The book of Joe Flacco could have easily ended with the New York Jets last season. In other words, on a whimper. But the veteran quarterback has seized the pen supposedly used to write the NFL scripts and crafted a thrilling and unexpected chapter with the Cleveland Browns this season. Flacco, the protagonist this worn down fan base didn’t know it needed, produced arguably biggest triumph since joining the team’s practice squad on Nov. 20. He thwacked the Jets on Thursday Night Football, throwing for 309 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-20 home victory that clinched at least an AFC Wild Card slot in the playoffs. The Super Bowl 47 MVP added another robust outing to a five-game sample size that stunningly includes 1,616 Coach of the Year contender Kevin Stefanski touched on how important the TNF, postseason-clinching win was to the 38-year-old QB. “Joe’s, I think, very excited to have his family here watching him. It’s a special moment for them,” he said, per The Chronicle-Telegram’s Scott Petrak. “It’s a great story, I know you guys love the story, but I’m just happy for Joe…He’s got something left in the tank.” No one expected that tank to look so vigorous in year 16 of his NFL career, especially after a lackluster end with the Baltimore Ravens and unsuccessful runs with the Denver Broncos and Jets. His durability mirrors that of this Cleveland team, which is somehow still in contention for the AFC North after suffering so many injuries.
With a win over the New York Jets on Thursday, the Cleveland Browns have officially clinched a playoff spot. After the game, tight end David Njoku stated that while making the playoffs matters a lot to the Browns, the team “isn’t done yet.” “It means everything with all the adversity we’ve faced,” Njoku said, pertaining to clinching a postseason spot. “We’re not done yet. This is a great start, but we’ve got a lot more to prove,” he added, as per Network 216’s Nick Karns. hroughout the year, the team has been plagued with injuries, one of which includes a season-ending shoulder fracture suffered by starting quarterback Deshaun Watson in November. Other players who are out long-term include running back Nick Chubb, safety Grant Delpit
