Colts-Ravens: Rookie Joe Flacco Looks Like Rookie

Just when I was starting to believe in the guy, Joe Flacco goes out and puts out a stinker of a performance. Considering the team’s "D" was already banged up, the only thing us Ravens fans could ask for was no costly interceptions. Instead, Flacco comes out and throws three of them.

The problem I have with this game is that, coming into it, everything was set up for Flacco to succeed. The Colts had the league’s worst run defense. Why the hell did coach Jim Harbaugh call for so damn many passing plays? Before you can even think about maybe lobbing a few in there, you have to establish the run.

Don’t tell me Baltimore doesn’t have the tools for it. I mean, you’ve got Willis McGahee, Le’Ron McClain, and Ray Rice, and you still decide to throw the ball 38 times?

Granted, Flacco ended the game with a completion rating of 73.7 percent, completing 28 of 38 passes. But he is a rookie quarterback, and if you have him throw that many times, you’re bound to turn the ball over.

I still think it was the right move to announce Flacco as the starter the rest of the season, but after losing three straight, you begin to question the coaching decisions.

I’ll tell you what, Harbaugh, Flacco better have walked out of this game with at least a bit of an improvement in his passing game. The only excuse for that kind of playcalling was to try and get your rookie more experience. However, you shouldn’t do it in a game you should’ve won.

I’m not taking anything away from the Colts. They played one hell of a game and took advantage of Baltimore’s mistakes when they should have. Congrats for finally looking like the AFC juggernaut you are supposed to be, Indianapolis.

Next up, the Ravens have Miami, a team looking way better than last year. Let’s face it, the Dolphins have higher-quality wins than the Ravens do. They’re the better 2-3 team. 

If the performance of Harbaugh and Flacco doesn’t improve against a rising Miami, this is going to be a long season, my fellow fans.