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As the Cleveland Browns enter the postseason, their first since 2020 and only their third since returning to the NFL in 1999, hopes are high, and spirits are bright. All the optimism is based around a tremendous defense and a veteran quarterback who has steadied the ship this year and led the Browns in the most consistent manner in 30 years. That man is no average Joe, in fact, he is a Super Bowl MVP and one of the all-time leaders in Playoff road wins, that mans name is Joe Flacco, the starting quarterback of your Cleveland Browns.
For the last 20 plus years, all Cleveland Browns fans have asked for is hope, they simply wanted a real reason to believe. A chance at sustainable success. They believed to have it in 02 but then the very next season was ruined by a quarterback controversy. They thought they had it again in 07 with a 10-win season and countless pro bowlers, that proved to be a fluke. This my friends, is as real as real gets!
The Browns have gone 4-1 in games started by Joe Flacco this season. That is the second most wins for any starting quarterback this year for Cleveland. As crazy as this may sound for an 11-win team, it is solid fact as Deshaun Watson technically went 5-1, but in the game against the Colts, Watson left two drives in with his team trailing, and contributed nothing to the win. The other two wins came from a PJ Walker start against the San Francisco 49ers and a DTR start versus Pittsburgh.
Flacco has been rock solid, the Browns have scored 30 plus points in 3 of his 5 starts, and Flacco has thrown for 13 touchdowns and 1616 yards on 123 of 204 passing. That is a completion ratio of 60% and has led he Browns valiantly.
Fans must not forget that this is far from Flacco’s first trip the playoffs. He has done it time and time again, and has been the picture of consistency in numerous Baltimore Raven playoff runs since he was drafted to Baltimore in the 2008 NFL Draft as the 18th overall pick out of Delaware. Flacco started for the Ravens in all 16 of their regular season games that year, leading the Ravens to a 11-5 record that year and trip to the playoffs.
In 9 seasons in which he played a full season in Baltimore, not counting the injury plagued 2015 season, Flacco never had a losing season. In that run, the Ravens made the playoffs numerous times. Furthermore, with the Baltimore Ravens winning the AFC North this year, the Browns know their path to the Super Bowl must be on the road. Under Flacco, the Ravens won 10 playoffs games with 7 coming on the road. He led them to the playoffs 6 times and finished with a playoff record of 10-5. That is pretty darn good!
Let’s take a look at his year-to-year playoff breakdown, and just how comfortable he is winning on the road.
2008 Playoff wins at Mia and at Ten before losing at Pit.
2009 Playoff win at New England before a loss at Ind.
2010 Playoff win at KC before a loss at Pit.
2011 Playoff win at home vs Hou before a loss at NE
2012 Playoff win at home vs Ind, road wins at Denver and NE before winning the Super Bowl vs SF
2014 Playoff win at Pit before losing at NE.
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I’m on record as saying that rapey-guy will not start more than 3 more games for the Browns.
The NFL wants a Browns Detroit Super 🏈
Think of the ratings
I don’t think lack of draft capital is going to be a problem for any team that takes on Watson. Realistically, getting rid of Watson would take an NBA type of trade like Cleveland pulled off years ago when we took Brock Osweiler’s contract in exchange for draft picks. Honestly Cleveland would have to send picks in exchange for someone taking Watson at this point.