NFL thoughts on a Wednesday

Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2011 will be very cool here in Baltimore. The Baltimore Ravens, coached by John Harbaugh, will play the San Francisco 49'ers, coached by Jim Harbaugh, at M and T Bank Stadium at 8:20 pm. Yes, brother versus brother.

The Ravens are at a pivotal juncture in the John Harbaugh regime. As it is with every NFL team, their success hinges on the play of their starting quarterback. The Ravens have fourth year QB Joe Flacco from the University of Delaware. Flacco is looking to gain 'elite' status. The quarterbacks who can make a case for being in that 'elite' class right now are: Brady, Rivers, Rodgers, Roethlisberger, P. Manning, and Brees. I think Roethlisberger will drop off somewhat this year due to the Steeler's losing their air of big-game invincibility with the Super Bowl loss. Michael Vick is too inconsistent to figure out where he ranks so I am putting Flacco above him. Please don't make me laugh by mentioning Matt Ryan. (After Ryan's play-off performance last year against the Packers, he should be calling Jim Clausen for advice). My feeling is that Flacco will enter that next level and the Ravens will make a strong post-season run in 2011.