Can the Baltimore Ravens Win Without Joe Flacco?

MONDAY, MONDAY: The Browns played in the first Monday night game in 1970, but that hasn’t guaranteed them an annual spot in the showcase. QB Josh McCown returns to starting lineup for first time since November 1. “How unusual does it feel heading into a game without Flacco under center, and can you give us any insight as to how Schaub looked this preseason?” The Ravens are averaging 23 points scored per game while the Browns are averaging 19 points scored per game.

Meantime, the Browns have had an interesting week with their QBs as well, as Johnny Manziel was demoted from first to third string because of a video showing his partying in Austin, Texas last weekend, a bye week for Cleveland.

Prediction: Browns win, 21-7. “Then it just speaks to his toughness that he was able to finish the game with apparently a torn ACL and MCL”.

For McCown, it’s an opportunity to reclaim the No. 1 job he lost to Manziel after missing the last two games with a rib injury and replicate one of his best outings. But McCown said he was encouraged by what he saw from Manziel this morning in meetings. “I definitely could empathize with him going through this situation”. The 12th-year journeyman amassed a career-high 457 yards and threw two touchdowns in leading Cleveland (2-8) to its most recent victory, a 33-30 overtime triumph in Baltimore on October 11.

“You’ve all got to understand, Matt’s had a lot of success in this league, so we’re very comfortable and confident with him”, wide receiver Kamar Aiken said. The defense can not keep teams from scoring when it matters most.

Flacco hurt the knee during the first play of the last drive of Sunday’s game when teammate left tackle James Hurst inadvertently fell to his knee after a throw. Do we really have a chance of winning any games?

“It’s insane, but that happens in football”, Ravens rush linebacker Elvis Dumervil said. You’re always one play away. That does not mean they are deserving of it. Call me a homer, but if you wanna make some money on Monday night, take the Ravens getting points. While we didn’t know it was going to be a routine experience for the Ravens this season, both teams enter week 12 with some new questions marks.

“You don’t play the game not to play”, Davis said. I think just the environment of a quarterback room works better when you root for one another and you help the other guy plays well and he encourages you and you encourage him.

However, Ravens players insist that they’ve seen a much different quarterback in practices over the past couple of months. Baltimore’s offensive line has allowed 35 sacks over the past two seasons – lowest in the National Football League – but Schaub was benched in Houston and again in Oakland because he didn’t trust reads.