Joe Flacco's Revenge Tour: Still Thinking He's the Guy
Joe Flacco is back in Cincinnati, wearing a Bengals helmet again, which is a funny twist of fate. He's Joe Burrow's backup, a role that, let's be honest, probably chafes a bit. Flacco, the veteran, the guy who just won AP Comeback Player of the Year, recently told the *Cincinnati Enquirer* that teams were "dumb" for not signing him as a starter. And you know what? He's got a point, even if it's a little… Flacco.
The Cleveland Redemption Arc
Remember last season? The Browns were a M.A.S.H. unit at quarterback. Deshaun Watson was out. Dorian Thompson-Robinson was getting reps. P.J. Walker was throwing passes that looked like they were trying to escape the stadium. Then Flacco rolls in, off the couch, signs with Cleveland on November 20th. Nobody expected much. They were 7-4, clinging to playoff hopes. What happened next was borderline miraculous.
Flacco went 4-1 as a starter, throwing for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns in five games. He completed 60.3% of his passes, averaging 323.2 yards per game. The man, at 38 years old, led the Browns to the playoffs for only the third time in 28 years. He ripped off three straight 300-yard passing games in December, including a 311-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Jaguars on December 10th. Sure, the Texans game in the Wild Card round was a bust – two pick-sixes will do that – but he gave Cleveland fans something they hadn't felt in a long time: legitimate hope.
Why Teams Passed on "Elite" Joe
Here's the thing: Flacco's a known quantity. He’s got the Super Bowl XLVII ring with the Ravens, the Super Bowl MVP trophy. He’s also 39 now. His arm strength is still there, no doubt, but his mobility is non-existent. And that Wild Card loss? It probably scared some teams off. Those two interceptions against Houston, both returned for touchdowns by Steven Nelson and Christian Harris, were ugly. They showed that even when Flacco is hot, the mistakes can be catastrophic.
But still, when you look around the league at some of the quarterback situations, it's hard not to side with Flacco a little. The Broncos are rolling with Zach Wilson and Bo Nix. The Patriots signed Jacoby Brissett and drafted Drake Maye. The Raiders are starting Gardner Minshew. Are any of those guys a clear upgrade over what Flacco showed he could do in Cleveland for five weeks? I don't think so. Flacco, for all his limitations, proved he can still deliver wins and big plays under pressure. He took a Browns team that looked dead in the water and made them a legitimate contender.
Burrow's Backup: A Smart Move for Cincy
So, Flacco's back where he started in training camp last year, albeit briefly. He's the insurance policy for Joe Burrow, and frankly, it's a brilliant move for the Bengals. If Burrow goes down again, as he did last season with that wrist injury that ended his year on November 16th, Cincinnati now has a proven veteran who can keep them afloat. Jake Browning played admirably, throwing for 1,936 yards and 12 touchdowns in 9 games, but Flacco brings a different kind of playoff pedigree. He’s been there, done that, and won the biggest prize.
And maybe, just maybe, Flacco will get another shot to prove how "dumb" those other teams were. He'll be watching, waiting, and probably still believing he's the guy. My bold prediction? If Burrow misses more than four games this season, Flacco will lead the Bengals to a winning record over that stretch, proving he's still got some starter gas in the tank.