There are late-career renaissances. Then there is what Joe Flacco is doing.
The 38-year-old gunslinger has found a new lease on life since returning to the fore as a starting quarterback for the Browns. His latest spectacle was perhaps his most impressive; Flacco tossed three touchdown passes on Sunday as Cleveland vanquished Jacksonville, 31-27, reaffirming the Browns’ postseason aspirations.
It was yet another standout showcase from Joe Cool, a player whose play continues to hold up even as he enters his third different decade on an NFL roster.
Flacco outplayed a less-than-100-percent Trevor Lawrence in his matchup, dispatching a gifted QB 14 years his junior. He also made league history in the process, becoming one of just five throwers to notch five passing scores in his first two games in a new city, per ESPN’s Jake Trotter.
Joe Flacco is one of only 5 QBs in NFL history (since the 1970 merger) to throw 5 TDs over his first two games with a new team #Browns @ESPNStatsInfo
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) December 10, 2023
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Here’s what you need to know about Flacco’s (latest) coming-out party.
Joe Flacco stats today
Flacco took control of the pasture on Sunday, ripping the Jaguars apart to the tune of 26-of-45 passing for 311 yards and three scores.
It wasn’t the most efficient of displays from Flacco, who completed just 57.8 percent of his passes against Jacksonville’s hulking front line. Still, when you’re as ruthless as Cleveland’s elder statesman was on Sunday, that doesn’t really mean much.
Flacco was lively from the game’s opening salvo, firing off five completions in his first five attempts in the Browns’ opening drive. He finished off the series in style, lofting a delightful 34-yard feather to David Njoku to open up the Browns’ scoring account.
— NFL (@NFL) December 10, 2023
As the game wore on, so did Flacco’s savvy. He formed a sumptuous connection with Njoku, connecting with the Cleveland tight end once more on a 30-yard score just three possessions later.
— NFL (@NFL) December 10, 2023
With 212 passing yards and two touchdowns to his name at the end of the first half, Flacco was hooping. He slowed down a bit in the second half, reprising his role as one of the league’s more effective game-managers.
But when the Browns needed a spark, they got it from their senior-most sidewinder. Flacco hit David Bell with a 41-yard laser on fourth-and-three to put a little more breathing room between Cleveland and Jacksonville in the fourth quarter.
— NFL (@NFL) December 10, 2023
Flacco showed out in a big way against his weary opposition. He also became the first Browns QB to break the 300-yard and three-touchdown plateau this season. That’s not too shabby for the AFC’s latest quarterbacking patriarch.
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Joe Flacco is the Browns first quarterback to throw for 300 yards this year.
Joe Flacco is the Browns first quarterback to throw 3TDs in a game this year.
HE STILL GOT IT pic.twitter.com/Pgsapez8vf
— Nick Karns (@karnsies817) December 10, 2023
Flacco’s flourish earned him plenty of praise from Cleveland brass. It also secured him the starting role for the remainder of the year, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced postgame.
.@JoeFlacco is our guy the rest of the way 🫡 pic.twitter.com/vDUmLrIYRW
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 10, 2023
The moment clearly meant a lot to the old-timer, who was lost for words when describing the significance of his recent revival.
“Coming up with words on how this feels, I’m not going to do a good job with that,” Flacco told reporters after the game. “There’s so many different things that are riding through my head. It’s unbelievable to be out there. It’s a really unique experience, I can’t say enough, to have children that are of the age where they understand what’s going on. I’m going to remember these things forever.”
The sentiment of the accomplishment — coming off the couch to lead Stefanski’s squad to two wins — is clearly of great importance to Flacco. He’s not trying to let it get to his head, though. His calm demeanor has gotten him this far already — from the recesses of FCS football to 237 NFL touchdowns, nearly 43,000 passing yards and, now, 109 wins (not to mention a Lombardi Trophy).
Now comes the easy part: diving deeper into Stefanski’s playbook as the Browns look to lock up a shock playoff spot.
Joe Flacco on being named he starting QB going forward and how the offense is beginning to click: “You can see it, you can feel it…” #Browns pic.twitter.com/2Ytr2jHR4o
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) December 10, 2023
All in a day’s work for Flacco, a glimmer of hope for the league’s aging stars. Father Time can’t be conquered. But perhaps it can be delayed, at least for a little while longer.
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