Joe Flacco is currently averaging just 8.2 yards per completion this year. That would be the lowest in NFL history among players with at least 100 completions. Flacco, who once had a reputation as one of the game’s best deep throwers, is now completing passes for less yards than anyone ever has.
The Ravens rank 18th in the NFL in completions and yet 32nd in passing yards. The Ravens rank 8th in completion percentage and but 32nd in yards per attempt! That is remarkable. Since 1970, here are the teams that ranked at least 18 slots slower in yards per attempt than completion percentage:
| Team | Year | Cmp% Rk | Yd/Att Rk | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOU | 2006 | 1 | 25 | -24 |
| MIN | 1978 | 3 | 26 | -23 |
| SFO | 1980 | 3 | 25 | -22 |
| MIA | 2014 | 5 | 26 | -21 |
| TAM | 2001 | 7 | 27 | -20 |
| TAM | 1999 | 5 | 25 | -20 |
| CHI | 2014 | 10 | 29 | -19 |
| MIN | 2012 | 12 | 31 | -19 |
| NWE | 2002 | 9 | 28 | -19 |
| IND | 1991 | 7 | 26 | -19 |
| KAN | 1972 | 5 | 24 | -19 |
| MIN | 2016 | 1 | 19 | -18 |
| ATL | 2010 | 10 | 28 | -18 |
| SFO | 2002 | 8 | 26 | -18 |
| SFO | 1979 | 4 | 22 | -18 |
Flacco’s style has changed significantly over his career. Look at his completion percentage and yards per completion averages for each season of his career:
But the cost of a higher completion percentage certainly hasn’t been worth it. Flacco’s averaging an anemic 5.3 yards per attempt and 4.6 net yards per attempt. Flacco’s yards per attempt average is the worst since Jimmy Clausen in 2010.
Thought of another way: Joe Flacco is averaging 8.19 yards per completion. Tom Brady is averaging 8.27 yards per attempt.