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T.J. Houshmandzadeh just signed with the Ravens two weeks ago, so he might not know Joe Flacco too well just yet. But the veteran wide receiver does know that quarterbacks are constantly under the microscope in the NFL.
That's why Houshmandzadeh says that people should take it easy on his new quarterback. Despite Flacco's rough start to the season, Houshmandzadeh claims everyone should wait to see how the third-year signal caller plays in the coming weeks.
"I think the quarterbacks get too much credit when things go well, and they take way too much of the blame when things go bad," Houshmandzadeh said. "It's just...he's trying to make a play. If those balls are completions and not interceptions, it's a great play. It just is what it is. If we make more plays, it doesn't happen."
Flacco has just one touchdown pass and five interceptions through two games, and has posted a lowly 41.2 quarterback rating, which ranks 32nd among QBs.
He had a career-high four interceptions in Sunday's loss to the Bengals, a performance which left many in the Baltimore area questioning whether Flacco is ready to take the next step this year, as the Ravens have hoped he will.
"It's early in the season," Housmandzadeh said. "It's not like we've lost both games. We haven't played great offensively, but that's why this is the ultimate team game, because the defense has played well and we won a game. We'll get there. Everybody plays a part. If we all make more plays, specifically myself, then a lot of this is old news."
For his part, Flacco said today that he's not sure if too much is being made of his slow start to the season, saying that he doesn't follow media coverage of the team.
"I have no idea," Flacco said. "You guys are making it all up, so it's not like I pay attention to that and watch the TV and read the articles. You guys can tell me. Apparently there is a lot being made out of it, but I don't really care. I'm going to go out there and play the next game and play well.
"You know, listen, it was one bad game and it was one game out of 16. We've got 14 left, and in the long run that one loss isn't going to matter too much. We expect to have a lot of wins and [to] go out there and play well a lot of times. Nobody likes it. I don't like it. The team doesn't like it, but you've got to get over it, and if you don't get over it then it'll kill you for the rest of the year."
