PITTSBURGH (AP) -The rookie finally played like one, at the worst possible time.
Since his first NFL start in September, Joe Flacco’s poise and wisdom in the pocket belied his inexperience. Even though he wasn’t spectacular, the kid was plenty good enough to get the Baltimore Ravens to the AFC championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That’s when Joe Cool became Joe Cold.
Flacco didn’t throw an interception or lose a fumble in Baltimore’s first two playoff games, and the Ravens won because of an 8-1 turnover differential. Against the Steelers on Sunday, Flacco was intercepted three times.
e final one sealed Baltimore’s 23-14 loss.
Flacco had difficulty completing short passes, medium-length throws and bombs. Of his first seven passes, five were incomplete, one went to Willis McGahee for 2 yards and the other was intercepted by Deshea Townsend.
At halftime, he was 3-of-14 for 39 yards with a quarterback rating of 9.8.
Flacco finished 13-of-30 for 141 yards, and the Ravens’ bid to reach the Super Bowl with their rookie quarterback ended with a stinging defeat against their hated rivals.
To his credit, Flacco directed a 59-yard drive that got Baltimore to 16-14 with 9:29 left. But the big play was a pass interference call that set up Willis McGahee’s second touchdown run.
Baltimore got the ball back, and it was up to Flacco to bring the Ravens a victory against the top-ranked defense in the NFL.
Under pressure, he threw the ball up for grabs before being hit. Polamalu made the catch and weaved his way into the end zone with 4:24 left, virtually assuring the Ravens a trip home without the AFC title.
The final interception, which came on a deflection, sent Flacco to the sideline for the final time this season.
three of his team’s five turnovers.
In three games against Pittsburgh – all losses- Flacco threw five interceptions and had one touchdown pass.
After riding Flacco’s conservative approach to victories over Miami and Tennessee, the Ravens (13-6) realized this game would be different after Townsend’s interception. Baltimore’s defense kept it close, but Flacco couldn’t deliver.
His performance conjured memories of another rookie quarterback who took his team to the AFC title game before coming unglued at Heinz Field. Ben Roethlisberger finished his first NFL season by going 14-of-24 with three interceptions in a loss to the New England Patriots in the 2004 AFC championship game.
Roethlisberger won the Super Bowl the following season.
The Ravens can only hope a year of experience will work similar wonders for their young quarterback, who only 13 months ago was flinging passes for the University of Delaware.
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