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NFL

Joe Flacco back on top with the Browns

Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco managed to lead the Cleveland Browns to the NFL Playoffs after Thursday night’s victory against his former team, the New York Jets.

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 28: Joe Flacco #15 celebrates after their win against the New York Jets at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 28, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio.   Nick Cammett/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Nick Cammett / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
NICK CAMMETTAFP

Joe Flacco, who last season was relegated to being the third quarterback for the New York Jets, behind both Zach Wilson and Mike White, has caught his second wind and that has the NFL abuzz. The veteran Super Bowl winner, in what looked like the twilight of his career, has led the Cleveland Browns back to the playoffs.

On November 20, 2023, the Browns signed the former Baltimore Ravens quarterback to filll a gap after losing Deshaun Watson for the rest of the season. Expectations in Cleveland were not high, especially after losing running back Nick Chubb to a knee injury that required surgery.

But in an almost magical twist, Cleveland has gone 11-5 so far, the third best record in the American Conference, and a huge amount of that is down to Joe Flacco.

A star is reborn

Flacco has 1,616 yards with 13 touchdown passes and eight interceptions in the five games he has played under Kevin Stefanski, positioning the Browns to not only return to the playoffs, but to also tentatively dream of a trip to the Super Bowl.

“I am very lucky to be on this team. I didn't imagine being here, especially in this big city. You could feel it, that atmosphere, I couldn't deny it,” Flacco said at the end of Thursday night's game.

Stefanski makes history

With Thursday’s victory, coach Kevin Stefanski became just the second head coach in franchise history to achieve multiple seasons with 11 wins or more, joining the legendary Paul Brown .

Despite the victory, the coach insisted that this is just the beginning of the journey, recognizing the great job that Flacco is doing on the field since taking the helm of the Browns offense.

“It’s a great story. The truth is I’m very happy for Joe, that he is successful, that he feels part of a team again. It’s wonderful,” said Stefanski in the post game press conference.