Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco forever linked by the NFL Draft

They will meet on the field for the first time during the regular season when the Falcons (6-2) face the Baltimore Ravens (6-2) at 8:20 p.m. Thursday at the Georgia Dome.

Through the draft process they have became more than passing acquaintances.

"I know Joe," Ryan said. "In your draft class, there are so many functions and things that you go to, that you get to know guys pretty well."

They've sought each other out over the offseasons.

"We know enough about each other to hang out a little bit," Flacco said.

However, football usually is the last thing they talk about.

"A little bit of golf, our handicaps," Ryan said. "We talk a little bit about back home, too."

The two players don't mind being linked.

"Hopefully, both of us will play for along time," Ryan said. "They've been a little more successful than we have as a team, with them being in the playoffs last year and we weren't. ... As far as the comparison, two people from the same class are going to always be linked."

Ryan, 25, who was selected third overall in the 2008 draft, was named the NFL's offensive rookie of the year after guiding the Falcons to an 11-5 record and the playoffs. Flacco, 25, who was taken with the 18th pick, has guided the Ravens to the playoffs the past two seasons.

Both were the first rookies in NFL history to start all regular-season games, win 11 and lead their teams to the playoffs.

Ryan was hurt his second season and missed the majority of three games with a turf-toe injury as the Falcons finished 9-7.

Flacco guided the Ravens to an 11-5 mark last season. They were eliminated from the playoffs 20-3 by eventual AFC-champion Indianapolis in the divisional round.

Both have their teams off to similar starts this season and have had to battle back from early-season low moments.

A week after defeating the defending Super Bowl champs, Ryan tossed two interceptions as the Falcons barely dodged being upset by the San Francisco 49ers.

On Sept. 19 against Cincinnati, Flacco tossed a career-worst four interceptions in a 15-10 loss.

Since Ryan's low point, he hasn't had a multiple-interception game and has thrown seven touchdowns and only two interceptions.

Since Flacco's low point, he has completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 1,249 yards. He has thrown nine touchdowns and one interception.

"These are two of the best young quarterbacks in the game," Fox analyst Brian Billick said. "I have a huge admiration for Matt Ryan."

While Flacco has two playoff trips, some believe that Ryan is further along in his development.

"I think they put a little more on his shoulders than they do on Flacco in Baltimore," Billick said. "Both are excellent quarterbacks and are playing well."

While both have enjoyed some uncustomary success early in their careers, greatness is projected for them.

"Both of those quarterbacks are going to be stars in this league," said Kurt Warner, a former quarterback turned NFL Network analyst. "They've developed extremely quickly. ... Those guys are only going to get better and better as quarterbacks. In a couple of years we'll be talking about them as a couple of the elite quarterbacks."

The Ravens, who acquired wide receiver Anquan Boldin over the offseason, are starting to let Flacco do more. The play of wide receiver Roddy White and tight end Tony Gonzalez has expedited Ryan's development.

"What both of these young men have is individual talent," Theismann said. "They now understand what their offenses are about and what the defenses are trying to do to them."