National Football League notebook: Ravens QB Flacco out for season

Most people who watched the end of Sunday’s game between the St. Louis Rams and Baltimore Ravens could tell you that Case Keenum wasn’t quite right after taking a big hit late in the game. Though the Baltimore Ravens walked away with their third victory of the 2015 season, their team’s leader and starting quarterback Joe Flacco tore his ACL and will not set foot on the gridiron again this season.

Unfortunately, Baltimore running back Justin Forsett left the game in the first quarter with a broken arm and will not return.

“It was a courageous performance by him at the end”, coach John Harbaugh said.

The National Football League is investigating Sunday’s incident involving Rams quarterback Case Keenum in which he was left in the game after having his head slammed to the turf and appearing visibly woozy from the blow. What could be lost is of even more concern for the Ravens though. In those 15 games, Flacco has completed over 62 percent of his passes, including throwing for 19 touchdowns (highest against any opponent) and seven interceptions.

The National Football League said on Monday it began a review on Sunday why Keenum was not taken off the field for “the necessary evaluation” by a team doctor or the independent neuro-trauma physician as required by its concussion protocols.

“It’s just the nature of the game, man”, Flacco said after the game.

Ravens RB Javorius “Buck” Allen The Ravens’ backfield and offense, in general, will look vastly different for the remainder of the 2015 season.

The Ravens showed plenty of faith in the group’s run-blocking, though, running 16 times in the second half behind the young line and helping the Ravens mount another fourth quarter comeback.

The win, perhaps, saved any hopes of the Ravens (3-7 overall) reaching the playoffs, after winning just two of their first nine games played this season. “I think people are reading into that”. Instead, he stayed in the game and had a costly fumble a few plays later.

The hosts did get on the board as time expired in the half courtesy of a 25-yard field goal from Justin Tucker, who had earlier missed a 51-yard attempt with the first scoring opportunity of the game. “We’ve got too much talent without getting things done”.

Three plays later, Keenum threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Lance Kendricks for a 13-3 lead.

This is the first year that so-called injury spotter in the booth is allowed to intercede and call a medical timeout if he sees a player shaken up on the field.

-New York Jets center Nick Mangold left in the first quarter at Houston with a hand injury and coach Todd Bowles said he had lacerations in his hand that kept him from snapping the ball.

Bears running back Matt Forte (knee) and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (groin) were inactive. Marshawn Lynch was out for Week 11 against the 49ers with an abdomen injury.