BEREA — Joe Flacco didn't have a team two weeks before Thanksgiving . Now, three days after Christmas, he going to get a chance to quarterback a team into the playoffs.
It has to be a little surreal for the Browns quarterback, right? Just going from the couch to the playoffs isn't exactly the kind of thing that regularly happens in the NFL.
"I guess to a certain extent," Flacco said Tuesday. "When you come back out here and you kind of get with everybody and you start playing games, you kind of fall right back into feeling like you've been doing this for a while. So, at this point, it feels pretty good to just get back out there and all that."
Flacco has led the Browns to three consecutive wins after losing in his Week 13 debut at the Los Angeles Rams . That's put them at 10-5 on the season, No. 5 in the current AFC playoff standings and sitting with a win-and-in opportunity on Thursday night against the New York Jets .
Not only that, but a win on Thursday could allow the Browns to stay in the running for both the AFC North title and No. 1 overall seed in the AFC. It requires plenty of help involving opponents of, specifically, the Baltimore Ravens , but the opportunity remains there.
"It seems like every week you look at the game and you're like, man, this is a big one," Flacco said. "This is a big one. And it's just another one of those. I think we just, once again, we can worry about that when the game's all said and done, but just go out there and focus on winning."
Flacco spent at least parts of the 2020-22 seasons with the Jets, appearing in 12 games and starting nine of them. One of those nine starts was the last time the Jets were in Cleveland , in Week 2 of last season. Flacco threw for 307 yards and four touchdowns — 123 of the yards and two of the touchdowns in the last 1:55 of the game to erase a 30-17 — in New York's 31-30 win.
"It's definitely the craziest finish and therefore pretty damn memorable," Flacco said of the game. "I mean, listen, there was a 99.9% chance in that game. I mean you kind of feel like you're out of it. I mean, in one respect, it is so memorable just because of that. And the other side of it, you're kind of thinking, man, that's just so random. How lucky did we get?"
The Jets elected to let Flacco walk as a free agent in March, as they were closing in on acquiring Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers . However, when Rodgers sustained a torn Achilles in the season-opener, New York decided to stick with the QB gumbo of Zach Wilson , Trevor Siemien — who will start Thursday for a concussed Wilson — and Tim Boyle instead of reaching out to Flacco.
Flacco stayed on his couch without the phone ringing until the Browns called a week before Thanksgiving for a tryout when Deshaun Watson went on season-ending injured reserve.
"Listen man, there's all kinds of things that happened throughout the course of the season and the offseason and things like that," Flacco said. "I enjoyed my time while I was there and it is what it is. I'm happy to be where I am, that's for sure. Listen, there's 32 teams in the NFL. They're just another one of those teams. I got a lot of guys over there I really respect and had an awesome few years with in that locker room. So a lot of respect for those guys."
One of "those guys" who was with Flacco in New York is now with him in Cleveland in receiver Elijah Moore . Moore got to the Browns months in advance of Flacco, having been acquired in a late-March trade.
Moore knew what the Browns were signing when they initially brought Flacco onto the practice squad on Nov. 19. So the fact the quarterback has thrown for 1,370 yards through his first four starts — which includes three consecutive 300-yard passing games for the first time in his career — isn't the least bit surprising to him.
"That's really what I was waiting for for him," said Moore, whose locker is right next to Flacco's in the team facility. "Being with him since I got into the league. He had his spurts and moments but never got a full opportunity. And you see as soon as he came in, all the players would speak amongst ourselves and we know what it's like to play with him. So I'm really glad it's happening for him. It's definitely a blessing."
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Joe Flacco not dwelling on Jets' no-call as Browns ready for New York
