Flacco Flat Jets Fall To Ravens

 

By Andrew Rosario

 

It’s not the way Joe Flacco wanted to start his third year as a member of the New York Jets. The veteran quarterback started against the Baltimore Ravens the team he guided to the Super Bowl in 2013. It was announced last week that Flacco would start at least the first four games of the 2022 season as second year quarterback as Zach Wilson recovers from right knee surgery. If Flacco’s poor play was any indication the team could be in for a long four weeks.

 

The offense sputtered the first two times they had the ball resulting in two punts. In their third possession, after a offensive holding penalty, Flacco gets intercepted by Ravens free safety Marcus Williams. The next possession results in a punt, Flacco did move the team downfield on their next possession getting them in field goal range. Unfortunately, kicker Greg Zuerlein missed the 45 yard attempt.

 

The rest of the game saw Flacco running for his life as the offensive line could not slow down the Ravens pass rush. Flacco was hit 11 times and their third down efficiency was atrocious as they only converted 2 of 14 attempts. 

 

Second year head coach Robert Saleh, despite getting burned by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson who threw 3 touchdown passes, was encouraged by how his defense began the game. “I thought we came in and had a really good plan. I thought our guys played with a lot of juice and energy. We gave up three explosive plays unfortunately.” 

 

Flacco, who threw 59 times, completing 37 for 307 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception said, it wasn’t a good feeling for us on offense. Just never got in a rhythm. We just didn’t execute well enough in terms of some of our game plan stuff that we really thought we be able to take advantage of.”

 

Saleh has little wiggle room with Flacco who will start Sunday when the team travels to Cleveland to play the Brown. Fans chanted back-up quarterback Mike White’s name during the game Sunday. White had an impressive pre-season and last year in his first NFL start, White threw for 405 yards in the 34-31 win over the AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals. Flacco will be on a very short leash if he starts out like he did last Sunday.