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Denver Broncos: The aftermath of the Joe Flacco trade

By Sayre Bedinger

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 23: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after a touchdown run by Javorius Allen in the third quarter of the game against the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens won 27-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 23: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after a touchdown run by Javorius Allen in the third quarter of the game against the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens won 27-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 06: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens walks off the field after being defeated by the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 06, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Chargers defeated the Ravens with a score of 23 to 17.(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 06: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens walks off the field after being defeated by the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 06, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Chargers defeated the Ravens with a score of 23 to 17.(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Is Flacco even an upgrade for the Broncos?

This is a reasonable question.

Is Flacco really an upgrade over Case Keenum? The numbers since 2015 indicate Flacco is basically a tall version of what Keenum brings to the table.

The big difference between Keenum and Flacco? What they did prior to 2015. Flacco was a major asset for the Ravens in the 2012 postseason, earning Super Bowl MVP honors. Then in the 2014 postseason, Flacco helped bring the Ravens within an inch of beating the Patriots in the playoffs again in 2014 when he completed 62 percent of his passes with four touchdowns and two picks in a close loss for the Ravens.

Flacco has 10 career postseason victories and only three of those wins came in Baltimore. The theory there is, if you can scratch and claw your way into the playoffs, he’s a guy who can play well enough on the road that your team can actually win some games. He’s got seven road playoff wins, including two wins in New England.

Keenum doesn’t really have anything close to the playoff experience Flacco has. The Broncos may be banking on a bit of a reclamation project here, though.

Over the past four seasons, Flacco averages 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions every 16 games. In that same timeframe, Case Keenum averages 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions every 16 games.

Flacco’s team has gone 24-27 since 2015 while the teams Keenum has been on have gone a combined 24-20.

Statistically speaking, this move doesn’t look like an upgrade but it’s hard to say without seeing how Flacco would mesh with new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello.

Flacco may have a better arm than Keenum, but whether or not he’s actually an upgrade will depend entirely on how he fits in with Scangarello’s offense.

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