... be compared because of their first round pedigrees.  Matthew Thomas Ryan was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Falcons while Joseph Vincent Flacco was drafted 18th overall by the Baltimore Ravens.

Both went on to take their respective teams to the playoffs in their first season.

Their paths to stardom, however, were far different.

Ryan was drafted to be the day one starter.  He was thought to be the quarterback who would bring the Falcons back from the dead to become contenders, in a few years.  Instead, his first NFL pass was a touchdown and he would help instantly transform the Falcons into winners during a season in which many thought they would win only one game.

Flacco was drafted to sit on th...

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