Joe Flacco Became a Player to Watch This Season
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One of the more surprising and heartwarming stories in the NFL involves Audubon graduate Joe Flacco. A player who was watching football on his couch as recently as November, Flacco is a major reason the Cleveland Browns are in the NFL playoffs.
Flacco, who turns 39 on Jan. 16, was signed by the Browns’ practice squad on Nov. 20. He made his first start on Dec. 3, a 36-17 loss at the playoff bound Los Angeles Rams.
All Flacco did from there was lead the Browns to four consecutive wins, over Jacksonville and Chicago at home, against the Texans in Houston and finally a 37-20 win in Cleveland over the New York Jets. That game clinched the playoff berth for the Browns with one week left in the regular season.
Flacco sat out the final regular season game in order to stay healthy for the playoffs.
The Browns are the No. 5 seed and will visit the No. 4 seeded Houston Texans Saturday in the first round.
In his five games for Cleveland, Flacco has completed 60.3% of his passes for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 90.2 passer rating. Here is how he did in the four wins:
Dec. 10: 31-27 vs. Jacksonville – 26-45 passing, 311 yards 3 TDs, 2 INT, 92 passer rating.
Dec. 17: 20-17 vs. Chicago – 28-44 passing, 374 yards 2 TDs, 2 INT 77.3 passer rating.
Dec. 24: 36-22 at Houston – 27-42 passing, 368 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INT, 96.1 passer rating.
Dec. 28: 37-20 vs. NY Jets – 19-29 passing, 309 yards. 3 TDs, 1 INT, 121.2 passer rating.
While the interceptions are high, it’s remarkable production from Flacco who hadn’t thrown an NFL pass in 11 months. His last game before this season came on Jan. 8, 2023 with the NY Jets in an 11-6 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
It’s astonishing that with the state of backup quarterbacks being so poor in the NFL, that Flacco couldn’t find a job earlier than he did this year.
Now a rejuvenated Flacco is ready to lead the Browns in the playoffs and many feel that Cleveland could be a tough out.
This is a team with one of the NFL’s better defenses, a strong running game and game-breaking offensive players such as receiver Amari Cooper, who has quickly developed a great rapport with Flacco.
One thing is for sure – Flacco won’t be overwhelmed playing in the postseason.
He hasn’t been to the playoffs since the 2014 season, but Flacco has appeared in 15 playoff games, all with the Baltimore Ravens.
He is most remembered for the postseason following the 2012 season when Flacco led the Ravens to the Super Bowl.
In four playoff games, he completed 57.9% of his passes for 1,140 yards, 11 touchdowns and no interceptions for a 117.2 passer rating. He was named the Super Bowl MVP that season after leading the Ravens to a 34-31 win over the San Francisco 49ers. In the Super Bowl, Flacco completed 22 of 33 passes for 287 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, for a 124.2 passer rating.
During his career he has thrown at least two touchdown passes and no interceptions in seven playoff games.
He always had one of the best arms in the NFL and even at his age that hasn’t changed.
Many felt that Cleveland’s season would go up in smoke when Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending injury, but coach Kevin Stefanski has done a great job steering this ship, with a big assist from Flacco, who has shown he still has plenty of game left.
Photo Courtesy of Cleveland Browns
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Author: Marc Narducci
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