The Ravens are an impressive 8-3 right now. For the first time in the John Harbaugh era, the good guys have it all seemingly going their way with regard to hosting one or maybe two playoff games. And, while winning the Vince Lombardi trophy is what its all about, being there is actually more than half the prize.
Finishing with a 12-4 record, or running the table to a 13-3 mark -- both very real possibilities -- it seems as if the Ravens have a very real chance to return to the Super Bowl for the second time in their 16-year history. Seemingly, nothing can get in the team’s way of heading to the Super Bowl in Indianapolis. Right?
Well, sort of -- provided the Ravens offensive line can keep their starting quarterback upright for the rest of the season. Perhaps the most impressive piece of the Ravens’ 16-6 win over Jim Harbaugh’s San Francisco 49ers was the offensive line. Joe Flacco seemed like the untouchable one, playing as if he were in some sort of protected bubble.
Ravens fans have good reason to feel comfortable about Flacco’s durability – he has started all 59 games of his NFL career. But all it takes is one play to knock a quarterback out for the rest of a season.
Doubt that reality? Just ask the Colts, Chiefs, Texans or Bears about life without a No. 1 quarterback (and in the case of the Texans, without their second-string quarterback).
The Texans may be able to hold onto their lead in the AFC South, even with both Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart out for the year. But, the Chiefs, who battled back from an 0-3 start to get into contention for a weak AFC West, saw their season flushed down the toilet when Matt Cassell went down and was replaced by Tyler Palco. The Bears were again in the wild card hunt, due in large part to the spirited play of starter Jay Cutler. Chicago’s first game under Caleb Hanie ended with a loss out in Oakland. The Texans were perhaps the most unlucky having just lost Leinhart, just a week after losing Matt Schaub. The results were predictable once the experienced starter succumbed to injury.
This is where the Ravens come into the discussion. The franchise has struggled for most of its 16 seasons in Baltimore. In his fourth year, Flacco is just starting to silence his critics. Throughout much of his first three seasons, the Ravens starter was a lightning rod for his many critics. However, there is a feeling that No. 5 may just be settling in and growing into the role of leader in the penultimate leadership role in sports.
But, none of Flacco’s lessons learned can do a thing about destiny delivering him and the team a body blow that takes the team’s breath and chances for that Super Bowl appearance away.
Of all that Ozzie Newsome and John Harbaugh have done right, they have rolled the dice with Tyrod Taylor, a rookie from Virginia Tech. Caught somewhat off-balance with the labor situation, the Ravens may have assumed that Marc Bulger would return. But, the team never seemed interested in making a play for any other potential backups. Saying all along that Taylor could lead the team if such an emergency would arise, the Ravens just kept playing Flacco and keeping their collective fingers crossed.
To date, it’s hard to take exception to the plan. Except, it’s hard to imagine the plan was born with intent, but rather out of necessity.
Usually, when you hear the term in sports that someone is a riverboat gambler, it’s the signal-caller who will proceed without predictability. In the Ravens case, Newsome has been the one all in on an inexperienced backup to Flacco.
It’s hard to argue with the results to date, because Flacco has been able to stay healthy. The rigors of an NFL campaign are brutal on all. But nobody is as prone to one bad play that can end a season like a quarterback. That’s why, of all the people with skin in this game, perhaps nobody has his breath taken away more than Ozzie Newsome, when he sees his starting quarterback knocked down.
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