Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco is the 2008 Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year, Diet Pepsi and the National Football League announced Thursday.

As the Ravens’ first round draft choice in 2008, Flacco propelled Baltimore’s air attack, passing for 2,971 yards, completing 257 of 428 attempts and scoring 16 total touchdowns (14 passing, two rushing). In the season’s final 11 games, Flacco guided the Ravens to a 9-2 record and a playoff berth, registering a 90.2 QB rating, throwing for 2,127 yards and 13 touchdowns. Flacco threw at least one TD in eight straight games between Oct. 19 and Dec. 7, tying Joe Namath (1965) and Babe Parilli (1952) for the third-longest streak ever among rookie QBs. Flacco tossed at least one TD pass in each of the Ravens’ last six road games, totaling nine TDs and a 101.8 passer rating. Flacco, who attended the University of Delaware, was nominated for 10 Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week awards, winning twice.

More than 1,002,500 fan votes were submitted for the Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year on NFL.com and via Sprint wireless service from Jan. 2 through Jan. 27, shattering last year’s total of 440,000.

Flacco was one of five finalists for the honor. The other finalists were running back Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears, running back Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans, quarterback Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons and running back Steve Slaton of the Houston Texans.

The five finalists were selected for their outstanding performances throughout the 2008 NFL season. Each week, five nominees were chosen for Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL fans voted for the winner on NFL.com and via Sprint wireless. Those results were used to help determine the finalists.

This is Pepsi’s seventh year as the official soft drink sponsor of the NFL and the fourth year that Diet Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Year award.
Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens
Flacco propelled Baltimore’s aerial attack by passing for 2,971 yards, completing 257 of 428 attempts, with 16 total touchdowns (14 passing, two rushing). In the season’s final 11 games, Flacco guided the Ravens to a 9-2 record and a playoff berth, registering a 90.2 passer rating and throwing for 2,127 yards and 13 TDs. Flacco threw at least one TD in eight straight games between Oct. 19 – Dec. 7, tying Joe Namath (1965) and Babe Parilli (1952) for the third-longest streak ever among rookie QBs. Unflappable on the road, Flacco tossed at least one TD in each of the Ravens’ last six away games. In those six contests, Flacco threw for nine TDs and just two INTs. Flacco, who attended the University of Delaware, was nominated for 10 Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week awards, winning twice.