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          NFL Nation

          Joe Flacco playing smart, aggressive in postseason

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterJan 7, 2015, 02:30 PM ET
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              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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          OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- What jumps out about Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco's play in the postseason is his aggressiveness.

          In his five straight playoff wins, Flacco has connected on 16 passes of 20 yards or more. His average per completion is 15.3 yards.

          “Hey, that’s what this game is about. It’s about being aggressive and trying to put the other side on their heels a little bit," Flacco said. "As an offense, you’re doing your best to dictate what’s going on in that game."

          This represents only part of Flacco's success. Even though he has been in attack-mode with deep throws, he also has played smart.

          He has thrown 166 passes in the playoffs without being picked off, which is the fourth-best streak in NFL history. His last interception in the postseason? That came in January 2012 when the Ravens played the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game.

          Flacco knows he has to be careful with the ball in New England. The Patriots have 12 players who have picked off at least one pass. But Flacco isn't going to play conservative, and he's not going to avoid throwing at cornerback Darrelle Revis.

          "When you go out there and you try to change things around and avoid a guy or pick your spots to go at a guy, I think you’re usually taking away a piece of your offense that you rely on a lot," Flacco said. "You allow them to dictate something by who they match him on or who he happens to be on on that play. So, I think as a play-caller, you have to just go out there, rely on your guys that you have that are out there, rely on the fact that they have ability. And as a quarterback, you have to go out there and just go through your reads. And if he’s open, throw it to him; if he’s not, don’t."