Sprint 'Game Ball of the Week'

Going into Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers, everyone including the Panthers, expected the Baltimore Ravens to roll over Carolina. Once the Ravens scored on their second offensive play and then kicked a FG to go up 10-0 by the end of the first quarter, it began to lookas if the Panthers were going to roll over themselves. Alas, that was not to happen and the Ravens defense had to rise to the occasion to put the game away late in the fourth quarter with two interception returns for touchdowns.

However, once the game was over and the stat sheets distributed, it was clear to all who the recipient of this week's Sprint ' Game Ball of the Week' was going to be. Third year QB Joe Flacco started the game with a sweet 56 yard TD pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh and continuously found his receivers, with blistering rockets as well as soft touch passes to nine different receivers.

Flacco's final stat line read: 24 completions in 33 attempts for 301 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions and a robust QB Rating of 110.8. In comparison, on the other side of the ledger was Carolina Panthers QB Brian St. Pierre, whose day consisted of 13 completions in 28 attempts for 173 yards, one TD pass, two pick-sixes and a sad QB Rating of 48.7. Take away the 88 yard TD pass and St. Pierre threw for 85 yards on the other twelve pass completions. Ouch.

Despite receiving criticism for his scrambling abilities and checking down too quick to his running backs, Flacco absolutely deserves this Sprint ' Game Ball of the Week' and if he can maintain this type of performance through the rest of the season and especially against the better teams in the league, he will lead the Ravens deep into the post season.