Joe was hurt last time we got blasted by New England.

**alienstar** · 01-06-2015, 06:19 AM

You didn't see much in the media (due to Joe not complaining), after we got the 41-7 lashing. Last year was the one and only time I was not emphatically rooting for a playoff birth. I'd watched closely and even thought maybe he shouldn't be in there. His mechanics, escapabilty , throwing all seemed messed up. At times it even looked as if he wanted it to end. I knew we were dead, had we got in last year, and I never say that I dont want to be there (plus it broke the Flacco Harbaugh streak) but it looked bad to me. Mostly I didn't want to risk our franchise man.

OT: based on an age/talent analysis..... Joe is right there for who to build a team around. My only other competitors are Rodgers and Luck.

**alienstar** · 01-06-2015, 08:42 AM

One reason I make this point.....is the NE faithful see this as proof of a new life dominance. Truth is....we can hang. Game plan and timings mean a lot.

**ace2die** · 01-06-2015, 08:57 AM

I remember the game well. Worst game I have been to at M&T Bank Stadium. I remember Legarrette Blount running wild on our defense. I dont remember Joe being the main cause for the loss.

**lobachevsky** · 01-06-2015, 09:10 AM

That's one difference. Another is that the Ravens are no longer running the Cam Cameron offense as misdirected by Jim Caldwell. Another is a healthy OL that can block.

I could go on, but what's the point? That was then, this is now. And the best part is, Baltimore is playing with house money (everything from here out is gravy) while Greater Beantown has bet the mortgage (a loss effectively zeroes out the season for their arrogant, self-entitled fan base).

"Cry 'Havoc!', & unleash the Crows of War!!"

**dscola31** · 01-06-2015, 09:11 AM

Joe isn't like other quarterbacks in that he doesn't get built in excuses. If it were any other one of the prima donna quarterback, excuses would already be built in whether they win or lose.

**bt12483** · 01-06-2015, 09:25 AM

If we win this game, and Flacco plays well, and people still talk shit... I might explode. Of course if Flacco doesn't play well the haters will be out in full "I told you so" mode.

It's beyond ridiculous.

**callahan09** · 01-06-2015, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by bt12483

If we win this game, and Flacco plays well, and people still talk shit... I might explode. Of course if Flacco doesn't play well the haters will be out in full "I told you so" mode.

It's beyond ridiculous.

Pretty much. The guy has performed well to excellent in about 10 post-season games in his career. Andy Dalton can't even do well in 1 game and he has tons of excuses, but when Joe has his next bad game you know that it'll be a ton of haters and doubters coming out of the woodwork.

**bt12483** · 01-06-2015, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by callahan09

Pretty much. The guy has performed well to excellent in about 10 post-season games in his career. Andy Dalton can't even do well in 1 game and he has tons of excuses, but when Joe has his next bad game you know that it'll be a ton of haters and doubters coming out of the woodwork.

Yet Not a peep about big Ben's shitty playoff stats. Dude has thrown an int in 10/15 playoff games.

Hypocrisy

**alienrace** · 01-06-2015, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by bt12483

If we win this game, and Flacco plays well, and people still talk shit... I might explode. Of course if Flacco doesn't play well the haters will be out in full "I told you so" mode.

It's beyond ridiculous.

That is because many people, fans, media, have drawn a line in the sand when it comes to Joe Flacco. They will never admit to being wrong about him - they'll patiently wait for the first opportunity to bash him. IMO, it's a degree of psychosis to feel that way about any player of a sports team.

**bt12483** · 01-06-2015, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by alienrace

That is because many people, fans, media, have drawn a line in the sand when it comes to Joe Flacco. They will never admit to being wrong about him - they'll patiently wait for the first opportunity to bash him. IMO, it's a degree of psychosis to feel that way about any player of a sports team.

Eli still catches shit too. Guess some guys are just punching bags. But Eli misses the playoffs a lot more often.

**SugarRay52** · 01-06-2015, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by callahan09

Pretty much. The guy has performed well to excellent in about 10 post-season games in his career. Andy Dalton can't even do well in 1 game and he has tons of excuses, but when Joe has his next bad game you know that it'll be a ton of haters and doubters coming out of the woodwork.

Dalton is great at pregame speeches (sarcasm):

https://vine.co/v/OdHYr6zAUP3

**Bigfish** · 01-06-2015, 05:58 PM

The Pats and media have to point to that game since none of other recent match ups would promote the narrative they have pre-selected. Our run defense and OL were horrible in that game, plus Joe was hurt and ineffective. The other 3 games were anomalies in their minds, this is the game that is most telling. When in fact, it's the opposite.