No Comparison Between Joe Flacco And Matt Ryan
By Samuel Njoku
After an impressive road performance by the Baltimore Ravens, they return to M&T Bank Stadium to battle the Atlanta Falcons. As well as Baltimore has played on the road, they’ve been that much better at home.
Matt Ryan vs Joe Flacco: The Great Debate
The 2 quarterbacks that will face each other on Sunday will be compared for the rest of their careers. That’s because both Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan were drafted in the first round of the same draft class. Ryan was drafted 3rd overall by the Atlanta Falcons while moved up a few spots to draft Flacco with the 18th overall selection. Being the only 2 quarterbacks drafted in the first round, the two QB’s have been compared consistently – especially when they meet on the field.
The truth is Flacco has proven to be the better quarterback at this point in their careers. During the draft, the thought was always that Ryan was the most pro ready. But Flacco had tremendous upside coming out of Delaware and the 6th year quarterback has delivered for the Ravens. Joe already has 1 Super Bowl championship on his resume’ and he’s done it with less talent than Ryan. While their careers are still far from over, Flacco is without question the better of the two right now.
Best offense in franchise history?
The Ravens haven’t been known for their offense in their short history, but that could very well be changing. Baltimore hasn’t been as dominant on defense and the offense led by Joe Flacco is taking the next step. So far this season, the Ravens have ranked 8th in total offense with Flacco ranked 6th in passing yards with 1,596. Flacco has never eclipsed 4,000 yards in a single season, but that drought will likely end this season. The West Coast offense has been just what the doctor ordered for a QB who has seen his completion percentage drop over the past 2 seasons. How far this offense will go remains to be seen. But the signs are definitely positive.
Justin Forsett unquestioned starter in crowded backfield
Since the Ray Rice fiasco began in February, the Ravens running back situation has been in constant flux. The Ravens thought that Pierce would be the answer, but he has had trouble staying healthy for most of his career. Lorenzo Taliaferro looks like he could be special soon, but the rookie hasn’t shown enough to warrant a big role. Justin Forsett possesses a skill set that all but forces Baltimore to keep him on the field for the majority of the game. His elusiveness and burst of speed were evident as far back as training camp. At times, I would confuse Forsett and Rice on the practice field. He’s proven that he can take a large work load and has rewarded Baltimore for their trust by ranking 5th among running backs in rushing yards in the NFL. Baltimore will continue to spell Forsett with Taliaferro and Pierce, but #29 is the unquestioned starter for the Ravens.
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Samuel Njoku was born and raised in Baltimore, MD and is a graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Samuel has covered the Ravens for Examiner.com since 2010. Prior to 2010, Samuel was an avid blogger and radio personality in Salisbury, MD. Samuel Njoku is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @Ravens_Examiner.
