AFC Championship Game 2012: Joe Flacco Will Carry Ravens to Super Bowl

Joe Flacco has received criticism for not being able to get his Baltimore Ravens to the Super Bowl. He’s deserved the criticism, but some of the naysayers will eat their words on Sunday when he leads the Ravens to an upset victory over the New England Patriots in Foxboro.

Would an AFC Championship victory prove that Flacco is more than an average quarterback? No, it wouldn’t do that at all.

It would, however, say that he can get it done in big games.

We have seen him burn the Pittsburgh Steelers a few times in his career, scoring late-game touchdowns to win games on the road. He has the ability to have great days passing if he is afforded the time by his offensive line.

Flacco struggled this season throwing 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. If he struggles against New England, Baltimore will lose on Sunday.

But the Ravens offense should find success against the second-worst passing defense in the NFL, allowing 293 yards per game. There were only four games all season when New England didn’t allow 20 or more points.

New England’s defense has their share of problems.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Dan Orlovsky passed for 353 yards, two touchdowns while putting up 24 points in Foxboro earlier in the season. Average and even below-average quarterbacks can be successful against this pass defense, and Flacco should be another one to find the success.

We are only one year removed from Flacco’s best season when he threw for 3,622 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. We could easily see the Flacco from 2010 on Sunday.

Prediction

Baltimore has played a much better schedule this season. With that tough schedule come better victories. They defeated the Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals twice, Houston once (regular season) and San Francisco 49ers, odds makers bet to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Compare that to the Patriots resume, and it’s easy to see why I’m picking Baltimore. New England didn’t defeat a playoff team during the regular season. In their two games against playoff teams (Giants and Steelers) they weren’t victorious.

Baltimore wins 27-24.