Joe Flacco had a vintage game in his second start for the Cleveland Browns – and it had him feeling some type of way.
The veteran quarterback completed 26-of45 passes for 311 yards, three passing touchdowns and one interception in Cleveland’s 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 14. For reference, this weekend’s performance was Flacco’s first 300-yard passing game since 2018 and his first three-touchdown game since 2020.
“So many times where I was just feeling like a 10-year-old kid again,” Flacco said of his Week 14 performance. “To be able to do that, you just can’t let it be lost on you how special it is to be able to play this game.”
Three weeks ago Joe Flacco was watching football at his mom's house 😂@EvanWashburn asks Flacco what it feels like to be back out there competing for the @Browns pic.twitter.com/pwFccuQcHR
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 10, 2023
Flacco’s two first half touchdown passes to tight end David Njoku helped the Browns jump out to an early 14-0 lead before a 41-yard bomb to wideout David Bell in the fourth quarter almost put the game out of reach. The Browns defense did the rest, though not before the Jaguars got within one score before a failed onside kick.
The 38-year-old veteran played so well that Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski named Flacco the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. And with four games left in the regular season, the 8-5 Browns will continue to lean on Flacco’s experience and leadership as they continue to make a push for the playoffs. The division is likely out of reach, but Cleveland can lock down the No. 5 seed if it can stack more wins by the end of the year.
