NFL Scores Week 1: Joe Flacco's Hot Start Promising for Baltimore Ravens

Joe Flacco has a lot to prove. He must lead the Baltimore Ravens against their most hated rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. And currently, he's leading his team to a 14-0 lead.

Joe Flacco was a first-round pick out of Delaware. He knew the Ravens were going to depend on him to carry their team coming out of college. So far, he's had mixed results.

Despite great regular season results, Flacco has always struggled to find himself in the postseason, most of his losses coming against the same team that has plagued the Baltimore Ravens for so long: the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Today, being an opening day game, Flacco knew his team needed him to lead them to a victory. He made that known on the Ravens' first drive.

After the Ravens got the ball to start the game, Ray Rice ran the ball twice for 39 yards and helped the Ravens out to get into a quick scoring position. Then, Joe Flacco made his presence known.

Flacco sent a pass deep to Anquan Boldin for a nice 27-yard touchdown pass, thus giving the Ravens a nice 7-0 lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Flacco knows that his team has been depending on him, and he has been throwing balls deep and trying to help his team get out to a quick division lead over the defending AFC Champions. Sadly, his line hasn't been helping him out with holding penalties that have negated his deep passes.

Leading his team, Flacco takes another step up and makes a throw to Pitta for a 28-yard gain to put the Baltimore Ravens in a 1st-and-goal situation from the 8-yard line. The next play was topped by an eight-yard run by Ray Rice. Then, two plays later, a one-yard gain by Rice to get the ball into the end zone.

The Ravens will continue to look to Flacco for leadership as the season wears on. For today, though, the team looks to Flacco to lead them past the Steelers.

Flacco knows this, and he's showing that he wants to help his team. Whether he can continue to do so remains to be seen. History would suggest he can't, but you can change history with every step you take. For the Ravens' sake, let's hope he can do it.