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Earlier this offseason, the Denver Broncos traded for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, a move that drew harsh criticism from fans and the media due to Flacco's age and eroding skills.
However, Broncos president John Elway says that it's not just about numbers with Flacco; it's about wins:
“The one stat that matters – has he won? And he has won,” said Elway, according to Mike Klis of 9 News. “Joe might not be the flashiest guy, but he’s been very successful and I think he’ll be very successful with us, too.’’
Not to pile on Elway here, but that is some pretty poor logic.
Elway has won two Super Bowls. Does that mean he can currently come in and start for an NFL team?
That comparison is a bit extreme, but it just reinforces the point that Flacco won that Super Bowl six years ago and has certainly been on a steady decline ever since.
This past season, Flacco started nine games before suffering a hip injury and then ultimately losing his job to rookie signal-caller Lamar Jackson. During his time on the field in 2018, Flacco threw for 2,465 yards, 12 touchdowns, and six interceptions while completing 61.2 percent of his passes and registering a passer rating of 84.2.
While the 34-year-old certainly has a good playoff track record, he is clearly not the same quarterback now that he was when he led the Ravens to the Super Bowl, and he may not even be that much of an upgrade—if at all—over Case Keenum, who spent one year under center in Denver this past season before being dealt to the Washington Redskins.
