Ravens’ defense always has overshadowed an anemic offense that features quarterback debacles named Anthony Wright, Kyle Boller, Jeff Blake and Chris Redman.
But with Flacco, the Ravens have an offense that’s among the league’s best for the first time since the team arrived in 1996.
“I think this is the first time we have been a complete team,” linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “This is the first time I have been on a complete team in my whole football playing career. There is something special going on around here. We aren’t going to say what it is until we find out where the road ends. We are feeling really good.”
Coach John Harbaugh said the difference in Saturday’s game compared to the Ravens’ 13-10 loss to the Titans on Oct. 5 was protecting the football. Flacco threw two interceptions in the first game and none on Saturday, when the Titans turned it over three times deep inside Baltimore territory.
“The fact that our offense is not turning the ball over. That is probably the number one thing,” Harbaugh said. “In these kinds of games, you find a way to play with that kind of discipline; that kind of self control and protect the football. That starts with the quarterback and goes to the running backs and wide receivers.”
Just ask the Titans. Flacco was by no means brilliant as he completed 11-of-22 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown and no interceptions, but delivered with the game on the line. Playing on a stage where so many promising rookies have failed in front of an audience of millions, Flacco played like a seasoned veteran — not someone who was competed against Towson, West Chester and Monmouth a year ago.
“He’s going to be a good one,” said Titans defensive tackle Tony Brown. “The guy kept his poise all day. His offensive line did a good job for him, but like I said, our defense left a lot of good plays out there.”
