Joe Flacco: Providing a Historical Perspective for QB's Blazing Playoff Run

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has officially entered rare playoff air, and if history is any indication, Flacco is about to win his first ever Super Bowl ring. 

In three wins this postseason, Flacco has thrown for 853 yards, averaged over nine yards an attempt and led the Ravens offense to an average of 30 points a game. He took down two quarterbacking legends in Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, and he did it on the road, no less.

But it's Flacco's mark of eight touchdowns and zero interceptions that should give Ravens fans a reason to smile over the next two weeks. 

According to ESPN Stats and Information, Flacco could become just the sixth quarterback to throw at least eight touchdowns with no interceptions in a single postseason. The previous five—Phil Simms in 1986, Joe Montana in 1989, Troy Aikman in 1992, Steve Young in 1994 and Drew Brees in 2009—each won the Super Bowl and were named Super Bowl MVP. 

With three touchdown passes and zero interceptions against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, Flacco would also become the first-ever quarterback to throw 12 touchdowns and no interceptions in one postseason. Montana threw 11 scores against zero picks in 1989. 

There's another statistic that favors Flacco and the Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. 

Flacco is now one of just four quarterbacks to win six or more playoff games in their first five seasons in the NFL. The other three quarterbacks—Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Aikman—went a combined 7-0 during Super Bowls played in their first five years. 

In his fifth year, Flacco is currently 8-4 in the postseason. Super Bowl XLVII will represent his first Super Bowl appearance. 

Of course, these trends and statistics do not guarantee the Ravens will be parading down Baltimore in two week's time. Every game, season and quarterbacking performance is independent of the last.

But there's no doubting the rarity of what Flacco has accomplished at the position in these playoffs, and such strong play from a hot quarterback usually ends with a Super Bowl win.

With one last masterpiece in New Orleans, Flacco can officially cement his 2013 playoff runs as one of the very best ever.