Joe Flacco

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Before safety Ed Reed's controversial comments on Sirius XM radio this week, the refrain was always that the criticism of Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco came from outsiders, from the media, from people who didn't really know and therefore didn't really matter. That claim can no longer be made. Now the questions about Flacco's performance - including a claim that he was "rattled a little bit" in Sunday's win over the Texans - have come from inside the locker room.

Jim Caldwell is back in the NFL, this time as the Baltimore Ravens quarterbacks coach. The 57-year-old Caldwell was hired on Monday by the Ravens. The appointment comes less than two weeks after Caldwell was fired as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts following a 2-14 season. Caldwell went 26-22 in three years with Indianapolis, including a Super Bowl appearance. After working with Colts standout quarterback Peyton Manning for 10 seasons, Caldwell will turn his attention toward improving Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and teaming with offensive coordinator Cam Cameron to...

The NFL playoffs have shown us that defense may have been resting during the 2011 regular season, but it's not dead. Preventing points is still as important as scoring them in the most meaningful football games of the season. Just ask the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers, owners of two of the most prolific offenses in the history of the league and front-row seats in front of their flat-screens for Sunday's NFC Championship game. As the Patriots prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in the AFC Championship game, they should take heed of the demise of their...

FOXBOROUGH - After swallowing the bitter pill that was a 23-20 loss to the Patriots that ended the Ravens' season, Joe Flacco couldn't have cared less about the criticism, about the scrutiny, about proving anything to anyone who doubted him as a quarterback. Flacco yesterday threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns with one interception on 22-of-36 passing in the Ravens' AFC Championship game loss. All week Flacco had heard this was a chance to silence his doubters, and after outperforming Tom Brady (239 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions)

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - It has been four years of doubts and questions. Four years of defending himself. Four years of never being considered quite good enough. And yet, it has been four years of winning - though the winning has never gone deep enough, never far enough into the season, never been credited to the one throwing the football. The wins always went to someone else. That left Joe Flacco defending himself, left his teammates defending him, left everyone else wondering whether the Ravens needed someone else.

FOXBOROUGH - After swallowing the bitter pill that was a 23-20 loss to the Patriots that ended the Ravens' season, Joe Flacco couldn't have cared less about the criticism, about the scrutiny, about proving anything to anyone who doubted him as a quarterback. Flacco yesterday threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns with one interception on 22-of-36 passing in the Ravens' AFC Championship game loss. All week Flacco had heard this was a chance to silence his doubters, and after outperforming Tom Brady (239 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions)

The Ravens found themselves defending quarterback Joe Flacco all week after Ed Reed criticized the quarterback leading to Sunday's AFC Championship Game. After losing Sunday, 23-20, they were singing his praises. Flacco passed for 306 yards and two touchdowns, outplaying his vaunted Patriots counterpart Tom Brady. Fullback Vonta Leach said "Joe Flacco played his [tail] off for us. " Tackle Michael Oher said he was a "great quarterback. " And defensive tackle Haloti Ngata said Flacco "did a great job today.

The Patriots defeated the Ravens in the AFC Championship game today at Gillette Stadium. The Boston Globe tracked the game: 6:10 p.m.: Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff missed a 32-yard field goal with 11 seconds left to cement the Patriots' win. 6:02 p.m.: The Ravens forced a Patriots punt and took over with 1:44 left to play at their own 21. 5:55 p.m.: The Ravens turned the ball over on downs at the Patriots' 30-yard line with 2:46 left....

New England Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington left Sunday's AFC title game against Baltimore in the second quarter with an eye injury, and fellow Pro Bowl selection Rob Gronkowski followed him to the locker room in the third before returning a few minutes later. Arrington had not returned through the third quarter. Gronkowski, who set an NFL record for a tight end with 17 touchdown receptions, left after he was taken down by Bernard Pollard at the end of a 23-yard gain with 24 seconds left in the third quarter.

