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Baltimore Ravens: How far can Joe Flacco take the team in 2018?

By Richard Bradshaw

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 20: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to pass in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 20, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 20: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to pass in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 20, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Joe Flacco
BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 09: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens rushes against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half during a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

How far can Joe Flacco lead Baltimore?

I won’t lie to you and tell you that the Ravens win games because of Joe Flacco, but it isn’t entirely untrue. Despite dominant defensive play and an above-average run game, the Ravens have made the playoffs just once since 2012, that being 2014. This just so happens to be the only season since 2010 in which Flacco had a passer rating of 91.0 or better. That doesn’t seem coincidental.

Short of an elite, historically good defense, you typically will only go as far as your quarterback will take you. The 2018 Baltimore Ravens defense looks fantastic on paper, but the same was thought about the 2017 squad, the same squad that was fantastic until it mattered most. Part of that is because of offensive inefficiency, however. Come 2018, Joe Flacco is going to need to step his game up once again if he wants a post season appearance.

Must Read. Ravens Special teams disappoints in Win vs. Colts. light

Making the playoffs isn’t beneficially solely for the team. A playoff berth will do one of two things for Flacco: a) It will extend his career longevity in Baltimore by at least one more season. b) Flacco’s trade value increases and he will have a larger say in what team he gets traded to. Either of those options should be more than pleasurable for the former Super Bowl XLVII MVP.

With that kind of determination, the sky is the limit for Flacco. We saw him perform at an inhuman level in those 2012 playoffs, and he could pull off something similar in 2018. While 11 touchdowns to zero picks is highly unlikely, guiding the team with his arm and winning games because of late game heroics such as this is certainly within grasp.

So then, how far can Joe Flacco lead the Ravens in 2018? As far as he wants to.

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