Flacco Comparable to Aikman? Even Better?

[KJJ]

Flacco has gone from a bus driver to a QB who can carry a team when needed. Naturally most FANS on this board aren't impressed with him because he doesn't put up big regular season numbers like Romo but in the playoffs the past 2 seasons he's taken his game to level that if Romo could ever reach when it matters most the Cowboys could make some waves. In the AFC title game vs NE (on the road) in 2011 Flacco outplayed Tom Brady and threw what should have been the winning TD pass to Lee Evens but Evens dropped it.

There's no question Flacco was carried to his first 2 AFC title games in 08 and 09 by a terrific Ravens defense. He had passer ratings of 50.8 and 39.4 in the playoffs those seasons with only 1 TD and 6 turnovers. His game has come a long way since then. He still doesn't produce flashy regular season numbers but his playoff performances have improved greatly. Starting in the 2010 playoffs he produced 3 TD's and 2 turnovers with a passer rating of 90.0. During the postseason in 2011 he produced 4 TD's with only 1 turnover and his passer was 96.1 which was much higher than his regular season passer rating of 80.9 that season.

During the postseason in 2012 he produced an impressive 11 TD's with no turnovers and his passer rating was 117.2 which was considerably higher than his 87.7 regular season passer rating. When it's been down to do or die his game has really picked up. He still doesn't complete a high percentage of his passes but he makes big throws in critical situations and he's not turning the ball over. In Flacco's last 6 playoff games which include the SB he's thrown 15 TD passes with only 2 turnovers. The Ravens have made the playoffs every year under Flacco and of his 8 playoff wins not including the SB 6 have come on the road.

 

[landroverking]

Different times Different rules.

 

[Nova]

Different times Different rules.

Agreed. The best comparison for Flacco would probably be Eli Manning. The difference is Manning has better stats.

 

[nathanlt]

Different times Different rules.

Is it? The only way Flacco is comparable to Aikman is if Aikman steps out of the broadcast booth and suits up today. And even then, Aikman might win out.

Irvin said he could run routes with his eyes closed and Aikman would hit him in the hands 7 out of 10 times. Incredible accuracy. I'm glad Aikman is a Cowboy, because he is better.

 

[Little Jr]

Flacco and aikman is a good comparison.

 

[Future]

Flacco and aikman is a good comparison.

From a physical standpoint I can see it. They both have the ability to make every throw...but Flacco is nowhere near the leader or as consistently accurate as Troy was.

 

[KJJ]

Last week someone compared Alex Smith with Aikman because their numbers are similar. Anytime you attempt to compare QB's based on their numbers who played in different era's on completely different teams you're going to be way off.

 

[KJJ]

When Aikman was winning SB's he was throwing for yardages comparable to what the other top QB's were throwing for during that era. When Aikman won his first SB in 92 he passed for 3445 yards, 23 TD's and completed 63.6 percent of his passes. In 92 Steve Young passed for 3465, 25 TD's and completed just over 66 percent of his passes. In 92 Jim Kelly who played in the red gun offense passed 3457 yards, 23 TD's and completed just over 58 percent of his passes.

The big difference between Aikman and the other top QB's during his era were that most of them were throwing for more TD's because Emmitt was putting up double digit TD's on the ground almost every season. In 92 Emmitt scored 17 rushing TD's but Aikman still threw for the same number of TD's as Jim Kelly and only 2 fewer TD's than Steve Young. Aikman's numbers compared favorably to what QB's were putting up during the late 80's to mid 90's even though Emmitt was putting up over 1400 yards per season from 92 to 95 and 70 rushing TD's. Aikman helped put Irvin in the HOF with his laser like accuracy. Flacco's numbers (regular season) haven't been comparable to what QB's are producing today. His numbers are comparable to what QB's were putting up 20+ years ago which is why some are making the comparison to Aikman.

If it wasn't for Emmitt putting up more rushing yards than any back in NFL history and more TD's than anyone but Jerry Rice Aikman's numbers would have exceeded everyones except maybe Marino who didn't have an Emmitt Smith to share yards and TD's with. Drew Brees never passed for more than 3576 yards and 27 TD's in San Diego with LT in the backfield who was rushing for more yards than Emmitt and was on his way to the 3rd most TD's in NFL history. Brees' numbers immediately started to increase when he went to NO and was asked to air it out. Put Aikman in an offense geared to passing like we see in todays game and he would have put up tremendous numbers.