By Zuri Berry, Globe Staff FOXBOROUGH -- The Ravens found themselves defending quarterback Joe Flacco all week after Ed Reed criticized the quarterback leading to Sunday's AFC Championship Game. After losing Sunday, 23-20, they were singing his praises. Flacco passed for 306 yards and two touchdowns, outplaying his vaunted Patriots counterpart Tom Brady. Fullback Vonta Leach said "Joe Flacco played his [tail] off for us. " Tackle Michael Oher said he was a "great quarterback.

FOXBOROUGH - The Patriots are headed to the seventh Super Bowl in franchise history after an edge-of-your-seat, 23-20 win yesterday over the Ravens in the AFC Championship game, which was only sealed when Baltimore kicker Billy Cundiff pulled a tying 32-yard field goal attempt left with 11 seconds to play. The miss was jaw-dropping for the Ravens, who stood on the sideline in disbelief, and set off a celebration at Gillette Stadium. Vince Wilfork, who had a huge role in the game, took off his helmet, his arms outstretched, steam coming off his bald head and bare arms, a wide smile on his face.

Imagine this: The New England Patriots make yet another Super Bowl, and Tom Brady is not the main reason. By his own assessment, Brady wasn't very good in the Patriots' 23-20 AFC championship game victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Vintage Brady doesn't need much assistance in such settings, but he got plenty of it from the Patriots' much-maligned defense, and from Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff shanking a 32-yard field goal with 11 seconds remaining. Oh, yeah, Brady's 1-yard touchdown dive in which he soared over the Ravens' touted defensive line,...

FOXBOROUGH - John Harbaugh could see the kick bending. The ball was still in the air and you could see the Ravens coach appear to mouth the words, "He missed it. " Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs couldn't stand the sight. "Oh, my God," he said, watching the ball hook left. Patriots coach Bill Belichick's eyes were fixed on the kick. Then his head snapped to the right. The look on his face wasn't one of delight or relief. He appeared almost puzzled by what he had witnessed.

FOXBOROUGH - The Patriots are headed to the seventh Super Bowl in franchise history after an edge-of-your-seat, 23-20 win yesterday over the Ravens in the AFC Championship game, which was only sealed when Baltimore kicker Billy Cundiff pulled a tying 32-yard field goal attempt left with 11 seconds to play. The miss was jaw-dropping for the Ravens, who stood on the sideline in disbelief, and set off a celebration at Gillette Stadium. Vince Wilfork, who had a huge role in the game, took off his helmet, his arms outstretched, steam coming off his...

The Baltimore Ravens were just 14 yards away from the Super Bowl. They came no closer. Lee Evans had a ball stripped from his hands in the end zone, Dennis Pitta had another pass batted away as he was about to grab it and Billy Cundiff missed a 32-yard field goal attempt. It all happened in 16 seconds as time ran out on the Ravens' season. "When you get opportunities to make plays," Evans said, "you've got to make them. " Baltimore didn't and the New England Patriots are headed to their sixth Super Bowl in 11 years after a 23-20 win in Sunday's...

FOXBOROUGH - After swallowing the bitter pill that was a 23-20 loss to the Patriots that ended the Ravens' season, Joe Flacco couldn't have cared less about the criticism, about the scrutiny, about proving anything to anyone who doubted him as a quarterback. Flacco yesterday threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns with one interception on 22-of-36 passing in the Ravens' AFC Championship game loss. All week Flacco had heard this was a chance to silence his doubters, and after outperforming Tom Brady (239 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions)

Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers looked playoff-ready, even if their postseason hopes remain slim. Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens earned a playoff berth before kickoff, then looked anything but the dominating, well-balanced team they had been. Rivers threw for one score and reached the 4,000-yard mark for the fourth straight season, Ryan Mathews ran for two scores and hit 1,000 yards rushing, and the Chargers beat the Ravens 34-14 on Sunday night. The Chargers (7-7)

By Steve Silva, Globe Staff In this episode of Playoffs Today, Chris Gasper takes a closer look at the quarterback controversy brewing in Baltimore and how Tom Brady and the Patriots go about their business in Foxborough. Brady also shares his thoughts on the vaunted Ravens defense and Vince Wilfork talks about what a tough quarterback Joe Flacco has been over the years.