New Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco stinks … if you believe all the power rankings of quarterbacks on the internet. Those ratings suggest he is Trent Dilfer 2.0, at best. But like most of what you read on Twitter, the instant analysis of Flacco is for the birds.

When Flacco drops back to pass, he earns respect without uttering a word, by displaying a gift that’s rare, even at the NFL level.

“He can throw the ball 80 yards, easy,” Broncos linebacker Von Miller said Tuesday, marveling at a mighty heave Flacco unleashed during practice. “He threw it 80 yards across the field. He’s looking like a Super Bowl MVP to me.”

Game knows game.

And unlike a year ago, when Broncos teammates mightily tried to prop up Case Keenum as a quarterback to be trusted, Flacco’s arm talent has done the talking during spring workouts at Dove Valley Headquarters.

“That man has a cannon, I can tell you that,” Denver defensive lineman Shelby Harris said last week. “That man can really throw the ball.”

Game knows game.

For example: When I asked Flacco how he can tell Miller is a special player, he replied: “I’ve been around a lot of good guys on defense, for most of my career, as you guys know. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs … just to name a couple. And he’s just another one of those guys. He is special.”

Game knows game.

For anybody not wearing orange-tinted glasses in 2018, it was obvious from the jump that Keenum did not have special physical gifts. No cannon. No swagger. No game.

As the season wore on, it also became apparent Keenum lacked the ability to outthink a defense. Mistakes made him withdraw into a shell. Playing quarterback is such a difficult job at the NFL level, because the game can become too big for anyone who allows any fear of failure to creep in.

In short, Keenum was a quarterback who’s the very definition of an NFL journeyman. He colored inside the lines and inspired mediocrity. That might be just fine as the backup quarterback on the bench, but Keenum was the wrong answer in a city that has been spoiled by the Hall of Fame greatness of John Elway and Peyton Manning.

Now, what the Broncos have in Flacco won’t truly be revealed until the victories and defeats begin to count in the standings. But this much we know: He’s no kid trying to fool us by dressing up in his father’s clothes.

At age 34, Flacco exudes the natural confidence of a QB who can throw the football over the head of every last man in the defense for a touchdown (not that we want to cause Broncos Country any painful flashbacks of a playoff game in January 2013).

How far can Flacco fling a football if a Hail Mary is required?

“On like a Hail Mary? If we’re on the opposite 30-yard line … ” he said, trying to be modest.

By most quantifiable analysis, Flacco is a game manager. He has never thrown for more than 27 touchdowns in any of his 11 previous seasons in the NFL and has topped 4,000 passing yards only once in his career.

Despite being one of the most dominant players in the league, Miller dislikes the obsession with the ratings game.

“The media — sorry for you guys — they just put everybody against each other. You’ve got the NFL Top 100. This guy is No. 1 and this guy is No. 6 and this guy is No. 12 … ” Miller said. “It creates this kind of animosity, for no reason.”

This is hard to quantify, but it’s also the most important thing Flacco has established since he arrived via trade from Baltimore in March. For the first time since Manning retired, players in the Denver locker room know they will take the field with an NFL quarterback who isn’t afraid to lose.

In that regard, while Flacco is a distinct upgrade over Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch or Keenum, I cannot guarantee you he will lead this team back to the playoffs for the first time since Super Bowl 50.

With Flacco in the huddle, however, the Broncos are back in the game.