Bengals QB Andy Dalton can throw the ball to A.J. Green, one of the top wide receivers in the game, or give the ball to Jeremy Hill or Giovani Bernard. When Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is healthy again, he will be complemented by Antonio Brown, the NFL's most prolific wide receiver the past two seasons, and Le'Veon Bell, one of the league's most dangerous running backs.
The same goes for the Patriots' Tom Brady (who has Rob Gronkowski), the Broncos' Peyton Manning (who has Demaryius Thomas) and the Falcons' Matt Ryan (who has Julio Jones).
What does Joe Flacco have? The Baltimore Ravens' junior varsity offense.
Flacco could be without as many as five starters Sunday, if you include first-round pick Breshad Perriman and tight end Dennis Pitta, when the Ravens play the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. There's a chance Baltimore will be without wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. (back), tight end Crockett Gillmore (calf) and left tackle Eugene Monroe (concussion).
The buzz all week will center on how Flacco has to elevate everyone around him. That's what franchise quarterbacks do. That's what leaders do. This is true, to a degree. The Ravens gave him a $120.6 million contract, but they didn't give him superpowers.
Flacco's No. 1 receiver on Sunday, Kamar Aiken, is a career journeyman who has 35 career receptions. The No. 2 receiver, Marlon Brown, hasn't caught a touchdown pass in 20 straight games (including playoffs). The No. 3 receiver is either rookie sixth-round pick Darren Waller or recently acquired Chris Givens. Each has one reception this season.
Baltimore's only healthy tight ends are rookies. Flacco's blind side is being protected by James Hurst, a second-year undrafted player who is the lowest-graded left tackle by Pro Football Focus. The Ravens' Rick Wagner is the second-lowest ranked right tackle.
Flacco has to be wondering whether there is anywhere to throw the ball or anywhere to hide from the pass rush.
"We have to be good," coach John Harbaugh said of Baltimore's hodgepodge passing attack. "You can’t go out there and not be clicking [when] throwing the ball and expect to put up any points in this league.”
That's easier said than done. There is a reason Flacco has thrown to Smith on seemingly every play. He is the only player who consistently gets open and catches the ball.
Flacco has endured tough times before. In 2013, Anquan Boldin was traded and Pitta was lost for most of the season with a fractured hip. But Flacco still had Torrey Smith.
The 2013 season was also when Flacco threw a career-worst 22 interceptions, 10 more than he had in any previous season. He pressed to make plays, and it resulted in too many mistakes. For the Ravens to beat the Browns on Sunday, it's more important for him to reduce his mistakes than to elevate the players around him.
Flacco has thrown an interception in the first four games this season (two in the opener). It's the first time that's happened in his eight-year career. In his last game, he fumbled three times and lost one -- the first time he lost a fumble in 27 games. The Ravens' margin for error on offense is too low these days to turn the ball over like that.
Dealing with challenges isn't anything new for Flacco. There's been a revolving door at offensive coordinator, and he's never had the luxury of throwing to a No. 1 receiver who was in his prime. When fans and media debate whether Flacco is elite, it's often overlooked that his supporting cast is far from stellar.
The good news for Flacco is that he's playing the Browns. Cleveland has the NFL's worst defense, and Flacco has owned the Browns (13-1 career record). There's also a chance that Smith will miss only one game, and Gillmore could return soon too.
"It’s great to have Joe as a quarterback, even with us going through all this," Aiken said. "That’s why I feel so confident that we’ll be fine.”
Flacco is known for his calm demeanor and for not getting rattled, even in the most tense situations. That will serve him well Sunday, when he faces the toughest predicament of his career.