Stop anticipating the punch line. Quarterback Joe Flacco’s rebirth, as much as the Browns’ resurgence, is serious business.
Despite the absence of multiple first-round starters, Cleveland can clinch a postseason spot with a win over the Jets on Thursday. Despite his stated limitations, Flacco has passed for 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns in four games, an unrivaled four-game stat total in Browns history. And, despite a fan base’s tendency to expect the worst, the Dawg Pound is beginning to believe in Berea’s sports-movie return.
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Are you still holding out? You can’t blame us: cleveland.com polled its beat reporters and discovered that, in the history of this city, Flacco’s redemptive arch has few (if any) historic parallels.
Derek Anderson won 10 games as the Browns’ backup quarterback in 2007.
Cardale Jones, a Glenville graduate, won the 2014 national championship while filling in for J.T. Barrett at Ohio State.
And, as a midseason call-up, pitcher Jaret Wright won three postseason starts for Cleveland in 1997, including two in deciding games.
However, Flacco’s narrative sticks out because of how near he is (or was) to death. Anderson (24), Jones (22) and Wright (21) were still full of promise as they captured Cleveland’s heart. But, before signing with the Browns last month, Flacco, 38, appeared to have exhausted all of his options.
He was not signed during training camp or the preseason. After Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in Week 1, the Jets, who used Flacco previous season, saw better choices. Before calling him, the Browns went through three different passers. Cleveland’s expectations couldn’t have been this high even back then.
Only legends produce like Flacco has this season at his age, according to the record books. Only Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, and Warren Moon had passed for 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns in four games before Flacco. All four are certain Hall of Famers (except for Flacco). And none of them joined their teams in the middle of the season, as Flacco did.
But Cleveland’s quarterback continues to defy history. Behind the other team’s coverage, Flacco keeps finding Amari Cooper, who shattered the Browns’ franchise receiving record on Sunday. He keeps threading needles through packed red zone passing windows to David Njoku. And the Browns kept winning despite the absence of a functional run game, the league’s highest-paid quarterback, or any of their starting offensive linemen, thanks in large part to a quarterback they didn’t realize they needed.
The Browns can still win the AFC North or get a first-round bye. And if their offense continues to perform well, they may be able to win a playoff game. Can Flacco maintain his current form? A logical problem. However, as Cleveland (and its quarterback) have demonstrated over the last month, logic has no place in Flacco’s amazing comeback story.
It defies logic for a 16-year NFL veteran to stitch 51-yard touchdown passes between three defenders. It also doesn’t make sense that Cleveland’s fourth starting quarterback this season shouldn’t be bringing out the best in Cooper and Njoku. And if reasoning reigned supreme at Cleveland Browns Stadium, no Baltimore Ravens legend could soften this fan base’s heart.
So, as Cleveland prepares to celebrate this week, remember Flacco’s role in the festivities. Thank the Browns for keeping him from retiring. And, before you start fretting about postseason opponents, appreciate this playoff drive for what it is: a unique (if illogical) experience.
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