John Harbaugh Stands by Joe Flacco

The Ravens lost to the Bengals Sunday in their second low-scoring game of the season. Quarterback Joe Flacco did pretty well in week one against the Jets’ tough defense, but he had a career-worst four interceptions against Cincinnati. With a veteran like Marc Bulger behind him on the depth chart, some people were wondering if the Ravens were better off making a switch. Head Coach John Harbaugh doesn’t feel like that is necessary. At least not yet.

During his weekly news conference, Harbaugh acknowledged that he feels free to change quarterbacks the same way he would change other positions. He added “You want to put the best guy out there you feel gives you the best chance to win week to week. That’s what we feel Joe is our guy. We’re very blessed to have a heck of a back-up in Marc Bulger and if that ever changes it changes. It’s just not that big of a deal to me. What’s important to me is that the guys who are playing the positions play really well. Play fundamentally sound. Play the position as well as they can and guys fight to do that every week.” Harbaugh ultimately said that Flacco is doing that right now so there is no need for a change.

I thought Flacco was poised for a breakout season given the steps he took last year, the overall development of the team’s passing game, and the excellent receiving weapons they added in the off-season. Suffice it to say he has been a big disappointment. Actually, I thought he played pretty well against the Jets week one but he looked awful the entire Bengals game (save the opening drive of the third quarter).

This week the Ravens have the Browns at home. If Flacco and the passing game can’t get things on track this weekend then the people who picked Baltimore to reach the Super Bowl can cross off that prediction. I don’t think Bulger will ever give them a better chance to win than Flacco, but they’ll be in big trouble if they can’t turn it around against Cleveland.