Josh Freeman = Joe Flacco?

Take a moment and look at these stats:

1. 312 completions, 542 attempts, 3,610 yards, 20 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 57.6 completion percentage, QB rating 80.9.

2. 306 completions, 558 attempts, 4,065 yards, 27 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, 54.8 completions percentage, QB rating 81.6.

Very, very similar, right?

Both sets of stats are from quarterbacks in their fourth year.

No. 1 is Baltimore’s Joe Flacco, his fourth year stats.

No. 2 is Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman, his fourth year stats.

Very, very close, eerily close.

Flacco finished last season without many believers in Baltimore. Josh Freeman finished this season without many believers here in Tampa.

After leading his team to last week’s upset victory in Denver and a spot in the AFC title game, Flacco is now in line for a huge contract. He’s the man, he’s Baltimore’s guy.

As for Freeman? The Bucs are probably going to follow Baltimore’s lead and let Freeman play his fifth year without an extension, as the Ravens did with Flacco.

So it’s basically up to Freeman.

If he can follow Flacco’s lead, he’ll be a happy guy.