that was a generation ago. now, unless you are incredibly lucky, you won't come close without a quarterback that can carry you. you want proof, the last quarterback to play in the super bowl who wouldn't be considered elite or near-elite or an absolutely dynamic talent, is rex grossman. You really think Flacco is? I sure as hell don't. Played his very best at the right time, but that doesn't make him elite. he's a good quarterback that played at an elite level in the playoffs. without him, the ravens wouldn't have been in the playoffs, and without him playing at an elite level in the playoffs, the ravens wouldn't have won the super bowl. very rarely are average quarterbacks going to do what he did in the playoffs, and again, it can be agreed upon that he's the reason the ravens won the sb. it would be tough for the ravens to replace flacco without making themselves very very bad for a long time. they've decided to sign him long term and simply fill in players around him through the draft, which is a smart strategy. they don't want to go into the wasteland of the titans, jaguars, or browns, teams without quarterbacks and without relief in sight.