Baltimore Ravens: Top 10 Franchise Defining Plays

9. Flacco Awkwardly Scores First Touchdown

What if I told you that the first touchdown that the Ravens greatest quarterback ever scored was a somewhat awkward 37 yard run? Yes it is true. The Ravens season opener in 2008 was against the Cincinnati Bengals. It was the launch of a new era. The Ravens had a new head coach in John Harbaugh and a new quarterback in Joe Flacco. The Ravens knew it would be a big jump from the University of Delaware to the NFL. But Flacco didn’t shy away from the new big stage. Instead he shined in the spotlight.

Flacco rolled out of the pocket looking to throw the football down the field. There was nobody open, the receivers were blanketed by man coverage. But with defensive backs running with receivers and plenty of green grass in front of him, the Ravens quarterback ran up the field. He ran as if he was expecting to get tackled or at least get out of bounds when he got the first down. Then it looked like he saw his opening and went for the end zone. Weaving his way a little bit he found the end zone.

It seemed only fitting that a Ravens offense that had scored primarily with their rushing attack for years, had their new quarterback score his first touchdown on the ground. The Ravens new era started with a 17-10 victory over the Bengals. The Ravens would go on to the surprise of many to make it to the AFC Championship game, but let’s not ruin the mood by talking about that game.

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