Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has been vocal in the past about his displeasure of critics that say he isn't an elite quarterback or that talk down his playoff success, giving the credit to his defense and strong running game.
Flacco wants a big contract and he also wants control of the offense. He wants the ability to put games on his shoulder and win them all by himself. He didn't have a good relationship with Cam Cameron and wanted him run out of town, and he got his wish.
In Flacco's first game without Cameron on the sidelines, he pretty much single-handedly destroyed the team's chances of beating the Broncos. A lot of other players did not perform well and deserve some blame, but it was Flacco who lost a fumble early in the game and then threw the devastating interception before halftime that killed Baltimore's chances of climbing back into the contest.
It's time for Flacco to step up and make plays to help the Ravens win games. The defense is more than injury-riddled, so it's Flacco's time to shine. If the Ravens have success the remainder of the season, it's likely that much of the credit will go to Flacco.
The Ravens are going to have to score points in bunches, especially in the playoffs, if they are going to have any chance at all to get to the Super Bowl. The defense can play well in spurts, but it isn't going to hold up against the top offenses in the NFL.
Flacco has the chance to truly become the leader of the team and the star of the show, but he's going to need to step up his game in several areas for all of that to happen. His mechanics have gotten progressively worse throughout the season, to the point now where he is constantly throwing of his back foot or leaning toward the sideline and falling away as he releases the ball.
He's also going to have to throw the ball quicker, step up in the pocket, be willing to throw the ball away when feeling pressure, and take off running once in awhile. A lot of his fumbles are due to the fact that he holds onto the ball for far too long or does not step up in the pocket.
Flacco has what he wants: a chance to shine. The spotlight is on him, and it's time to earn that big contract he wants.
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