There are plenty of things you can point to as explanations, but one result of any analysis of what’s gone on with the Baltimore is that quarterback Joe Flacco hasn’t played well enough.
He’s got a lower quarterback rating than Matt Schaub, ranks 26th in the league in completion percentage and has already set a career high in interceptions. On Wednesday, Flacco said that he hasn’t been good enough this season and particularly lamented the number of picks that he’s thrown this season.
“It’s annoying,” Flacco said, via the team’s website. “I’m a guy that does not like to throw interceptions. Believe me, I don’t like the fact that when you look at what we’ve done, that I’ve thrown, what is it, 13 interceptions? Yeah, c’mon, I don’t like that. That’s tough.”
Flacco said he didn’t think the interceptions were a result of impatience on his part and, as with most quarterbacks, you can find interceptions of several stripes if you look back at the season. Again, though, any explanation you choose gets back to the simple fact that Flacco and the passing game haven’t done their jobs this season.
Tight end Dennis Pitta, who the team has clearly missed, returned to practice on Wednesday and his presence will be helpful if he can make it back to the field. With the Ravens at 4-6, that help may have to come quickly if it is going to be worth all that much.