The Cleveland Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 13-10, but veteran quarterback Joe Flacco is still expected to be signed soon.
Flacco met with the Browns on Friday, but no contract agreement was reached during the visit. However, there is speculation that he will soon join the team.
“Joe Flacco’s workout for the Browns on Friday went well, and barring some unforeseen circumstance over the next few days, he could be signed early in the coming week as the Browns’ third quarterback to help replace Deshaun Watson, who’s out for the season with a fractured shoulder,” Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported on Nov. 19.
The Browns currently have two quarterbacks available: PJ Walker and rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who started against the Steelers.
The Browns may have been waiting to see if Thompson-Robinson could fill in for Deshaun Watson, who is out for the season due to a shoulder injury. However, the rookie’s performance against the Steelers left little doubt that he’s ready to lead a contending team.
After the win, Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson was 24-of-43 for 165 yards against the Steelers. During the tight game, he also threw an interception, which negated an important field goal.
He did make some crucial late throws to help the Browns get into field goal range, where Dustin Hopkins eventually drilled the game-winning field goal with just seconds remaining.
“Those are big moments when you’re waiting for your guy to step up. “He delivered,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Came through when it mattered.”
Following the victory, several Browns players praised Thompson-Robinson.
“We’re gonna ride with 17,” said cornerback Greg Newsome after the game. “I told him he’s gonna lead us to the promised land.”
The signing of Flacco may not mean the end of DTR. Flacco will most likely take some time to adjust to the system and serve as a mentor for Thompson-Robinson as he gains valuable NFL reps.
Flacco is 38 years old and has extensive experience, including a Super Bowl victory with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013. In that game, Flacco was named Super Bowl MVP. In 2022, he most recently started games for the New York Jets. In four starts, he threw for 1,051 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions.
The Browns’ defense rises to the occasion once more against the Steelers.
The Browns improved to 7-3 with the victory over the Steelers, bolstering their playoff chances. Much of that can be attributed to the defense, which gave up only 249 total yards.
A large portion of that came on a 74-yard run by Steelers running back Jaylen Warren, who scored Pittsburgh’s only touchdown of the day. Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett was held to 106 yards passing by the Browns.
Myles Garrett led the charge for the Browns from the start. He sacked Pickett on the Steelers’ first offensive snap, nearly forcing a safety.
“It was a little stunt we had,” Garrett explained, adding that he thought it was a safety precaution. “I saw daylight and Pickett.” There was nowhere for him to go. He couldn’t take a step forward, left, or right because it would have been a more obvious safety. “I completed the play.”
Garrett finished with two sacks and now holds the top spot in the league.
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