Joe Flacco enthralled Cleveland Browns fans for the most of Thursday night’s game against the New York Jets.
During the game, however, a video of the 38-year-old quarterback appearing to doze off on the sideline went viral. A video circulated of Flacco sitting on the sideline in the second half, putting his head down and shutting his eyes.
“The Jets were sleeping on Joe Flacco, so he decided to return the favor,” said Robert Griffin III, a former Browns quarterback turned analyst.
When Ryan Fitzpatrick asked about the viral video after the game, Flacco made light of it.
“I guess our offense was boring me a little bit,” Flacco said in his postgame interview with the Thursday Night Football crew. “We weren’t doing a good enough job.”
Joe Flacco Puts Up Another Big Game With Browns
Flacco was plainly joking, given the Browns’ offense dominated the Jets. Cleveland totaled 428 yards of offense, with the majority of that coming from Flacco’s arm. Flacco became the first quarterback in Browns history to throw for 300 yards in four consecutive games. Against his former team, he had 309 yards and three touchdowns.
The Browns improved to 11-5 and clinched a playoff position with the victory. Throughout the evening, cries of his name were heard. He couldn’t have guessed it when he was sitting on his couch in November, waiting for his phone to ring with a job prospect.
“I said it from the very beginning — the city has been unbelievable,” Flacco said after the win. “My teammates have been unbelievable in terms of just embracing me onto this football team. It’s all been great. And it makes it that much more special to be able to come in here and play some good football.”
Joe Flacco Doesn’t Miss Beat With Amari Cooper Sidelined
This season, the Browns offense has been hampered by injuries. Flacco, on the other hand, has ignited a fire under the unit since taking over. And he accomplished it without his top weapon, Amari Cooper, who was a late scratch due to a heel injury.
Cooper had a career-high 11 receptions for 265 yards against the Houston Texans. Other players stepped up in his absence, including David Njoku (6 catches, 134 yards) and Elijah Moore (5 catches, 61 yards, 1 touchdown). Running back Jerome Ford also made an impact as a receiver, scoring a 50-yard touchdown in the first half.
“It just gives guys opportunities to step up and show what they can do. Amari’s an unbelievable player and we miss him anytime he’s not out there. But we got to be ready,” Flacco said. “You got to give it to all those guys for just being prepared to go in there and play any position.”
The Browns have their playoff spot wrapped up thanks to the win. But Njoku pointed out that the team still has more work to do.
“We aren’t finished and we have a long way to go,” Njoku said. “But for now we are going to enjoy this and worry about next week, next week.”
The Browns will wrap up their regular season slate against the Cincinnati Bengals on January 7.
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