CLEVELAND (AP) — Joe Flacco has turned a seemingly cursed season right into a charmed one.
Cleveland‘s quarterback for simply over a month, Flacco handed for 309 yards and three touchdowns and the Browns clinched an unlikely playoff berth — simply their second since 2002 — regardless of quite a few accidents this season with a 37-20 win over the New York Jets on Thursday night time.
The Browns (11-5) are assured of a wild-card spot and nonetheless have an opportunity to win the AFC North and perhaps the convention’s No. 1 general seed, one thing that appeared unfathomable simply weeks in the past as main accidents piled up.
However issues have modified since Flacco arrived.
The 38-year-old quarterback improved to 4-1 as a starter with the Browns, who plucked the Tremendous Bowl 47 MVP off his sofa in New Jersey final month to hopefully rescue their season. He’s completed that and extra.
Within the ultimate minutes, Browns followers chanted “Flac-co! Flac-co!” to a quarterback they as soon as reviled with Baltimore and now revere.
“You don’t know what number of of those moments you’re going to get,” Flacco stated. “I’m going to recollect this for the remainder of my life.”
Flacco threw two TD passes to Jerome Ford within the first half because the Browns constructed a 20-point lead over the Jets (6-10), who selected to not re-sign the 15-year veteran after he spent three seasons with them – and after Aaron Rodgers tore his left Achilles tendon in Week 1.
Flacco torched New York for 296 yards within the first half and have become the primary QB in 34 video games to go over 300 yards towards the Jets. He’s additionally the primary Cleveland quarterback to move for greater than 300 in 4 straight.
Whereas Flacco insisted revenge wasn’t on his thoughts, however Jets receiver Garrett Wilson stated the QB was out to show one thing.
“He’s wound like that,” Wilson stated. “He advised me on the finish of final season, he wasn’t going to be a backup. He was going to play and he held to that. Joe’s a terrific man. The kind of teammate you need. He deserves every little thing.”
The environment was electrical from the beginning inside Cleveland Browns Stadium as followers who’ve felt largely heartbreak for many years obtained an opportunity to have fun.
“It was particular,” Flacco stated. “That is clearly a novel state of affairs for me, so I’ve obtained quite a lot of totally different feelings working by my head.”
The Jets had been compelled to start out Trevor Siemian for the second week in a row with Zach Wilson sidelined by a concussion.
Siemian had some good moments, however an overthrow late in first quarter was returned 30 yards for a TD by security Ronnie Hickman to place the Browns up 20-7.
New York allowed a season-high in factors and yards (428). Though the Jets gave up simply 61 yards within the second half, they dug themselves too massive a gap.
Jets linebacker Jermaine Johnson had a pick-6 within the second quarter when he fantastically deflected Flacco’s move to himself and returned it 37 yards.
Nothing has been simple this season for the Browns, who’ve continued to win regardless of being overrun by accidents because the opener. Flacco is their fourth beginning quarterback, they’re lacking each first-team offensive tackles and 12 gamers – together with QB Deshaun Watson and working again Nick Chubb – are on injured reserve.
So, it was becoming they went into their largest sport this season lacking their beginning kicker, punter and extensive receiver Amari Cooper, who was coming off a franchise record-setting 265-yard efficiency on Sunday in Houston.
NEW GUYS
The Browns obtained their first seems to be at kicker Riley Patterson and punter Matt Haack, each signed earlier this week.
Patterson, filling in for an injured Dustin Hopkins, went 4 of 5 on additional factors and made a 33-yard discipline purpose with 2:54 left.
Haack averaged 51.7 yards on three punts.
GARRETT AND GARRETT
Browns star defensive finish Myles Garrett ended a five-game streak with out a sack by taking down Siemian within the first half.
Garrett performed with a heavy coronary heart, disclosing after the sport that his uncle, Chris Johnson, died on Christmas.
“Nonetheless exhausting to imagine,” he stated. “I used to be speechless then. I actually simply don’t know easy methods to put it into phrases now. I’ve had complications simply day by day simply because I don’t know easy methods to deal with it emotionally. So it simply comes out in several methods, like simply pains. I really feel like someday in a fog.”
Wilson went over 1,000 yards receiving for the second straight season. He additionally did it as a rookie in 2022 and is considered one of 10 energetic gamers with two 1,000-yard seasons to start out their profession.
SCARY MOMENT
Browns extensive receiver Elijah Moore suffered a head damage within the second quarter.
After catching a 22-yard move from Flacco, Moore’s helmet was pushed into the turf as he went down. He rolled onto his again and appeared to twitch as teammates shortly referred to as for medical personnel.
Moore, who spent the previous two seasons with the Jets, was helped off the sector and escorted to Cleveland’s locker room.
INJURIES
Jets: WR Allen Lazard (sickness) was among the many workforce’s inactives. … RG Jacob Hanson suffered a concussion and was changed by Xavier Newman, who was helped off the fourth quarter with an unspecified damage.
Browns: Cooper got here in listed questionable, however was anticipated to play. Nonetheless, after he examined a heel damage throughout an on-field exercise, the Browns opted to have him sit somewhat than danger extra harm. … CB Mike Ford Jr. (calf) obtained harm overlaying a kick within the first quarter.
UP NEXT
Jets: At New England on Jan. 7.
